How often have you asked yourself the question "What do I post on social media today"? And how often was it followed by a real brain freeze? Simple tips can help you find creative social media content ideas. In this blog, we'll tell you how to find good topics for your posts on social media and which channel is best for what.
Nowadays, hardly any company can avoid dealing with the topic of social media marketing to deal with social media marketing. But after the initial euphoria of the first posts on your own profile, disillusionment soon follows: social media channels need to be managed regularly. And not with just any old posts: Only relevant and inspiring content leads to more interaction with users. But how do you keep coming up with new, creative social media content ideas?
Be inspired
Generally speaking, there is usually more potential for exciting social media content in companies than you might think - you just have to look closely. Involve employees outside of the marketing team, for example with the help of regular brainstorming sessions. Or observe what the competition is posting. But only for inspiration, please! Instead of copying, do better. Exciting industry newsletters, specialist journals or forums can also provide inspiration. Important when it comes to inspiration: get organized and keep your thoughts and research in one place - suitable containers for this include a Slack channelGoogle Doc file or Trello.
Build up a pool of topics
What social media content ideas can you add to your topic pool right now? A good starting point is important dates and events from your company, such as a product launch or the start of a marketing campaign. It is also worth researching public holidays or suitable, curious campaign days (e.g. World Wellness Day for a thermal spa). Fixed series (Monday Motivation, Friday Highlight, etc.) should also be included in the editorial plan.
You are also welcome to use your community, if it already has some members, and ask questions (relevant to your business). You can then use the survey results for exciting user-generated content. Google can also help you in your search for content ideas: What is often Googled in connection with your services? Answer these questions on social media and provide your followers with added value.
This way, your editorial plan fills up automatically every month and can then be supplemented with daily events (such as a current media report). As a general rule: offer a good mix of self-promotion (show what you can do) and assistance (pick up the customer).
Instagram vs. Facebook: Which channel do I use for what?
In addition to the search for the right social media ideas and the associated content productionthe questions "Which social network is best suited for my company?" and "What content do I post where?" also arise.
When we compare Instagram and Facebook, it quickly becomes clear that both platforms are used for exchange between companies and users, have enormous reach and can also be real sales machines with swipe-ups and store integrations. Nevertheless, they have different target groups, formats and functions.
Facebook has lost popularity
There is a clear difference between the two platforms in terms of age: according to various studies, Facebook is particularly popular with 30 to 39-year-olds. By contrast, Facebook has lost popularity among the under-30s - the majority of whom are on Instagram.
When it comes to formats, it is also clear that Instagram thrives on images and, above all, videos. However, this doesn't mean that you only have to upload videos from now on. The important thing is to incorporate a reel or a post for IGTV into your editorial plan from time to time and use these new formats for your social media strategy. On Facebook, on the other hand, long texts with further information are still possible.
Questions you should ask yourself
So if you need to decide on the right channels for your social media content, the following questions will help you:
- How old is my target group? Over or under 30?
- Am I creative enough to stand out from the crowd on a platform like Instagram? Are my pictures and videos of good enough quality and entertaining enough for an app that is known for fast consumption? Then Instagram is the right platform for you.
- Do I have a lot of events, promotions and content that require more text and explanation? In other words, do I need functions such as events, groups, etc.? Then you should invest more time in Facebook.
Of course, the two platforms can also be used in parallel, as we do at Ferris Bühler Communications do. However, be aware of the peculiarities of both platforms: For example, when promoting a seminar for Instagram, produce a teaser video with a short and snappy description, while on Facebook you can put more information about the seminar content in the event description.
If you want to find out more about Instagram and Facebook, listen to our StoryRadar episode on the topic of social media. Larissa and Ferris give you further tips on advertising opportunities and influencer marketing - for an even more effective social media strategy!