How to Create Content for Social Media, the Right Way

by Daniel Stock— min read

How to Create Content for Social Media, the Right Way

At first glance, creating content for social media seems simple. And technically speaking, that’s accurate; virtually anyone can create and post content on platforms like Facebook or TikTok. The tricky part, however, is creating content that resonates with a user’s (or a business’s) target audience.

Not to worry, though. The following guide will show you how to create content for social media, the right way.

Importance of Creating Social Media Content

Creating social media content is so important for one simple reason: It’s where your audience is. Nearly one out of four Americans primarily use social media to conduct internet searches; in particular, roughly one-third of millennials and 46% of Gen Z prefer such platforms to search engines.

Therefore, regardless of the niche you operate in or your goals, establishing and maintaining a strong social media marketing presence can help you grow your business. 

These ten tips will set you on the path to creating content for social media that engages audiences and drives greater growth for your business:

1. Know Your Audience Deeply

You may think you already know your audience, but you must ask yourself whether you know its members well enough to create truly high-impact social media content. The more you know, the better and more personalized your content will be. 

To that end, before you start creating new content, dig a little deeper into who it is you want to reach. Use analytics tools, polls, comments, and perhaps even direct messages to learn what your audience likes, needs, and reacts to. You also need to determine which platforms they are most active on. 

2. Use Strong Visuals and Motion

Social media platforms prioritize high-quality visuals. Stock graphics and blurry photos simply aren’t going to grab your audience’s attention when they are exploring their favorite platform. You need sharp images and especially motion to stop their scrolls. Short videos are one of your best options; a 15 to 30-second clip can grab your audience’s attention and relay your message before they lose interest. 

3. Write Clear, Compelling Captions

Captions are where the conversation happens, so make them count. You want to be concise, but make sure you don’t sound like a robot, either. You need to use language that is on-brand and engaging. You might even want to use some emojis (assuming doing so fits your vibe). Ask questions, share quick stories, and get the audience thinking. 

4. Leverage User-Generated Content

If your customers or followers are posting about you, use that activity to your advantage. User-generated content (UGC) builds trust and gives you free, authentic material that showcases your product or service organically. 

There are lots of ways to tap into UGC. Reshare Instagram Stories or repost positive reviews. You can even create entire posts around customer shoutouts. Just make sure that you give proper credit to your loyal supporters. 

5. Post Consistently and Strategically

You can’t wait to be struck by inspiration to post on social media; consistency is key when trying to grow your brand. Therefore, it’s best to create a calendar and have content ready ahead of time. While you don’t need to post every day, you should be publishing content a few times per week. Choose consistent days and times that you can stick to. 

Need more content, faster? Check out our AI Video Generator for Social Media.

6. Tell Authentic, Brand-Aligned Stories

Social media users can spot something fake from a mile away. The best content is that which feels real and human. Tell stories about your brand, the challenges it has overcome, and the people behind it. Ultimately, you want to give people a reason to follow your page and interact with you. 

7. Optimize Content for Each Platform

Every platform has its unique strengths and weaknesses. While you can repost and share content across multiple channels, you may need to fine-tune your messaging to adapt to each one to maximize its impact. 

8. Use Data to Refine Content Themes

As you begin posting on social media, you’ll learn more about what your audience likes and dislikes. Use these insights to focus on your content themes, build on what’s working, and pull back on anything that isn’t. This is critical if you want to boost engagement and take full advantage of social media algorithms.

Jumping on social media video trends can help you reach new audiences and stay relevant. That doesn’t mean you need to do every dance or meme that pops up, to be fair, but you should aim to be aware of what’s happening. 

10. Include Clear Calls-to-Action

Every post should have a purpose. A strong call to action (CTA) can turn passive scrollers into new followers, leads, or customers. Keep your CTA simple and to the point. Some social media CTA examples include “Check out the link in our bio!” and “Tag someone who needs this!” 

Bonus Tip: Know When to Post

Timing can seriously affect how well your content performs. Your audience might be online early, during the late-night hours, or during their lunch breaks. Try out some different publishing times and see when your followers are most active. 

Create Social Media Video Content at Scale

Video marketing represents one of the most powerful and engaging forms of social media content. However, creating social media videos at scale without cutting corners on quality is a major barrier for many brands. 

QuickFrame enables you to create better videos faster. Our end-to-end video production platform is user-friendly and packed with powerful tools to level up your content. Additionally, you’ll have access to our community of Makers, video pros who can help with everything from scripting to filming and post-production editing. 

Creating Content for Social Media: Final Thoughts

Knowing how to create content for social media the right way isn’t a matter of pumping out flawless videos. To succeed, you need to know your audience, continuously strive to get better, and be consistent.