[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Accessibility and cost make social media is an indispensable marketing tool for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). A good social can enable your brand to stand out and communicate with a broad audience regardless of your company size or budget, provided you have an effective social media content creation strategy<\/a> in place.<\/p>\n Your social marketing <\/a>approach should focus on high-quality content that delivers value to your audience using visual mediums such as video, which 87 percent of marketers say increases their website traffic (Wyzowl<\/a>). In this article, we discuss social how to create a social media content strategy in-house for your clients and considerations to make about outsourcing your content creation for social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n [et_pb_section global_module=\"113194 \"][\/et_pb_section]<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tips for developing a social media content strategy for SMB clients” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If your SMB clients want to build their online presence and gain engagement from their target audience, it\u2019s crucial to develop a clear strategy for their social media content.<\/p>\n Knowing the intended audience and understanding their behaviors is a critical part of developing social media strategies<\/a> for your clients. Your audience should guide the planning and creation of your content for social media, as well as for other mediums.<\/p>\n For example, if your client is marketing real estate or mortgage services, the best platform to create social media content on is one that\u2019s frequently used by Millennials, who represent 43 percent of homebuyers (National Association of Realtors<\/a>). Likewise, a client that provides business-to-business services may have more success with posting on a platform such as LinkedIn, where user intent is more geared toward building connections with other businesses and professionals.<\/p>\n Your client needs to see the benefit of your social media content creation services and without setting measurable goals and objectives, proving your worth won\u2019t be easy. Before you provide any client with social media services, work with them to determine what they want to get out of a social media content strategy. Is it more website clicks? Higher engagement levels? Brand awareness?<\/p>\n Whatever objective your client has in mind, set realistic milestones and goals for achieving it, and regularly compare those goals with the metrics and analytics provided to you by their social media platforms. If you\u2019re not meeting those goals for your clients, you may need to adjust your social media content creation strategy.<\/p>\n The most prominent demographics on each social platform should help you determine where your social media content creation ideas are most appropriate to post, or if your content is appropriate to post on a particular platform at all.<\/p>\n When you develop a social media content strategy, keep in mind that on the most popular platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, the average user is aged 25 to 34 (Statista<\/a>). While LinkedIn\u2019s most prominent age group is 25 to 34, as well, it\u2019s worth noting that over 56 percent of users are male (Data Reportal<\/a>). Once you\u2019ve nailed down your target audience, take time to research demographics and interests of users on the social media channels you\u2019d like to use.<\/p>\n Staying on top of the competition is a vital component of any marketing strategy and social media content strategy isn\u2019t any different. Before you start posting on your client\u2019s social channels, conduct a competitive analysis using the following steps:<\/p>\n The data you gather<\/a> from conducting a competitive analysis helps you determine what is and isn\u2019t working for your clients\u2019 competition. It gives you the insight you need to identify gaps in the market and develop social media content creation strategies that your target audience relates to.<\/p>\n Before you share your social media ideas with your client, get to know what type of content their target audience responds best to. There are several ways you can do this effectively:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tips for creating small business social media content” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Social media content creation is an art form that requires careful planning and skillful execution. Utilize the tips below to ensure you\u2019ve got the right social media content strategy in place for your clients.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to become overwhelmed when your scheduling daily or even weekly posts on behalf of your clients. Brainstorming social media ideas, writing effective captions, and designing graphics or videos to accompany them can feel like a lot of work when you don\u2019t plan ahead.<\/p>\n To avoid getting behind, create a detailed social media calendar for each of your clients. Calendars should be created with the following in mind:<\/p>\n The best way to attract the attention of your audience is with a well-crafted, attention-grabbing headline<\/a>. Your headline is the first thing readers will see and studies show that only two out of 10 people will actually read beyond the headline (Copyblogger<\/a>), so it\u2019s best to make it interesting.<\/p>\n The average consumer has an attention span of just eight seconds (Microsoft<\/a>)\u2014a number that\u2019s decreased rapidly since 2000. That means you have eight seconds or less to gain your audience\u2019s attention. To do this, create short, concise headlines that clearly state what your content is about and how it\u2019s going to provide value.<\/p>\n Did you know that your audiences is more likely to view and engage with your content if the headline contains a number, a question, or power words? In fact, 36 percent of social media users prefer a headline that a number (Moz<\/a>).<\/p>\n The majority of consumers value quick resolutions and the number of those who say they prefer that that their problems are solved fast is on the rise (CGS Inc.