Social Media Content: Types, Tips and Best Practices

Team Locowise posted on 24 October 2023

Welcome to the dynamic world of social media, where content is king and creativity reigns supreme. In today’s digital landscape, it’s crucial for brands to craft social media content that not only stands out but also resonates with their audience.

So, delve into the diverse array of social media content types and take away some practical tips and best practices for leveraging them effectively. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or a social media newbie, read on to learn how to elevate your online presence and captivate your audience across all your social channels.

What is social media content?
Best Practices for Creating Social Media Content
11 Best Types of Social Media Content to Try in 2023

What is social media content?

Social media content is any type of information that is shared on social media platforms, such as text, images, videos, audio, and links. It can be created by individuals, businesses, organizations, and brands. Social media content can be used to entertain, inform, educate, and persuade audiences.

Social media content can be divided into two main categories:

Organic content is content that is created and shared by users without any paid promotion.

Paid content is content that is promoted by businesses and organizations using paid advertising.

Social media content is an important part of digital marketing strategies. Businesses and organizations use social media content to connect with their target audiences, build brand awareness, drive traffic to their websites, and generate leads and sales.

Here are some examples of social media content:

Text posts: These are short messages that can be used to share announcements, news articles, blog posts, and other types of information.
Images: Images are a great way to capture people’s attention and tell a story. Businesses and organizations often use images to promote their products and services, share behind-the-scenes photos, and showcase their culture.
Videos: Videos are another engaging form of social media content. Businesses and organizations can use videos to create product demos, tell stories, and share educational content.
Audio: Audio content is becoming increasingly popular on social media. Businesses and organizations can use audio to create podcasts, interviews, and other types of audio content.
Links: Links can be used to share articles, blog posts, videos, and other types of content from other websites.

When creating social media content, it’s essential to consider your target audience and what type of content they are most likely to engage with. You should also create content that is relevant to your brand and that aligns with your business goals.

Best Practices for Creating Social Media Content

Regardless of the social channel, there are some top best practices to keep in mind when creating and sharing content on your accounts.

Know your audience: The first step is to understand your target audience. What are their interests? What kind of content do they like to consume? Once you know your audience, you can create content that is relevant to them and that they are likely to engage with.
Create high-quality content: Your content should be well-written, informative, and engaging. Use high-quality images and videos to capture people’s attention.
Be consistent: Post regularly and consistently to keep your audience engaged.
Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. When using hashtags, be sure to use relevant and popular hashtags that are relevant to your content and your target audience.
Interact with your audience: Social media is a two-way street. Don’t just post content and then disappear. Respond to comments and questions. Participate in conversations.
Use a variety of content formats: Don’t just post the same type of content over and over again. Mix things up by posting a variety of content formats, such as text posts, images, videos, and links.
Tell stories: People love stories. Use social media to tell stories about your brand, your products and services, and your customers.
Be authentic: People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be authentic and genuine in your interactions with your audience.
Have fun! Social media should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun, it will show in your content.

Most importantly, use social media analytics. It’s difficult to truly see what is working best without taking a look at the reach and engagement data on your content. Social media tools like Locowise can automate most of the analysis and recommendations for you with predictive and smart analytics – Try it out for free!

11 Best Types of Social Media Content to Try in 2023

1. Short-Form Video

Short-form video is any video that is less than 60 seconds long. It is one of the most popular types of social media content, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts driving billions of views each day.

Short-form video is effective because it is easy to consume and can be used to tell a story, share a product demo, or simply entertain an audience in a short amount of time. It is also highly engaging, with users spending more time watching short-form videos than any other type of content on social media.

Here are some tips for creating effective short-form video content:

Hook your audience in the first few seconds: The first few seconds of your video are critical for grabbing the viewer’s attention. Use strong visuals and interesting text to hook your audience and make them want to watch more.
Keep your videos short and to the point: Short-form videos should be no longer than 60 seconds long. Get to the point quickly and avoid adding any unnecessary content.
Use high-quality visuals: Short-form videos should be visually appealing. Use high-quality video and images to capture the viewer’s attention.
Add music and sound effects: Music and sound effects can add interest and excitement to your short-form videos. Choose music and sound effects that are relevant to your content and that will appeal to your target audience.
Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to get your short-form videos seen by more people. Use relevant and popular hashtags that are relevant to your content and your target audience.

2. Behind-the-scenes content

Behind-the-scenes content is any content that gives your audience a glimpse into the inner workings of your business. This could include photos and videos of your office, your team, or your products and services being made.

Behind-the-scenes content is effective because it helps to humanize your brand and build trust with your audience. It shows that you are a real business with real people working behind the scenes. It also helps to give your audience a better understanding of your products and services.

