Coming up with fresh and engaging ideas for social media content can be a challenge, but it’s crucial for building an active and loyal following. Luckily, there are plenty of options to inspire your creativity and keep your audience interested.
To make the most of social media, it is important to have a strategy in place. Determine the platforms that are most relevant to your business and target audience and create a content calendar to ensure you are consistently sharing engaging and informative posts. Consider showcasing employee stories, team outings, and company events to give followers a glimpse into your company’s culture.
Here are some fun content ideas to consider.
Idea #1: Employee Spotlights
Social media platforms present a valuable opportunity for businesses to showcase their employees’ achievements, share their unique stories, and promote their professional expertise. By featuring your employees on social media, you can effectively demonstrate that you value their contributions to the company, while also creating a sense of community within your organization.
Additionally, sharing your employees’ accomplishments can help to build trust and credibility with your outside of the office audience. When your followers see that your employees are knowledgeable and passionate about their work, they are more likely to trust your brand and become loyal customers. When they get to know the employees a bit more, they become real instead of just workers behind the scenes. This can help build a more united marriage of purchasing power for the buyer as they know their purchase is helping these employees too.
Posting about your employees on social media can also help to attract top talent to your organization. By showcasing your company culture and the accomplishments of your employees, you can position your business as an attractive place to work and attract candidates who share your values and goals.
Overall, featuring your employees on social media can be a powerful tool for building your brand, strengthening your community, growing engagement and attracting top talent to your organization.
Idea #2: Company Culture
Utilizing social media to showcase your company’s culture, values and personality can help create a strong brand identity and connect with your audience. By having a strategy in place and consistently sharing engaging content, you can build a community of loyal followers who are invested in your company’s success.
Here are a few ideas for posts that can show off your company culture:
Share photos or videos from company events, such as team-building activities, volunteer work, or celebrations.
Highlight individual employees or teams who are doing great work or embodying your company values (see Idea #1).
Share stories or testimonials from customers or partners who have had positive experiences with your company.
Show off your company’s unique office space, perks, or amenities.
Share blog posts, articles, or videos that align with your company values or interests.
Remember, the key to showcasing your company culture on social media is authenticity. Don’t be afraid to show your personality and let your values shine through. By doing so, you can attract like-minded customers and employees who will help your business thrive.
Idea #3: This or That Posts
“This or That” posts are a great way to engage your audience and encourage them to interact with your social media content. These posts typically present the audience with two options and ask them to choose between them. Here are a few tips for creating effective “This or That” posts:
Keep it simple: Make sure your options are clear and easy to understand. Avoid using complex language or confusing terminology.
Stay on-brand: Make sure your options are relevant to your brand and audience. For example, if you’re a food blogger, you might ask your audience to choose between pizza or tacos.
Use visuals: Including images or graphics with your post can make it more eye-catching and encourage more engagement.
Keep it fun: “This or That” posts are a great opportunity to inject some personality and humor into your social media content. Don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun with your options!
“This or That” posts are a great way to spark conversation and engagement with your audience. Just remember to keep it simple, relevant, and fun!
Idea #4: Milestone Posts
Milestone posts on social media are a great way to celebrate your company’s achievements and engage with your followers. While they might seem a bit self-serving, they are a great way to allow your followers to easily engage and connect with you. Here are some tips on how to write effective milestone posts:
Start with a catchy headline: Grab the attention of your audience with a headline that highlights your achievement. For example, “We’ve reached 10,000 followers on Instagram!” or “Celebrating 5 years in business!”
Share the story behind the milestone: People love to hear the story behind your success. Share what led to this milestone and any challenges you faced along the way. This will make your post more relatable and humanize your brand.
Include visuals: Visuals are a great way to make your milestone post stand out. Share photos or videos that showcase your achievement. You can also create graphics or infographics that highlight your stats.
Thank your followers: Your milestone wouldn’t be possible without the support of your followers. Make sure to thank them for their support and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Call to action: Encourage your followers to engage with your post by asking them to share their own stories or thoughts in the comments. This will help increase engagement and build a sense of community around your brand.
By following these tips, you can create effective milestone posts that resonate with your followers.
The Bottom Line
Content doesn’t always have to be super serious, but it can be fun! Marketing can be a lot of fun, and it’s a great way to get creative and showcase your brand’s personality. When done right, marketing can be an engaging and entertaining way to connect with your audience and increase brand awareness.
