Recently updated on August 8th, 2022

Social media is an easy, affordable way to drive awareness of your brand and engage new customers. However, a business can’t simply start a new account, post a few times and expect results. Like many digital marketing tactics, it requires finesse and consumer knowledge to build out quality social media content.

If you are looking to boost your brand awareness, gain more leads, and ultimately increase your sales, then keep reading. We’ll dive into the top 5 tips on what type of social media content works best to engage your following and help your business thrive.

Share Catchy, Fun Videos

One of the best ways to excite, impress, and inspire your social media followers is by creating and posting awesome videos. The vast majority of social media marketing experts claim that videos on social media are a winner – provided that they deliver original, memorable, and captivating content.

Social videos generate 1,200% more shares than text and image content combined.

When filming a video for your social media channels, try to focus on including important and useful information for your audience, and do so in a creative and persuasive way. For example, you could post a video that explains how to best use one of your products, and you could choose fun and colorful animations that add to that storytelling effect that online users love.

Relatable, User-Generated Content

Text-based posts are another great type of content on social media. But, do you know what works even better? User-generated posts.

For example, pairing a photo of a happy customer with their raving feedback on one of your products or services is a great way to build value and interest. Online shoppers highly value peer reviews and customer references, with a whopping 71% of them stating that they influence their purchase choices.

Incorporating user-generated content into your social media channels is also crucial to help you boost engagement and loyalty. By showing that their opinions are valued, you are telling your customers that they matter to you. Sometimes a little care can go a long way toward building that customer relationship and increasing trust.

an example of review based social media content. It shows a positive review of Next Horizon's IT services

Attractive Images and Graphics

Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are heavily visual. So, if you want to be successful on these, you should be ready to churn out some great images and stunning graphics.

Animated GIFs, memes, and infographics are all great ways to further entice and engage with your audience. You’ll be surprised to see your likes, shares, and followers soar as a result.

a gif that reads Improve Your Business Website UX that shows an animation of a button click on a desktop display as an example of social media content

Live Content

Picture this. You are scrolling down your social media feed, and you see that one of your favorite brands or influencers is going live. Wouldn’t you be tempted to click on the notification and join in on the action?

Live-streamed content is incredibly engaging on social media platforms, for many reasons. It helps to create a sense of belonging and personal connection that no other content type can achieve. It also enables users to stay up-to-date with the most recent news about the companies they know and love.

Last but not least, live-streamed content helps participants to communicate directly with a company’s representatives by asking questions and providing feedback, at the touch of a button in real-time. No more waiting for email responses, or getting passed back-and-forth between an endless cycle of tacky hold music and customer service transfers. By making use of live streaming, the bond between brands and customers strengthens.

Post Bite-Sized Stories

Not quite the same as live content, social media stories are another very compelling type of social media content. These are super-short snippets that let your audience take a peek into the behind-the-scenes of your brand. You can find these live stories on Instagram or Facebook – and you can even cross-post between the two platforms!

To be really effective, you’ll want your stories to feature never-before-seen content, include catchy tunes, and, of course, feature the new Link Sticker to direct your audience straight to your sales pages. Yep – Instagram is doing away with the “Swipe-Up” feature. In place of the “Swipe-Up” call to action, Instagram users who had access to the feature will be able to use the new Link Sticker. It’s similar in function, but more interactive – offering users more control over their stories.

Ready to Craft Compelling Social Media Content?

Are you ready to jump on the social media marketing bandwagon? If you need a little assistance from the pros, just get in touch with the expert and friendly team at Next Horizon.

Create Amazing Social Media Content

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