Creating content for social media can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. There are thousands of ideas floating around the Web—content curation sites, friends’ blogs, and other social media users. To help make content sharing easier, here are a few places you can begin your search for the best content.
You can stop stalking your friends, watching cooking videos on YouTube, wondering when you’ll get another chance to take that trip you want to take! We’ve put together some of the best social media content ideas to help get you started on your online journey.
Buzzsumo
Content Tool for Social Media – Buzzsumo
Some say Buzzsumo is a social media marketer’s best friend, and when it comes to looking for information to share with your audience, that’s true. Buzzsumo allows you to find the most popular social media content, and you can search for it by categories like date, keywords, and even the type of content.
Buzzsumo is also a great way to find influencers relevant to your industry, which can be another wonderful source for content.
Twitter Search
Content Tool for Social Media – Twitter Search
While many people may not think of Twitter as a search engine, a quick glance through the results for a particular keyword or hashtag can bring you everything from news to relevant memes that relate to your niche.
You can also create a list of your favorite content providers and do a quick survey of it each day. It’s a great place to look when you’re in a hurry and need quick content to share.
Facebook Fan Pages
Content Tool for Social Media – Facebook Fan Pages
There is a Facebook Fan Page for practically everything these days, and many of them provide excellent share-worthy content. Look for pages that relate to your niche, or pay attention to the content being shared by leaders in your industry. One of the best things about using Facebook Fan Pages is that you can sign up to receive notifications every time the pages relevant to you make a post.
User-generated content (UGC)
UGC is content others create and you repost (while giving credit to the original creator).
For example, it’s reposting someone else’s content and tagging them on the post.
On Twitter, it’s as simple as a retweet.
UGC is an EASY and smart way to increase engagement and reach.
New and existing followers are motivated to connect with you when they see these posts.
Why?
Like you, they probably want to increase their following, too!
UGC shows your followers that you care about and keep up with your audience.
GoPro models UGC very well!
They consistently share content their followers capture with GoPro cameras.
Here’s one example of an Instagram repost:
UGC is ESPECIALLY successful on Instagram.
Followers love bragging to their friends and colleagues about being featured!
And who knows?
The accounts you repost from may decide to create UGC too.
And they may just re-post YOUR content as a “back-atcha.”
Here’s how to find and use UGC:
- Monitor your social platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
- Find content featuring your product (check your tags and hashtags).
- Re-post, re-share, re-tweet (make sure you credit the original poster)!
KEY TAKEAWAY: Post UGC to show your fans you support them and keep your content fresh.
Quotes
Quotes are WILDLY popular on social media.
They help inspire and motivate people when they need an extra boost.
Quotes can be all text but using images is a GAME changer.
Facebook and Instagram users are particularly attracted to high-quality visuals.
Use a variety of quotes, including:
- life quotes
- funny quotes
- motivational quotes
- famous quotes
Use Post Planner’s Content Stream to organize all your quotes posts in one place.
Post Planner lets you search specific topics on various platform feeds.
For example, you can search for “indoor plants” and explore results from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and more.
Add up to 50 feeds to your content stream by clicking the green plus button.
Lock in your picks by clicking “Save to Stream.”
Finally, give your new stream a name like “Social Media Quotes.”
Voila!
Your stream of quotes is ready to go.
Even better?
You don’t have to scroll through hundreds of social media pages to find content.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Use Post Planner to find TONS of quote ideas for your social media posts.
Pinterest Search
Content Tool for Social Media – Pinterest Search
Pinterest is not just a hotbed for impossible-to-replicate recipes, though depending on your niche, those do make great content.
You’ll find a little bit of everything on this social media site, from photos and memes to how-tos and instructional blog posts. Simply use the search bar and get lost in a world of visual content. Follow your favorites to keep your feed updated with good stuff to share with your audience.
Podcasts
Podcasts have gained HUGE momentum.
Every Gen Zoomer and their grandma has a favorite podcast.
At the same time, there are fewer podcasts than social media accounts to follow.
That said, consider creating a podcast to get more listeners (and more brand exposure).
Your podcasts give you original content to post about on your social media accounts.
Some social platforms (such as Facebook and Twitter) don’t allow direct audio uploads.
On those accounts, you have 2 options:
- Share the link to the podcast in your caption or post.
- Create a static image, layer the podcast audio over the image, and upload the final content as a video.
Even better?
Chop your podcast into snippets for social like Chris.
This way, your social media followers can listen without visiting an external page.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Create a podcast and share it on social profiles.
Campaign for Social Causes
Social causes connect really well with people. Everyone wants to contribute to social causes in some way or the other. Creating content for social media where your brand is doing something to help society can benefit you.
There are good chances of your content being shared if it shows your brand taking a stand. People like to show their support for causes, and sharing posts related to causes is one way of showing it.
Even if your brand isn’t directly taking some initiative for social welfare, you can still benefit from social causes. If you showcase your brand’s support towards a cause, it tends to connect better with the people. It also gives the audience an incentive to spread the word regarding the initiative.
Image via YouTube
For example, 4Ocean posted a video that showed how they are cleaning up the oceans. They also show that you can support their campaigns by purchasing a bracelet that is made from the recycled material.
This sort of social media content can evoke strong emotions in the audience which cares about the environment and the oceans. They may share the content on their social media or may even purchase the product to support the cause.
Conclusion
It can be hard to come up with fresh and engaging content for social media. Finding the topics you want to talk about, and coming up with the perfect message can be daunting!