Wondering what to post on social media? Want a list of content ideas to inspire your content plan for 2022?
Below, we’ve compiled 30 content idea prompts to get your creative juices flowing.
Behind-the-scenes content tends to feel more authentic, so it can help to establish trust with your audience. This kind of personable content creates a sense of transparency, making content more believable.
We find personal stories interesting because it gives us a chance to strengthen and shape our opinions. Stories have a way of grabbing our attention, and when it does, we are more likely to take in the message than if the same narrative was presented simply in facts and figures.
It has been claimed that we prefer to mix with people who appreciate the same sense of humour, for that same reason, we might favour accounts that share content on social media that we find funny.
#MotivationalMonday and #WednesdayWisdom are in the same vein – and really works for some brands. Most people love motivational quotes because they are short, generally witty, and can be quite relatable.
Whether it is an everyday skill, a simple hack, or a tutorial for a specific craft – people love learning new things. This is likely because new things activate the area in our brain that increases dopamine levels.
Questions have the potential to spark conversation. And when people engage with questions, they feel involved, and this creates a sense of community – the ideal for social media engagement.
Short video clips have the potential to create great engagement. And all you have to do is find it and curate it. Short clips get to the point, so they tend to catch people’s eye. Our brains are also hardwired for motion, so a video is bound to grab our attention.
More and more people are getting into podcasts, so there’s a good chance it will resonate with members of your community. This is also content that is easy to curate, but it can be big on return i.e. engagement.
The same way stories appeal to our emotions, facts and figures appeal to our rational side. Using stats and data can be a very effective way to support certain narratives, and interesting numbers always have the potential to spark conversation.
If you have an online tool or app that makes your life easier, chances are good that other people in your industry may also benefit from it. By sharing such helpful and authentic content, you show that your brand cares – and this can help build trust.
We love sharing our thoughts – no wonder the internet is such a busy place – and polls appeal to a variety of people as you can express multiple opinions or outcomes.
If you know what your audience’s pain points are, you can share tips that might help them and make their lives easier. This not only shows that you understand your audience and care about more than sales, but it also shows that you are knowledgeable.
You can guide your tips by looking at questions people are asking online. You could even structure content so that it answers frequently asked questions.
People won’t stop loving free things any time soon, and regular opportunities to win great stuff will make people come back for more. This can increase your reach, views and your engagement.
Your email list is one of the assets only you own so, that in itself should be motivation to get as many people as you can to sign up.
Share industry news that your audience may find interesting, and add your thoughts. This will help to start a conversation with your audience, but it will also show them that you are up to date with what is going on in your industry.
There is nothing wrong with product posts or posts that promote your services. The problem comes in when this is the only kind of content you share. People are likely interested in your offering, but they are also clued up and know what they want, and what they are looking for is a variety of interesting, memorable content.
Affinity bias, also known as similarity bias, is the tendency we have to connect with people who share our views, interests, experiences and backgrounds. Therefore, if a third party – we view as similar – recommends a certain product, we deduce that we might feel the same way.
Testimonials also speak to the psychological phenomenon called social proof. This is the idea that, since others are doing it, we should be doing it, too.
Third-party endorsements are powerful and a feature in the media is something you must share as soon as it happens.
A sneak peek creates a sense of exclusivity. It motivates people to return to your page for updates or for additional exclusive content.
People engage with blogs because they want to learn something new. And learning something new releases dopamine, which is a type of neurotransmitter and hormone known to make us feel good.
So, we established that our brain releases some feel-good chemicals when we learn something new – but the great thing is, this can be any kind of new information. Therefore, if you know about an unknown feature of your product(s) or service(s), you must share it with your audience.
There are a number of ways you can entice your audience with discounts and special offers, and the approach can be applied to companies that provide products as well as those who provide services. You can host a flash sale or provide a discount to people who sign up for your newsletter – the possibilities are endless.
There is no reason why you cannot reshare old content. The nature of social media is fleeting, and the odds are good that there are audience members who didn’t see the content the first time you shared it. Find blog pieces that you can update with new and current information and reshare the updated content. Chances are good that the people who engaged with it initially will be interested in reading the update.
Case studies also elicit social proof and is an interesting format because it allows you to tell a story, and you get a chance to explain the more complicated side of your service or products with real-world examples.
We love talking about the weather and it definitely influences our mood, so no wonder seasonal content is relevant to the majority of audiences. Be mindful of how you engage with holidays and remember that consistency is key, therefore, once you start you have to consistently post on the same holidays every year.
Last month, we shared why there will be an increased expectation of brands and businesses to make an authentic, relevant, and positive impact. American research reveals that 85% of consumers have a more positive view of a brand or business when it supports a charity they care about.
Some people simply cannot help themselves when they see a fill-in-the-blank post and have to respond. This means this post is geared for engagement. Try to create content about your business or product, your industry or random topics.
Being able to talk about more than your own brand gives depth to a brand, and makes you more human. And when you endorse other brands, chances are good that the same will be done for you. The key is to keep it relevant.
At the end of the day, our consumers are the ones that make or break our brands. So, why not take the time to thank them for their support. This kind of content can also be a fresh take on sharing client testimonials.
This kind of post is an opportunity to give clients all the feels – tell a story and keep it simple and relatable.