One of the most fun aspects of marketing is coming up with creative campaigns and ideas. Whether it’s a funny video, a catchy slogan, or an interactive social media campaign, there are endless possibilities for making marketing both entertaining and effective. Plus, it’s always satisfying to see your hard work pay off with increased engagement and sales. Be sure to respond to comments and engage with your audience to foster a sense of community and build brand loyalty. Good luck growing those social media pages and creating fun content along the way!
If there was a diagnosis for social media burnout, the prescription would have to be getting rid of every social media app and blocking those websites. However, for people who need to use social media for their business or job, that just can’t happen. As a business owner, social media can be super stressful and not fun. As a marketer, it is our specialty to make sure we can help to take that pressure off of your shoulders and get you back to the parts of your business that you do think are fun. If you aren’t ready to delegate social media tasks to a marketing agency, we completely understand. So instead, here are 3 tips from a professional marketing team who specializes in social media to help prevent burn out and to keep social media fun!
Signs of Social Media Burnout
Social media burnout is a real phenomenon that can affect anyone who spends a lot of time on social media platforms. Some signs that you may be experiencing social media burnout include:
Feeling anxious or stressed when you are not able to access social media
Feeling overwhelmed or exhausted from the constant stream of information
Experiencing a decrease in productivity or creativity
Feeling like you are not able to keep up with the demands of social media
Decreased engagement with friends and family
Feeling negative or cynical about social media
Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches or eye strain.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to take a break from social media or to reevaluate your relationship with it. Here are some ways to detox from social media.
Set Boundaries
Setting social media boundaries and goals can help to increase productivity in other areas of your life rather than social media. The first thing you can do is to set a realistic goal of how you’d like to decrease your time spent on social media. Whether you want to decrease it by hours, days or weeks, set a goal that you can track and achieve. During the workday, block out time in your calendar to focus on the most important work tasks and do not go on social media at this time. If possible, shut off your phone during those times or at least put it on Do Not Disturb or silent. Make sure your notifications are off for all apps and your email is silenced during this time. Set times for when you feel it is appropriate to scroll through social media. If social media is a task that you need to accomplish for work, but you find yourself getting distracted by it while trying to do work, set a timer for how long you think it should take you to complete the tasks at hand. If your timer goes off before the task is completed, this is a sign that you got distracted and you need to try again.
Allow for Downtime
Social media doesn’t need to happen everyday at a specific time. It is 100% fine if you do not post everyday. In fact, it is just unnecessary. If you are starting to feel burned out, allow for downtime with your social media. Tell your friends and family that you are going to take a break. If social media is a part of your job, and you haven’t tried a scheduling tool, give that a try. Schedule out maybe two weeks worth of posts and then step away. Recharge. Once the two weeks have passed, see if you feel better. You might be surprised how much, or rather how little, you miss out on when you are offline.
Ask for Help
If the task of social media is not your forte of your business, ask for help! This might be the perfect time to seek out a marketing agency to delegate this task to. Once the agency learns how you prefer your social media to be run, they can just take the ball and literally run with it! The level of involvement really depends on you!
The Bottom Line
There is not a one-size-fits-all way to prevent or help with social media burnout. Taking a break from social media can be a great way to reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve overall well-being. If you are a business owner and don’t love social media, please reach out to us and let’s have a discussion as it can be a very valuable tool that we would hate for you to be missing out on.
This blog was influenced by a mall close to True Fit Marketing called Century 3 Mall. This mall was quite a gem in its heyday. And then, like a lot of similar malls, it started to die. Now it is abandoned and has been for years. The local government associations are now trying to figure out what to do with the crumbling and dilapidated structure. There have been fires, break-ins, flooding, ceiling collapsing and many more issues. It is time to tear it down, but that costs money. It also costs money to keep the building up to code even though it is empty. Quite the predicament in this era of online shopping. Is there a mall like this near you?
Who scored some great deals a couple weeks ago during Amazon’s Prime Days? Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and a whole bunch of other retailers rode the coattails of one of Amazon’s biggest online sales days every year (besides Black Friday). It’s amazing how convenient technology has made shopping these days. With the option to shop online, people can now order everything they need from the comfort of their own homes. Some stores even offer delivery services, making it even easier for shoppers to get what they need without ever leaving the house.
