Social media marketing is the powerhouse of digital connection. It’s where businesses of all sizes interact directly with their customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With a whopping 5.04 billion users as of Jan 2024 across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more, building your brand in the social world is crucial for success.
This blog will guide you through the essentials of social media marketing, common mistakes to avoid, savvy content strategies, and lesser-known tactics to boost your online presence. So, let’s begin.
5 Social Media Content Strategies
There are two common types of cases witnessed during content marketing for social media. One, the content that is helpful to your audience but does not generate any leads or sales. Two, the content is focused only on the promotion of products and looks like spam to your target customers!
This is why we have brought 5 different types of social media content strategies that will allow you to connect with your audience on a greater level and benefit your business at the same time.
1. Core Content: The Heart of Your Brand
What it is: Core content is the heart of your brand’s content marketing strategy. The Content Core is about making sure your content is both helpful to your customers and beneficial for your business growth.
Example: An infographic image: “5 Surprising Chemicals in Common Cleaners & Their Safer Alternatives” This addresses a customer pain point (harsh chemicals) and links subtly to the company’s product line.
Why it connects: Core content builds trust by demonstrating you understand your customers and offer solutions to their problems.
How to find your Content Core:
- Actively listen to your customers on social media, through surveys, or direct conversations.
- Pay attention to the problems they face and how they discuss them.
- Use those insights to create content that solves those problems while subtly showcasing what your business offers.
2. Contrarian Content: Spark a Friendly Debate
What it is: Contrarian content marketing is a strategy that uses controversial or standout opinions to help a brand stand out online. The goal is to surprise and entice the audience to decipher what the content is about.
Example: A marketing agency posts, “Unpopular opinion: Short-form videos aren’t ALWAYS the best for every business.”
Why it connects: People love expressing their viewpoints! Contrarian content gets people commenting, showing them you’re open to diverse perspectives.
How to find your Contrarian Takes:
- Identify common opinions or assumptions within your industry.
- Choose one you have a nuanced or partially opposing view on (don’t just be negative for the sake of it).
- Frame your post in a way that invites discussion, not argumentation.
3. Consult Content: Share Your Expertise
What it is: This is where you provide free tips, mini-tutorials, and actionable advice based on what you know. It builds your authority in your field.
Example: A personal finance coach creates a carousel post with “5 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill Without Sacrificing Nutrition.”
Why it connects: Everyone loves feeling empowered. Consult content positions you as a helpful resource, building trust over time.
How to find your Consult Content:
- List out your top areas of knowledge.
- Brainstorm common questions or struggles your target audience has related to those areas.
- Turn the answers into bite-sized, easy-to-understand social media posts.
4. Case Study Content: Success Stories Speak Volumes
What it is: Share real-world examples of how you’ve helped clients or customers. Numbers and specific results make it powerful.
Example: A website designer posts a before-and-after transformation of a client’s site, highlighting a 20% increase in conversions after the redesign.
Why it connects: Seeing proof of your work eliminates doubt for potential customers. Case studies demonstrate you get tangible results.
How to find your Case Study Angles:
- Review previous projects and identify those with clear, measurable results.
- Get client permission to share some of that data.
- Focus your post on the problem you solved, the process, and the positive outcome.
5. Conversion Content: The Nudge Towards Action
What it is: Content directly designed to get people to take the next step – signing up for your email list, booking a consultation, visiting your website, etc.
Example: “Limited Time Offer: Book a free discovery call today & get a 10% discount on your first project!”
Why it connects: Clear calls-to-action tell people exactly what to do, a sense of urgency or a perk sweetens the deal.
How to find your Conversion Content:
- Clearly define the specific action you want people to take (visit a page, sign up, book a call, etc.)
- Craft a short, compelling message that highlights value for the audience.
- Consider adding time sensitivity (“offer ends soon”) or a bonus to boost response.
5 Lesser-known Tactics For Social Media Marketing Success
- Facebook Events for Webinars/Online Workshops: Create events to promote online sessions, complete with built-in reminders and easy RSVP (Respond, if it pleases you) tracking. (Impact: Increased attendance positions you as a knowledge source.)
