We’ve talked before about how to create a strong social media content strategy. Now it’s time to fill it up with great content!  

If you ask a bunch of experts about how to connect with your audience, you’ll get a bunch of different answers. All of them might be right in their own way. With that said, there are some general trends for content you can use to boost your engagement. Use some (or all, if you’re feeling fancy) of these recommendations to see the best results. 

What Type of Social Media Content is Best? 

Right off the bat, you need to choose what type of social media content to create. This handy graphic from Sprout Social shows some of the most popular types of content. 

Once you’ve chosen the kind of content you want, it’s time to level up to content themes. Based on research and data, here are some that we recommend and why. 

Themes for Social Media Content 

Infographics & Guides

Educational and entertaining, these helpful and informative posts make a viewer’s life easier, better, and a little more interesting. Plus, you can really make them stand out & tie back to your brand with a bit of design and style. 

Clients & Partner Highlight Posts

Do you play nice with others in the community? Tag and shout ‘em out online for a cross-audience bonus boost. This not only shows some well-deserved love, but it builds credibility and highlights your trustworthiness.

Reviews & Testimonials

Nothing is quite as sweet as social proof for online presence – so use positive past experiences from partners and clients to show why you’re an excellent choice for others. Plus, it reinforces brand loyalty when diehard fans notice you noticing them.

Brand Building

Social media is used for building your brand, so it’s important to have original content that includes your brand elements. Graphics, photos, and videos that show off who you are, what you do, and why you do it should be a big part of your social media content portfolio. 

User-Generated Content

If one of your followers or clients has a social media A-game, ask if you can repost or share something they’ve made. Usually, they appreciate the shout-out, and if you provide the customer experience that inspires the posts, this can be a constant source of great content.

People & Culture Posts

Here’s where you can highlight employees, show off your company culture, and invite your audience behind the scenes at team events. They don’t have to be fancy, either – for example, what’s a regular day for an employee like at your company? These posts are excellent to show who you are and what you stand for. 

Contests & Giveaways

Every so often, hold a contest or giveaway to reward loyal fans. You can use hashtags to track entries and engagement and get creative with your offering (which should tie back in with your business). These posts do really well at getting engagement and finding new customers, but pro tip – be careful not to do too many as it doesn’t lead to strong loyalty on its own.

Incentives & Promotions

Who doesn’t love 20% off a purchase? Use an attention-grabbing image to get noticed, then hook viewers with a solid deal. Promote it on your platforms and watch the sales roll in! Just make sure you set an expiration date, and try not to do it so often that people expect them all the time – something known as, “The Gap Effect”.

Stories, Reels & Livestreams 

Real-time, temporary content has carved out a huge chunk of online attention. You can boost authentic connections by using these features on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, or start a Livestream to interact personally with your audience and customers. These spur-of-the-moment places are only growing in popularity, so don’t be afraid to try them out.  

Motivational Quotes and Inspiring Stories

You can’t go wrong with an empowering, inspiring story that helps show what your brand believes in. Don’t have one ready? No sweat: choose a quote to pair with a relevant image, and relay a message you feel passionately about.

How to Build Engagement on Social Media 

Now that you’ve posted your content and taken these first steps, what comes next? You’ll need to follow up with some legwork – actually talking to the people who are looking at your posts, learning how and when to schedule your content, and keeping up with ever-changing best practices. This is all vital to boosting your content, drawing in an audience, and building a good brand reputation. It can get exhausting fast, so if you need any more tips and tricks on how to pull it off, our social team is here to help! 

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