The emergence of online shopping has transformed the retail industry and has forced brick and mortar shopping centers and stores to adjust their marketing strategies. In person shopping centers and stores now need to focus on creating unique experiences for customers that cannot be replicated online. This includes offering a variety of entertainment options, hosting events, and providing personalized services. Additionally, brick and mortar shops need to enhance their online presence by developing user-friendly websites and social media pages that engage with customers. To attract and retain customers in the digital age, shopping centers should adapt to the changing retail landscape. This can be achieved by implementing strategies that incorporate technology, such as offering online ordering and curbside pickup options. Additionally, creating unique experiences within the shopping center, such as hosting events and offering personalized services, can help to draw in customers. It is also important to focus on sustainability and social responsibility, as these values are becoming increasingly important to consumers. By embracing these changes, shopping centers can thrive in the digital age.
Here is how.
In Store Shopping at a Mall
Is there a mall near you? According to a report from Green Street, malls have experienced the sharpest decline in value among all commercial property types since 2018. From small stores to large retailers, malls were a big hit years ago. Now they seem to be dying faster than ever! Why? Likely because rent is higher than it has ever been, the trend is to shop closer to home and people are literally shopping at home on the Internet. It used to be a luxury of just mall walking and seeing what good things could be found, but now people have a mission, a true reason to go shopping. And thanks to the Internet, there isn’t a need to “waste” time walking around a mall. Stores that survived the mall era have moved out of the big complexes and into smaller strip mall areas.
Strip Malls/Strip Center/Strip Plaza
Ulta, Old Navy, Gap, Sephora, Macy’s and other well known mall stores have been moving to strip malls, also referred to as strip centers or strip plazas. Strip malls are open air retail developments that lack enclosed hallways. Instead, they consist of retail storefronts that are connected by common walkways. These storefronts are often arranged in a straight line, L-shaped, or U-shaped layout. They have large parking lots with spaces near whichever store you’d like to shop at and are typically closer to home rather than a big mall.
There is a difference between buying and shopping which can also be seen as the difference between running errands and seeking out experiences. This can be linked to a mall and a strip mall. We know what we need to buy, so we just go buy it versus skimming the shelves. This change makes marketing for a mall very hard. There needs to be a reason to get consumers into the mall complex itself, plus ways to get them to visit multiple stores with multiple purchases.
Online Shopping Versus In Store Shopping
The rise of mobile devices and easy access to the Internet has drastically changed consumer behavior in the past decade. Shopping habits have been revolutionized as a result.
To effectively market to consumers, it’s important to understand that the division between online and offline marketing is a myth. Consumers engage in both online and offline shopping, and it’s crucial to convey a consistent image across all channels. A multichannel marketing strategy is highly effective in making a strong impact.
Shopping in an actual store is facing increasing competition from online shopping, which requires businesses to adapt and modify their offers regularly. To remain competitive, brick and mortar stores must evolve their marketing strategies, as content marketing and social media could be essential tools in this effort. Just because you have a brick and mortar store does not mean you can’t have an online store as well. In fact, you should have an online store no matter what!
The Bottom Line
The role of malls has evolved beyond just shopping. Consumers now visit malls to socialize and feel a sense of belonging. As such, malls should prioritize their function as centers for socializing and culture rather than just shopping. This means focusing on hosting events such as musical and artistic performances to attract the general public. Marketing efforts should also be tailored towards promoting these events and creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
Open-air shopping centers are becoming increasingly popular among consumers due to the convenience, safety, and selection they offer. This trend is expected to continue, leading to healthy lease demand for the next few years. In addition to these benefits, open-air centers provide retailers with more opportunities to connect with customers and build brand loyalty. As a result, traditional shopping malls that fail to evolve may struggle to survive in this changing retail landscape.
No matter if it is a mall, strip mall or online shopping experience, marketing is still important and can work for both entities. Having the marketing work together simultaneously can help grow sales and customer engagement. Expanding an online presence can attract new customers, while promotions and advertising can increase sales. Collecting contact details enables personalized communication and rewarding loyal customers can foster repeat business. Highlighting brands and products through giveaways and promotions can showcase your best offerings. In times of low consumption, employing deals and online campaigns can help revive interest. Even though there is an added expense associated with brick and mortar stores, the pleasures of shopping have not died and plenty of shoppers still enjoy the experience.
