It could be difficult to find fresh social media content ideas when you need to post something daily on multiple platforms.
But quality, fresh content that gains users’ attraction and keeps them informed is vital. People will be interested in seeing what you post next, which makes them more likely to interact with your posts—and maybe even become a customer.
With this cheatsheet of solid social media content ideas for each of the major social platforms, you will be ahead of the curve. And you will never find yourself staring at a blank content calendar again.
Creative Social Media Content Ideas for all the major platforms
1. Videos
By 2020, digital videos will drive 82% of web traffic. That means you are leaving reach and engagement on the table when you are not considering videos as one of the best social media content ideas on your channels. And there are lots of choices to pick one:
- Stories (Fb and Instagram)
- Snapchat
- IGTV
- YouTube
- Live video (LinkedIn, Instagram, Fb)
- Tik Tok
- In-feed videos (Instagram, LinkedIn, Fb Twitter, Pinterest)
Pro tip: You could share video on all channels you have, however, on Fb and Twitter, it’s best to upload videos directly (versus sharing the YouTube or Instagram video link) to get the most engagement.
And remember TikTok, where short and fun videos could reach younger audiences.
The Washington Post is utilizing TikTok in methods that are fun and surprising. In this video, they have a bit of fun with U.S. Democratic candidate for president Julian Castro and his twin brother Juan, who is also a politician.
2. Live videos
In addition to video posts, think about posting live video updates to your social channels. 4 out of 5 people would rather watch a live video from a brand than read a blog post, based on a survey completed by Vimeo and New York Magazine.
It is a good idea for launch events or press conferences. You could also use Fb Live or Twitter Live to host a preview event for upcoming products or to stage a live demonstration of your services.
In this video, Benefit Cosmetics demonstrates how to use one of their products, BADgal mascara, a product that just so occurred to be in that month’s edition of Birchbox, a subscription makeup sample box.
3. Your employees
It could take years to build trust in your brand, however, showcasing real people who work at your firm could build a personal connection with your audience much more rapidly.
Try featuring posts by some of your employees — ones who typically do not post to your social accounts — or posts featuring your employees to personalize your social media feeds and share different voices.
You can even let your employees advocate for your services or products during your social media campaigns. Your followers will appreciate being able to put a literal face to your brand, which helps them feel more related to what you do and offer.
CoLab Software creates a complicated product: a software program meant to help engineering and design teams work better together. By featuring their individual employees, as they have completed here with Freddie Pike, and telling a bit of their story, they add a face to their work and make it seem more approachable.
4. Company news
Share interesting news about your company on your social media feeds. However, make sure to personalize it. For instance, you can share a photo of your team celebrating winning a big new client or an industry award, or introducing a new product or a vital hire, instead of just posting a link to the press release.
Company updates are particularly necessary on Twitter, where 40% of users are there for breaking news.
Mysa, a company that creates smart thermostats, announced a round of hiring by talking about their values and sharing a team picture.
5. Market data
If your business has original data that gives necessary insights into your operations or your industry, share these highlights on social media. One example would be Hootsuite’s annual Social Trends Report, which includes data based on a survey of hundreds of social marketers.
You could post the report or an article covering its key findings on LinkedIn. Turn fascinating stats and quotes into visual posts for other social media websites like Fb, Instagram, and Twitter. With software such as Canva, you could create visually fascinating posts about statistics without being a graphic designer.
A video does not seem like an obvious choice to share data about people living alone, however, it offers the Economist a chance to share a statistic in a dynamic way.
6. Articles and blog posts
When you have a business blog, share the articles with your social media feeds with direct links where you could. Blog posts sharing company news, open job postings, and industry developments could be repurposed to share on social platforms.
Post an appealing on-brand graphic for Instagram that fits the content. When you are posting to the feed, redirect users to a link in your bio. When you are posting to Stories (and you have more than 10,000 followers), employ the “Swipe up” function..
On LinkedIn, in-house articles and blog posts are a good way to share your expertise and provide updates on your firm’s work. You could share these articles directly through LinkedIn’s publishing platform.
This Instagram post from A Beautiful Mess has a long caption, however, it’s still a lot shorter than the detailed blog post it points to. By sharing some personal info and a preview photo, readers are pointed to the longer, step-by-step blog post.
7. Behind-the-scenes looks
Your followers are excited about what you do, so share a bit of info about that with them. Your social channels are a great place to share images and videos that show people something they would not otherwise see.
Utilize your social pages to update videos that show your office or workplace events. Or, provide followers with a photographic peek into the creative process behind your work, even it is a look at products getting packaged for shipping or some pictures of event preparations.
In this Instagram video, clothing brand Eve Gravel shared a shot not of a new dress or shirt but of one of the patterns used to make the products—along with a caption explaining that the company regularly works to enhance its fits.
8. Contests and giveaways
Reward your followers, and gain new ones, by hosting a contest or giveaway on your social media channels. Increase engagement by making a post comment or share a condition for entry, and you may gain new followers as people hear about the contest from family and friends.
As a bonus, these posts are also a good way to promote new services and products.
Before you run a contest or giveaway, make sure to familiarize yourself with the legal requirements.
Clothing brand Ninety-Eight promoted their upcoming appearance at Toronto’s One Of A Kind Show by giving away free tickets through Instagram.
9. Influencer content
Pair up with an influencer who fits for your brand, and have them generate content to share on both your social channels and theirs. These posts should make sense with the rest of your social media content while helping you reach new potential followers via the influencer.
When choosing an influencer for these posts, think about engagement as well as follower numbers. A diaper or children’s clothing brand can work with a mommy blogger. A brand that gives food for delivery can take a look at partnering with influencers who’re busy professionals.
Actress Jenna Dewan partnered with Smash + Tess for this Instagram post and contest, which highlighted that the comfy rompers are also available in children’s sizes.