- Polls in Stories: It is a quick, and engaging way to gather feedback or spark curiosity within your target customers. Results can even be follow-up content. (Impact: Fun audience interaction, potential for insights.)
- Utilize Messenger Bots: Automate simple customer service tasks and answer FAQs outside business hours. (Impact: Improves customer experience, frees up team time.)
- Targeted Ads Based on Page Engagement: People who already interact with your Page are a valuable audience. Retarget them with specific offers. Impact: More likely to convert than ‘cold’ audiences.)
- Partner with Micro-Influencers: Smaller, niche influencers in your industry can have deeply engaged audiences. (Impact: Authentic-feeling promotion, the potential for high ROI.)
- Optimize for Search: Use relevant keywords in your bio, captions, and even hashtags. (Impact: Makes your content more discoverable outside your existing followers.)
- Collaborate on Reels: Partner with complementary accounts to create joint reels. (Impact: Tap into each other’s audiences, creative cross-pollination.)
- User-Generated Content (UGC) Campaigns: Encourage customers to use a specific hashtag and feature their posts. (Impact: Social proof builds community.)
- Post Consistently to Stories: Even when not posting to your feed, stay top-of-mind with quick updates or behind-the-scenes glimpses. (Impact: Keeps your audience engaged.)
- Pin Key Comments: Highlight great testimonials or answer common questions right at the top of your post’s comments. (Impact: Guides the conversation and controls perception.)
- Create ‘Tweet storms’: Instead of a single long Tweet, break content into a numbered thread (ex: “Tip #1… Tip #2…”). (Impact: Drives anticipation keeps people engaged.)
- Host Twitter Spaces: Live audio discussions on relevant topics. Great for networking and building authority. (Impact: Attracts new listeners, shareable content afterwards.)
- Polls as Conversation Starters: Pose open-ended questions, then actively participate in the replies and discussion. (Impact: Shows you value your audience’s opinions.)
- Newsjack Mindfully: If a major industry event or news story happens, offer unique insight quickly. (Impact: Potential for massive reach if done correctly.)
- Direct Messages (DMs) for Personalized Outreach: Use them (sparingly!) for networking or nurturing warm leads. (Impact: Builds a one-on-one connection.)
- Company Page Newsletters: Distribute longer form content to Page followers who opt-in. (Impact: Positions you as a thought leader, stays top-of-mind.)
- Showcase Pages: Create sub-pages for specific products, initiatives, or locations. (Impact: More targeted content, easier for people to find what they’re looking for.)
- Engage in LinkedIn Groups Strategically: Be a valuable contributor, not just a self-promoter. (Impact: Builds network within your niche, establishes expertise.)
- Optimize Your Personal Profile: It’s like your digital resume. Use keywords, highlight accomplishments. (Impact: Increases chances of being found by recruiters, clients.)
- Connect with People After Meeting IRL: Send a personalized connection request referencing your real-world conversation. (Impact: Takes the networking relationship beyond a business card exchange.)
Youtube
- Create Searchable Content: Treat YouTube like a search engine. Optimize titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. (Impact: Improves the chances of your videos appearing in organic search results.)
- “Chapters” for Long Videos: Timestamps in the video description break down content, allowing viewers to skip to specific sections. (Impact: Improves user experience, may increase watch time.)
- End Screens & Cards: Proactively suggest other videos or subscribe links during the last bit of a video. (Impact: Keeps viewers engaged and guides them toward desired actions.)
- Engage with Comments Thoughtfully: Timely replies build a sense of community. Pinning key comments steers conversation. (Impact: Encourages loyalty, fosters positive space.)
- Repurpose Videos into Shorts: Short vertical snippets from longer videos can attract new viewers via the Shorts feed. (Impact: Reaches a different audience, may drive traffic to your main channel.)
Wrapping Up
Understanding the concepts is step one; now it’s time for action! Start by auditing your current social media presence and identifying one key area for improvement based on what you’ve learned. Even small strategic changes can lead to big wins over time. So, are you ready to take your brand’s social presence to the next level?
Remember, by consistently providing value, engaging in conversations, and fostering a sense of belonging, you’ll transform followers into loyal advocates and ignite genuine brand growth.