Behind-the-scenes content can be used on all social media platforms, but it is particularly effective on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which are known for their visual content.

Here are some tips for creating effective behind-the-scenes content:

Be authentic: People can spot a fake from a mile away. Be genuine and authentic in your behind-the-scenes content.
Show your personality: Let your brand’s personality shine through in your behind-the-scenes content. This will help to humanize your brand and make it more relatable to your audience.
Tell stories: People love stories. Use behind-the-scenes content to tell stories about your brand, your products and services, and your team.
Be creative: There are no rules when it comes to behind-the-scenes content. Be creative and have fun with it.

3. Product demos

A product demo on social media is a short video or series of images that shows how a product or service works. It can be used to educate potential customers about the product’s features and benefits, and to persuade them to make a purchase.

Product demos are effective on social media because they are visually appealing and easy to consume. People are more likely to watch a video or look at a series of images than they are to read a block of text. Product demos can also be used to show the product in action, which can help potential customers to understand how it works and how it can benefit them.

Here are some tips for creating effective product demos for social media:

Keep it short and to the point: People have short attention spans, so keep your product demos short and to the point. Focus on the most important features and benefits of the product.
Use high-quality visuals: Your product demos should be visually appealing. Use high-quality video and images to capture the viewer’s attention.
Be clear and concise: Explain the product’s features and benefits in a clear and concise way. Avoid using technical jargon that your target audience may not understand.
Use a call to action: Tell your viewers what you want them to do after watching your product demo, such as visiting your website or signing up for a free trial.

4. Live Video

Live video on social media is a real-time video stream that is broadcast to your followers. It can be used to interact with your audience in real time, answer questions, share behind-the-scenes content, or simply have a conversation.

Live video is effective on social media because it is authentic and engaging. It allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level and show them the real side of your brand. Live video is also highly interactive, and viewers can ask questions and comment in real time.

Here are some tips for hosting a successful live video on social media:

Promote your live video in advance: Let your followers know when and where you will be going live so that they can tune in.
Have a plan: Decide what you want to talk about or do during your live video. This will help you to stay on track and avoid rambling.
Be interactive: Encourage your viewers to ask questions and comment in real time. Respond to comments and questions promptly.
Use high-quality video and audio: Make sure that your video and audio are high-quality so that your viewers can see and hear you clearly.
End with a call to action: Tell your viewers what you want them to do after watching your live video, such as visiting your website or signing up for your newsletter.

5. GIFS and Memes

GIFs and memes are two of the most popular forms of communication on social media. GIFs are short, animated images that can be used to express emotions, react to events, or simply share a laugh. Memes are images or videos that are often humorous or satirical and are shared widely online.

GIFs and memes are effective on social media because they are engaging, due to the fact that they are visually appealing and easy to consume. They’re also highly relatable as they tap into shared cultural experiences. This help build a connection with your target audience and make the brand more human. Finally, GIFs and memes are super shareable, so they have a hugely positive impact on your engagement rate and other metrics.

Here are some tips for using GIFs and memes effectively on social media:

Make sure they are relevant to your audience: Choose GIFs and memes that your audience will find funny or relatable. Avoid using GIFs and memes that are offensive or insensitive.
Use them sparingly: Don’t overuse GIFs and memes in your social media posts. Too many GIFs and memes can make your content look unprofessional and spammy.
Give credit where credit is due: If you use a GIF or meme that you didn’t create, be sure to give credit to the creator. You can do this by including a link to the original source in your post.

6. Text-Based Posts

Text-based posts are simple text posts that are shared on social media platforms. They can be used to share news, announcements, blog posts, or any other type of information.

Text-based posts are effective for a number of reasons. They are clear and concise, easy to read and understand, and easy to share on social media. This helps to spread your message and reach a wider audience. Text-based posts are particularly effective on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Here are some tips for writing effective text-based posts for social media:

Keep it short and to the point: People have short attention spans, so keep your text-based posts short and to the point. Focus on the most important information and avoid using unnecessary fluff.
Use clear and concise language: Avoid using jargon or technical language that your audience may not understand. Use clear and concise language to make your posts easy to read and understand.
Use a call to action: Tell your followers what you want them to do after reading your post, such as visiting your website, signing up for your newsletter, or sharing your post with their networks.
Use relevant hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to get your text-based posts seen by more people. Use relevant hashtags that your audience is likely to search for.

7. Customer stories

Customer stories on social media are stories about customers who have used and loved a brand’s products or services. They can be shared in a variety of formats, such as text posts, videos, and images.

Customer stories are effective on social media because they are authentic and trustworthy. They show potential customers that real people have used and benefited from the brand’s products or services. This can help to build trust and credibility with potential customers and increase their likelihood of making a purchase.

