The Best Content Ideas for 2022

Social media is a fast moving universe, so take five and read through the best 3 content ideas you can use to boost your business in 2022.

Trends come and go; what you thought worked well this year might not necessarily hit the mark next year. The good news is that a strategic, not scattergun, approach is the best path to success. Consider the following when choosing your marketing medium:

• Does this trend suit my business sector?
• Will this trend target my ideal audience?
• Do I have the time to commit to adapting this trend?
• Am I confident enough to pick up this trend and run with it?

Sadly, 2021 has proven to be as stressful as the preceding year. Businesses continued to struggle to attract custom, many of whom switched to online trading in an attempt to engage with a new audience and recoup losses. This has involved a lot of learning, particularly around the use of visual media. If this is something you would like help with, please get in touch for a chat about your needs. Being one step ahead with your social media content could help you catch the sale ahead of your competitors.

So, let’s dive into 3 of 2022’s content trends.

1. Don’t be afraid of video

As tempting as it might be to stick with what you know, now is the time to embrace the power of video. 

Video clips have proven themselves time and again to engage more browsers than text alone. Why? Our eyes are quickly drawn to moving images and sound, meaning great video content will retain our attention for longer than a simple written post. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Richard Gill (@rgillphotography)

This Instagram reel has close to 5000 views although I only have 1000 followers

Indeed, social media platforms are investing more and more in video content; maybe as a means of keeping up with Tiktok? Who knows? But you only have to scroll down your news feed to find more and more live video feeds and clips than ever before. But be encouraged, because excellent video content doesn’t require fancy equipment or a studio setting; you can thoroughly entertain your followers with a combination of imagination and preparation.

Tips to master video:

• Keep it short and snappy. Remember, our attention spans barely extend more than a few seconds before we move on to something else.
• Consider incorporating the following into your marketing strategy:
  • Live streaming - depending on the nature of your business or service, this could offer a lively effective ‘sneak peek’ into your process. This method offers direct engagement with your followers, so get over your fear and give it a go.
  • Instagram Reels - this app allows users to upload 3-15 second videos that they can edit with sound and effects before uploading to their Instagram feed or stories. It’s an excellent tool for creative businesses with a younger target audience.
  • Short-form videos - now offered on platforms from LinkedIn to Pinterest, short-form videos (up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds in length) have the highest ROI (return of investment) for any current social media marketing medium.

   

   

   

   

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  A post shared by Richard Gill (@rgillphotography)

• Check out the social media content of your competition and other businesses in your sector: what kind of video content are they posting and how much engagement are they experiencing?

In the new year, I’ll be promoting a brand new service (see start packages here) that will allow my clients to submit their own short video clips and have them transformed into a professional 1-minute long video for social media (think Instagram reel, TikTok, Youtube shorts etc).  You can see a typical example below and several other examples in this playlist. 

This was filmed by local staff,  titles and production to get the video in line with corporate still were done by R Gill Photography 

Honesty Counts

Back when Myspace was an innocent, fun way to chat to friends and share interests, we didn’t envisage social media becoming the marketing monster we now know it to be. 

Many browsers are turning against what they consider to be the artificialness and inauthenticity of the main social media platforms. Algorithms see us absorbing more ads than content from our friends and followers and we find ourselves inundated with ‘shiny corporate content’ that any intelligent person knows doesn’t tell the full story.

How to combat this trend?

• Tell the full story of your business -  you may be tempted to post endless photos of happy staff and customers but followers will relate to you much better if you share your pitfalls, pratfalls and frustrations. Doing so with a sense of humour will make your content even more engaging.
• Lay off the hard-sell - post after post of hard-sell ads will only boost viewer fatigue, not direct sales. There’s certainly a place for ‘calls to action’ but interspersed with fun video clips and commentaries about life in general; people love to relate to other people, especially over common topics. 
• Be transparent - your audience is smarter than you might think so ditch the shiny corporate clips that, for some reason, all seem to look and sound exactly the same, and relate to viewers on a personal level. Ask questions, request opinions and always reply to post comments. 

3. User-Generated Content

User-generated content (USG) is simply content created, not by businesses, brands or professionals, but individuals to be posted on their chosen social networks. For example, if you’ve visited a fabulous restaurant and just had to post about it, using pictures or clips, that’s USG.

How can this support your business? 

• Ask your followers to share feedback, reviews or testimonials on your social media channels, particularly Instagram and Facebook. Browsers will engage much more with honest feedback delivered in an entertaining way, whether that be through video clips or photos. They can tag your company in their video clip or image, or use specific hashtags. A good tip is to offer guidance on the kinds of content you’d like them to create, which will ensure content is consistent and acceptable.
• You can share entertaining content on your channels that’s been created by your customers.
• Design contests that invite followers to create really engaging content that you can share on your platforms.

In conclusion, don’t panic if you’re uncomfortable picking up new ways to promote your business.  I am passionate about helping businesses share their story through the creation of beautiful images and videos that will leave a lasting impression, so feel free to get in touch and let’s discuss how we can elevate your brand to the next level.