And how can you use this information to start optimizing your content strategy?
A lot goes into a content strategy and an efficient one can take months, if not years, to build. However, don’t let that stop you from starting! Below we will discuss the basics of why people use social media and how you can use this information to build a base for your content strategy.
People use social media for three reasons:
- Information: Individuals want to learn, stay up-to-date on events, and read the news.
- Entertainment: Many users logon to relax, have a good laugh, or watch video
- Connection: Communication is a key component of social media and is the reason so many people use it in their daily lives.
By knowing this, your business goals, and your target audience you can start to create and schedule engaging content.
Informative content can be seen in several forms. As a business, your role is to teach your followers something about your industry, news, or show them a tutorial. These posts are great for engaging users who are interested in learning more about your industry or how to perform a specific task. Some example posts include:
- How-to tutorial
- Definition about a product or industry related concept
- Education post about the industry
- Fun Facts
- Historic Throwback
Many individuals turn to social media for a good laugh, chuckle, or other amusements. Businesses in particular should be conscious with how they approach entertainment. Jokes, memes, or stories should stay on brand with the company. Some examples of these posts include:
- Relatable memes
- Joke about a current event
- Throwback Thursday photos
- Video
Creating connections is the root of why many social media platforms were created. From a business perspective, it is important to use your platform to create lasting relationships with customers. Content that fits this category includes:
- Relatable posts
- Behind the Scenes Shots
- Day-to-day tasks
- Asking your users questions
- Polls
In the midst of all of the above content, a business will also want to sell their product or service. However, despite what many may think, selling content should only consist of a small percent of your content. Rather than continuously selling and talking to your users, get involved and build relationships. While still being authentic to your brand, engage with users, use hashtags, participate in the appropriate groups, and ask your followers questions.
By understanding exactly why users come to social media platforms, a business can easily structure and plan its content. For more about specific social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, check out our article “Which Social Media Should My Business Be On?”
xx, Carlie
Carlie Huss 