Social Media Content - the 5 Most Effective Types

The world of social media is always changing. What worked last year might not work this year. Social media content is crucial. According to HubSpot’s 2023 Marketing Strategy Trends Report, 42% of marketers use social media, and it provides the highest return on investment compared to other promotional channels. Given this, it's obvious that businesses should use social media to reach their goals. Whether you're updating your strategy or starting on social media for the first time, it's important to know what kind of content works best. Here are the top five most effective types of social media content.

Video Content

It's no surprise that video content is one of the most effective types of social media content. Short-form videos, in particular, are a great investment with the highest return on investment for social media marketing. Examples of short-form videos include Instagram Reels and TikTok videos. While long-form video content is also popular, it doesn't offer the same return on investment as short-form videos. Videos are a great way to reach your audience because they allow you to quickly grab their attention and be concise. Succeeding on social media is all about condensing a lot of information while keeping your audience engaged and wanting more, and that's exactly what video content does. It's a fantastic way to seamlessly convey your brand's message.

Educational Content

Educational content is also one of the most effective types of social media content. It involves sharing useful information with audiences and is strategic in helping brands achieve their goals. Educational content can take the form of how-to guides, checklists, explainers, case studies, and tips and best practices.

Why does it work so well? The most important aspect of educational content is providing value. Social media users appreciate when brands move away from their usual promotional material and offer them guidance. This guidance could be something like how to style a specific piece of clothing for different occasions or how to keep your laptop running smoothly. You're an expert in your industry, and everyone appreciates some free advice.

This advice could be just enough to encourage them to use your products or services soon. Educational content helps establish your brand as an authority or thought leader in your field. As a result, it has long-term effects in building and maintaining trust with consumers, as well as increasing credibility.

Storytelling Content

A compelling story has the power to inspire followers to take action and positively remember your brand. That's why storytelling content is one of the four most effective types of social media content. Storytelling evokes emotions and allows businesses to create an emotional bond with their audience.

Examples of this type of content can include testimonials and success stories, brand origin stories, user-generated content, team spotlights, and behind-the-scenes content. The reason it works so well is that it can make followers resonate and relate, while also fostering a deeper connection with the brand.

Funny Content

We all enjoy a good laugh, which is why we shouldn't overlook funny content. Trendy, humorous, and relatable social media content can involve using popular sounds or hashtags, or joining in on viral memes and connecting them to your company.

This type of content demands staying updated on the latest events on social media, current trends, and cultural phenomena. Funny content is highly effective because it's so memorable.

User-Generated Content

Finally, we have user-generated content (UGC). For those who may not be familiar with this term, it essentially refers to content created by your followers that features your business. For example, someone might create a visually appealing reel showcasing one of your sofas in their home or do a try-on haul of clothing they bought at your store.

People post this kind of content on social media every day, and it serves as free promotional material for brands. This type of content is great to share across your social media channels because it shows your audience that people use and enjoy your products. They are endorsing your company in a very authentic way that people trust.

User-generated content pays off; customers trust reviews from family and friends much more than they trust branded ads. An impressive 79% of people claim that this kind of content significantly influences their purchase decisions more than influencer or branded content. UGC content performs best on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Summary

The world of social media is always changing, but you can rely on our team of social media experts to keep you informed about the latest trends, tips, and tricks. Staying updated on what's trending is crucial for building a strong content strategy that will help you achieve your goals.

If you're keen on incorporating these highly effective types of social media content and want to excel at it, get in touch with us today. Our Ocean Power team would be thrilled to leverage the power of social media to elevate your business. Make sure to follow us on all our social media platforms for the latest advice, insights, and best practices!