Here are some tips for using customer stories effectively on social media:

Make sure they are authentic: Customer stories should be authentic and genuine. Avoid using fake or staged customer stories.
Be specific: When sharing customer stories, be specific about how the brand’s products or services have helped the customer. For example, instead of saying “Our customer loved our new product,” say “Our customer used our new product to lose 10 pounds in 3 months.”
Use visuals: Visuals can help to make customer stories more engaging and impactful. Use photos and videos of customers using and loving your products or services whenever possible.
Encourage customers to share their stories: Encourage your customers to share their stories about using your products or services on social media. You can do this by offering incentives, such as discounts or giveaways, or by simply asking your customers to share their stories.

8. User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) on social media is any type of content that is created and shared by users, rather than brands. This can include text posts, images, videos, reviews, and testimonials.

UGC is effective on social media because it’s authentic and trustworthy. This is especially important in today’s digital world, where consumers are increasingly skeptical of traditional marketing messages. Secondly, it’s highly relevant to your target audience, often more so than brand-created content because it is created by people who are passionate about the products or services.

Here are some tips for using UGC effectively on social media:

Encourage users to create and share content: Make it easy for users to create and share content about your brand by providing clear instructions and using relevant hashtags. You can also offer incentives, such as discounts or giveaways, to encourage users to share their content.
Moderate UGC carefully: Before sharing UGC on your social media channels, be sure to moderate it carefully to remove any inappropriate or offensive content.
Give credit to users: When sharing UGC, be sure to give credit to the user who created it. You can do this by tagging them in the post or by including their username in the caption.

9. Contests and giveaways:

Contest and giveaways on social media are promotions where users can enter to win prizes by completing certain tasks, such as following the brand’s social media accounts, liking and commenting on posts, tagging friends, or sharing content.

Contests and giveaways are effective because they increase engagement, generate buzz and help you collect user data like names and emails for further follow-up to drive ROI on your social campaigns.

Here are some tips for running effective contests and giveaways on social media:

Choose the right prize: The prize you choose for your contest or giveaway should be something that your target audience will find valuable and desirable. This will help to attract more entries and generate more excitement.
Make it easy to enter: The entry process for your contest or giveaway should be as simple and straightforward as possible. Avoid asking users to complete complex tasks or provide too much personal information.
Announce the winner promptly: Once your contest or giveaway has ended, be sure to announce the winner promptly. This will help to maintain trust and credibility with your audience.

10. Long-Form Video

Long-form video on social media is video content that is longer than the typical short-form video content that is found on social media platforms. Long-form video content can be anything from 10 minutes to several hours in length.

Long-form video content allows you to tell a story, helping you to connect with your audience on a deeper level and build stronger relationships.

Here are some tips for creating effective long-form video content for social media:

Choose the right topic: When choosing a topic for your long-form video content, be sure to choose something that is relevant to your audience and that they will find interesting.
Tell a story: Your long-form video content should tell a story. This will help to keep your viewers engaged and watching for longer periods of time.
Use high-quality video and audio: Make sure that your long-form video content is high-quality in terms of video and audio. This will help to create a professional impression and make your content more enjoyable to watch.
Promote your video: Once you have created your long-form video content, be sure to promote it on all of your social media channels. You can also use email marketing and paid advertising to reach a wider audience.

11. Live Q&A sessions:

A live Q&A on social media is a live video event where a brand or individual answers questions from their audience in real time. Live Q&As can be hosted on any social media platform that supports live video streaming, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

Live Q&As are interactive, allowing brands to interact with their audience in a direct and personal way. They’re a great way to share information about your brand, your products or services, or your industry with your audience.

Here are some tips for hosting a successful live Q&A on social media:

Choose the right platform: Choose a social media platform that is popular with your target audience and that supports live video streaming.
Prepare for the Q&A: Before the Q&A, take some time to review the questions that you have received and to think about how you will answer them. This will help you to deliver informative and engaging answers.
Have a moderator: If you are hosting a large Q&A, consider having a moderator to help you manage the questions and keep the Q&A on track.

Measure Your Social Media Content Performance With Pinpoint Accuracy

Creating and sharing high-quality social media content takes time and effort, but it is well worth it. By following the tips here, you can create social media content that will engage your audience in a sustainable and measurable way.

But knowing what content works best, including when and where, requires powerful analytics capabilities—especially for social media managers juggling multiple accounts and clients. With Locowise, you can track your social media performance, measure the impact of your content, and easily identify areas for improvement.

Ready to drive social media success through optimized social media content? Embark on your journey with Locowise’s free trial and transform your content strategy!

See for yourself how our smart and predictive analytics make building engaging content a dream—try it for free!