<\/a>). Instead of offering your clients\u2019 audiences a roundabout way to find the solutions their after, find their pain points and offer up a solution from the get-go. By doing so, you\u2019ll build trust and confidence in the brand much faster.<\/p>\n A catchy headline is great but if it doesn\u2019t appeal to consumers who are likely to spend money with your customer\u2019s brand, what\u2019s the point? The best content creation for social media techniques involve piquing the interest of a niche audience and it doesn\u2019t cater to the masses.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s okay to use captions to convey some or even all of your message on a social media post, your social media content strategy should rely heavily on the use of visual content. 91 percent of consumers prefer content that\u2019s interactive or visual over text-based media (Forbes<\/a>), so be sure to incorporate plenty of infographics, videos, slideshows, and images.<\/p>\n Pay attention to the quality of videos and images you post. Whether you\u2019re using authentic images and videos that have been captured specifically for your client or you\u2019re curating stock visuals and memes, the quality is imperative. Ensure the visuals you select match the overall aesthetic of your client\u2019s brand, paying close attention to elements such as tone and colors.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re capturing your own photos and videos for your client, pay attention to details like lighting, composition, and color, all of which can have a significant impact on the look and feel of your visuals.<\/p>\n Share powerful stories and brand messages<\/a> through with visual content. For example, you can use a slideshow or video to show how a product was designed or different ways it can be used. Regardless of the story you\u2019re telling, ensure the visuals are consistent with the brand\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n Cohesive branding<\/a> is the key to designing a beautiful social media feed. Your visual content strategy should include the use of branding elements like logos, colors, and fonts on every post. This technique for social media content creation also reinforces brand identity and ensures that target audiences can recognize your client\u2019s posts.<\/p>\n Each social media platform has its own post requirements when it comes to elements such as word count, aspect ratio, and video length. Make sure that your posts are optimized<\/a> to work with the platform\u2019s requirements by utilizing the captions when the text is too much for your visuals and reformatting content that\u2019s being cross-posted to suit each platform.<\/p>\n A text-based call-to-action (CTA) on a social media post can increase conversion rates by as much as 120 percent (Digital Oasis<\/a>). Utilize these tips to make a CTA that effectively entices your target audience:<\/p>\n User-generated content (UGC)<\/a> builds credibility for your brand. In fact, 79 percent of consumers say that UGC impacts their buying decisions (Stackla<\/a>).\u00a0 Social media reputation management<\/a> largely relies on the incorporation of UGC such as testimonials and reviews, unboxings, and case studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n After purchasing from your client\u2019s brand or interacting with their business, encourage customers to share their experiences online. Ask them to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and other websites, request video testimonials, or have them share photos and videos of the product on their own social media channels.<\/p>\n Content creation for social media doesn\u2019t always have to rely on your own creativity. Incorporating UGC that you\u2019ve found online, such as reviews, unboxing videos, and blog posts, can be a great way to fill out your client\u2019s content calendar with valuable convent.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curating UGC, make sure to request permission from the original poster before using their content and give them credit in your captions or visuals.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Should you consider outsourcing social media content creation?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n White label social media management is a service that includes social media content creation and management for your clients, giving you time to focus on building your own brand.<\/p>\n For many agencies, the benefits of social media content services are significant. They include:<\/p>\nTips for developing a social media content strategy for SMB clients<\/h2>\n
Defining the target audience<\/h3>\n
Setting goals and objectives<\/h3>\n
Choosing the right social media channels<\/h3>\n
Conducting a competitive analysis<\/h3>\n
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Identifying the type of content that resonates with your client\u2019s target audience<\/h3>\n
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Tips for creating small business social media content<\/h2>\n
1. Create a content calendar for clients<\/h3>\n
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2. Write attention-grabbing headlines<\/h3>\n
Keep headlines short and concise<\/h4>\n
Use numbers, questions, and power words to make them more compelling<\/h4>\n
Address a pain point or offer a solution to a problem<\/h4>\n
Personalize the headline to your target audience<\/h4>\n
3. Best practices for using visuals in social media content<\/h3>\n
Use high-quality images and videos that align with your clients’ brand<\/h4>\n
Use visuals to tell a story or convey a message<\/h4>\n
Incorporate your branding elements such as logos, colors, and font<\/h4>\n
Optimize the visuals for each platform\u2019s requirements<\/h4>\n
4. Develop an engaging call to action<\/h3>\n
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5. Incorporate user-generated content<\/h3>\n
Encourage customers to share their experiences with your product or service<\/h4>\n
Curate the best UGC and showcase it on your social media channels<\/h4>\n
Give credit to the original poster<\/h4>\n
Should you consider outsourcing social media content creation?<\/h2>\n
Benefits of outsourcing social media content creation<\/h3>\n
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Choosing the right social media content creation service provider<\/h3>\n