Brand authenticity is important in marketing because it helps build trust with customers. When a brand is authentic, it shows that the company is genuine and transparent, which can help establish a loyal customer base who trusts the brand. This can lead to increased sales and positive long-term relationships with customers. In today’s world, where consumers have access to a lot of information about products and companies, authenticity is becoming increasingly important as a way for brands to differentiate themselves and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
It is only through four key components that brands can have total authenticity. Let’s explore how brands can establish authenticity with their customers. You’ll notice in the examples below that there are a lot of similar message points. The components must work together to create the entire brand, making similarities crucial.
Continuity
Continuity is when a brand is faithful to itself. A brand was started with an idea, a value, a mission, a choice to fight for something or because of a desire. When customers value what the brand is putting forward, everything should align and support should continue for the long run. It emphasizes the importance of considering the bigger picture and ensuring that all elements are working together harmoniously. Continuity in branding refers to the consistency of a brand’s messaging, visual identity, and overall tone across various channels and over time. It helps to establish brand recognition and loyalty among customers.
A brand can have positive continuity by:
Maintaining consistent messaging, visual identity, and customer experience across all touchpoints. This includes everything from advertising and social media to packaging and in-store displays.
By creating a cohesive and recognizable brand, customers are more likely to have positive associations with the brand and develop loyalty.
Some examples of continuity in marketing could include:
Consistent branding and messaging across all marketing materials and channels.
Regular email newsletters or social media posts to keep customers engaged and informed.
Loyalty programs that reward customers for repeat purchases or referrals.
Ongoing customer service and support to build trust and loyalty.
Continuous product or service improvements based on customer feedback or market trends.
Credibility
Honesty is the number one policy. Being honest with your audience is a crucial aspect for any brand because it helps build trust and credibility. It enables you to establish a genuine connection with your customers, which can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy. Otherwise, when a brand gets caught in a dishonest position, all of their hard work to build the brand up will come tumbling down. Credibility leads to transparency which leads to everyone being able to understand what the brand stands for. Focusing on your business’s “why” can help inspire missions and values that customers can relate to. Having those relationships outside of sales helps to have consumers continuously show up to support you, even without making a purchase.
There are a few ways companies can be honest with their customers, such as:
Communicate clearly and openly about their products or services.
Be transparent about their business practices, including pricing and policies.
Own up to mistakes and take responsibility for any issues that arise.
Listen to feedback from customers and take it into account when making decisions.
Provide accurate information and avoid exaggerating claims about their products or services.
Integrity
It is crucial to prioritize customer care as it can enhance their satisfaction and loyalty towards a business, leading to increased sales and revenue. Taking responsibility can prevent negative consequences and improve overall business reputation. Brand integrity in marketing refers to the consistent representation of a brand’s values, messaging, and image across all marketing channels. Here are a few examples of how brands maintain their integrity in marketing:
Consistent messaging: A brand’s messaging should be consistent across all marketing channels, including social media, advertising, and website content.
Transparency: Brands should be transparent in their marketing efforts, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest or biases.
Customer engagement: Brands should engage with their customers in a meaningful way, responding to feedback and addressing concerns.
Quality control: Brands should ensure that their products and services meet or exceed their customers’ expectations, building trust and loyalty.
Symbolism
Symbolism can be a powerful tool for a brand to connect with consumers and allow them to express their identity through the brand. By using symbolism, a brand can create a deeper emotional connection with its customers. It allows consumers to identify with the brand’s values and beliefs, which can make them feel like they are a part of something bigger. This can lead to increased loyalty and advocacy for the brand.
Some examples of successful brand symbolism include Nike’s “swoosh” logo, which represents movement and athleticism, and Apple’s bitten apple, which symbolizes knowledge and innovation. These symbols have become instantly recognizable and have helped to define the brand’s identity. When using symbolism, it’s important for a brand to consider its target audience and ensure that the symbol resonates with them. It should also be unique and easily distinguishable from other brands in the market. With the right approach, symbolism can be a powerful tool for a brand to connect with its consumers and build a loyal following.
Examples of Great Brand Authenticity
Of course this is going to differ between what your personal feelings and beliefs are, but for the sake of this, we will look at campaigns that had great success when connecting with their consumers on a level beyond sales.
Patagonia’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility
Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign that promotes body positivity and inclusivity
Coca-Cola’s long-standing association with happiness and sharing moments with loved ones
Apple’s focus on sleek design and innovation
Ben & Jerry’s support of progressive social and political causes.
Toms’ “One for One” program, donating a pair of shoes for every pair purchased
Airbnb’s “Belong Anywhere” campaign promotes cultural immersion and community building through travel.
