Last Updated on August 29, 2024
If you’re like me, you might be tired of the identical old posts on social media. I’m sure your followers have seen all the inspirational quotes from Instagram and Facebook. And if they haven’t, they probably don’t care about them either. The truth is that social media engagement is decreasing because people are tired of seeing the same old stuff repeatedly. So, what can you do to get your audience excited? Here are ten ideas for inspiring your social media posting plans:
Ask a Question
Asking questions is a powerful tool for engaging your audience. Questions are generally more engaging than statements, and they can help you get people to consider your brand. Remember that social media aims to connect with your audience and build trust, so ask them questions that are relevant to you and them.
You don’t want to make it too complicated or technical; keep it simple but attractive enough for people to respond. It should be easy enough for anyone who sees it on their feed to understand what’s being asked without having any previous knowledge about yourself or your business. So “Does everyone like ice cream?” isn’t going to cut it! (Unless your company makes ice cream.)
Effective asking-questions strategies work well on Instagram by asking readers if they could fill in part of the picture based on clues from different colors or shapes within each painting.
Post an Image of Your Product or Service in Use
Show the user interacting with your product, such as interacting with a website or using a phone app.
Use this opportunity to demonstrate how your product can be used in its natural setting, whether at home or work. This will help you show off more of what makes your product unique and valuable while establishing trust with potential customers who may be skeptical about purchasing online without seeing firsthand how easy it is to use.
Post an Inspirational Quote
Posting an inspirational quote is a great way to add personality to your social media posts. However, it can come across as cheesy or cliché if you aren’t careful. To avoid this, consider what message you want to convey and ensure the quote reflects that. If it’s not relevant or appropriate for your business, then don’t use it!
Be mindful of grammar when choosing a quote as well—no one wants their followers to think they’re uneducated. Also, be careful not to post anything controversial or offensive—people won’t want to see that from you on their feed!
Ask Your Community to Vote or Weigh in on Your Decision
One of the easiest ways to engage people on social media is to ask a question. This can be used in various ways, from simple polls to creating discussion among your followers and friends. For example, if you’re launching a new product or service, post an image with two options for your packaging design and ask which one they like better.
Or, if you’re working on updating your website design and want feedback from potential customers before making any final decisions, asking them what they think might work best will help keep them involved throughout the process (and remind them that changes are coming). Elon Musk used the poll asking people if former president Trump was back on Twitter, which is a good example, as it reached over 10 million replies!
Share Customer Testimonials
Customer testimonials are powerful. They help increase trust and loyalty, demonstrate your business’s strengths, and show credibility.
A customer testimonial can be used in the following ways:
- To showcase a particular strength of your business
- Also, to demonstrate how others have benefited from using your products or services
- To show that other people are satisfied with their purchase
Give Your Followers an Exclusive Offer or Discount Code
Another way to engage your followers is to give them an exclusive offer or discount code for something relevant to your business. You want this offer to be something people are interested in and will use, but make sure it isn’t so easy for them to redeem that it looks like a giveaway.
For example, if you’re an ice cream shop, offer a dollar off any flavor on Monday nights as long as they follow you and mention the post. They may have to take a picture of their purchase with proof of being there at the time specified (i.e., text message receipt). Doing this creates engagement while giving them something valuable, such as money off their next purchase at your shop!
Showcase User-Generated Content from One of Your Customers
This is one of the easiest, most effective ways to get your followers interested in your posting. Think about it: who better to talk about a product or service than the person who uses it? That’s why showcasing user-generated content is such an effective strategy: it allows you to show how others are using your product.
A great way to do this is by showing off something one of your customers created. This can be as simple as a picture or video they took while using their product or service, but it can also include reviews, testimonials, and more!
Post an Article that Relates to Your Business and Link to It
Post an article or a blog that relates to your company and link to it. Even better, you could post it on LinkedIn.
This is a great way to spread awareness of your brand, get more people reading the content you create, and drive traffic back to your site. It’s also good for increasing engagement; if readers leave comments or ask questions about the post, this can lead to even more engagement opportunities and increased brand visibility.
Give a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Your Business
Giving a behind-the-scenes look at your business can be a great way to build customer trust. You have to show that you’re a natural person and not just some faceless company that is only out for the money. Your customers will appreciate it if they feel like they are part of the team, which is why employee spotlight posts or photos from an inside office tour are so effective because they show your employees having fun while at work, which resonates well with viewers because it makes them feel like they are working in an environment where there is no pressure or stress and everyone has fun doing their jobs.
The key here is authenticity and honesty—be upfront about what goes on behind closed doors, but don’t overshare details about private information (like financials) unless it relates directly back to products or services offered by your company itself!
Pick One and Post!
Choose a day and time to post. Be consistent with your posting schedule. Posting once a week is better than posting once a month, and posting on the same day and time each week makes it easier for followers to find your content.
Remember about scheduling! It makes things easier in the long run, so you can focus more on creating great content instead of stressing over when exactly you’ll get around to it.
Conclusion: 10 Ideas to Inspire Your Social Media Posting
Social media is a great way to get your message and build customer relationships. Using some of these ideas, you can engage with your audience and provide value in ways that might not be possible through other mediums.
3 Key Takeaways
- Engaging Content is Essential: To keep your audience interested, you must go beyond the identical old posts and offer something fresh and relevant. Asking questions, sharing visuals, and providing exclusive content are effective strategies.
- Foster Community: Building a community around your brand can significantly increase engagement. Encourage interaction, share user-generated content, and involve your followers in decision-making.
- Consistency is Key: Regular posting and consistent scheduling help you maintain visibility and keep your audience engaged. This also enables you to build trust and credibility with your followers.