The Bottom Line
Brand authenticity is crucial in establishing a strong relationship with customers. When a business is perceived as authentic, it can increase customer loyalty and trust, which can lead to long-term success. When a brand is authentic, it means that it is true to its values, mission, and promises, which creates a sense of transparency and honesty. Customers are more likely to engage with and support a brand that they feel is authentic, leading to increased customer satisfaction and ultimately, business success.
To assess your brand authenticity, you can review factors such as the consistency of your brand messaging and actions, the transparency of your business practices, and the alignment of your brand values with those of your target audience. It’s also important to listen to feedback from customers and address any concerns or issues promptly and honestly. As and always, you can reach out to our team to discuss how we may be able to help!
Times are changing on social media where if you pay a certain amount of money, you can obtain the famous blue checkmark to show verified account status. But does that little checkmark really mean anything to anyone anymore?
What Is Verification?
In the beginning of Twitter blue checkmark time, in 2009, the blue checkmark was used to show who was an official and authentic account, usually a celebrity, athlete, or someone of high status. It helped to determine which account was real versus fake or a parody as multiple accounts for users kept popping up, even though it wasn’t actually them.
Facebook followed suit and started their verification process in 2012 and Instagram in 2014. Same kind of process to make a clear distinction between a real page and a page run by a fan.
Most sites have a verification process and they are similar. Just prove you are who you say you are and then you will obtain that blue checkmark. But now the blue checkmark is growing to include more people than just those with a big name or reputation.
Exploring Paid Verification
When Elon Musk took over Twitter, he had to figure out new ways to monetize the business. This came in the form of a monthly subscription to have the verified blue checkmark along with verified member-only features like the ability to post longer videos, less ads on their feeds, and a bump to the top of news feeds. At first Musk’s plan came with some backlash, but it is still chugging along. The numbers don’t seem to be coming back where they predicted they would be, but it is still new. “Twitter subscribers in the US made up less than 0.2% of monthly users in January, two months after Elon Musk introduced Blue,The Information reported Monday, citing a document,” viaBusiness Insider. While 0.2% doesn’t seem like a lot, when you put it in monetary value, it is. “Twitter’s currently bringing in an extra $2.4 million per month via the program, or $7.2 million per quarter,” according toTravis Brown.
The platform is also adding gold checkmarks for official brand accounts, and gray ticks for ‘government and multilateral’ accounts. At what point is too many different colored checkmarks too much and do they even make a difference? According to Business Insider, businesses will pay $1,000 per month to keep theirgold verification checkmark.
And now, Meta just announced their plans for verification for Facebook and Instagram which include, “a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support. This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services. Meta Verified starts at $11.99 / month on web or $14.99 / month on iOS. We’ll be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week and more countries soon.” via Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook post.
If Verification is Bought, Is Value Lost?
When something like verification is able to be purchased, does it make having the checkmark a lesser value? Do those accounts that have the checkmark even matter to users? Does it devalue the accounts that “earned” the verification in the first place with follower numbers?
The checkmarks could be looked at as a status of being able to afford whatever that checkmark costs. And because of that checkmark, whatever those accounts have to share, whether important or not, gets pushed to the top of the feed just because they pay for it. Do you like this or would you rather see the accounts that you follow because you enjoy what they post at the top instead?
“New research from Maine Business School at the University of Maine shows that verification isn’t always a positive, as socialmedia consumers associate verification more with celebrity than credibility and are much less likely to trust product endorsements from verified accounts if the content is inconsistent with the influencer’s brand.”
The results from a study published in February, 2022 in the Journal of Consumer Behavior showed that not only do consumers associate verification more with celebrity than authenticity or credibility, but because of that, they are less likely to trust a verified social media influencer if they are advertising a brand that is inconsistent with their usual messaging. Even when the brand seems suited to the social media influencer, consumers do not trust verified accounts more than their unverified counterparts.
However, since the social networks are all moving in this direction, we shall see how consumers feel really soon. Will the social media outlets make more money? Will consumers feel value?
The Bottom Line
Most, if not all, social media platforms have some form of a verification process. And just like how buying likes and followers is a big mistake on all platforms, buying verification might be looked at as the same thing in today’s world.
Each business is unique and may benefit from the pro’s of verification. It is always worth researching what value is received when purchasing verification. But at this time, marketers and business owners might find more bang for their buck with other strategies.
