Social media has been on the forefront of digital advertising for fairly a while, and it’s unlikely this can change within the close to future.
In truth, we’re nonetheless seeing new social media channels and platforms emerge – alongside all kinds of content material varieties, options, and codecs.
This text will cowl the highest social media content material varieties and which channels they’re finest suited to.
We can even spotlight a few of our favourite examples of how manufacturers have excelled in every kind of content material.
Let’s dive in.
1. Brief-Kind Video
If you happen to’ve spent any time on social media prior to now few years, you realize that short-form video has turn out to be probably the most frequent – and well-liked – varieties of social content material.
Brief-form video could possibly be outlined as any piece of video content material that’s below 10 minutes lengthy, however usually, the shorter, the higher. After I consider short-form video, I consider video content material round 0-3 minutes lengthy.
From Reels to TikTok to YouTube Shorts, short-form video has confirmed to be an extremely efficient format for reaching audiences on social media.
Why? As a result of, when achieved proper, it packages compelling visible storytelling right into a bite-sized, digestible piece of content material – which is strictly what right this moment’s more and more distracted and busy customers are in search of.
Brief-form video can be versatile. You should utilize it to realize totally different targets, whether or not showcasing inner thought management, highlighting a buyer case research, or that includes your product.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Brief-Kind Video
Given the demand for short-form video, it really works properly throughout most social media platforms, from TikTok to LinkedIn. Nonetheless, the next stand out as the most effective match:
- TikTok – This one needs to be apparent. Because the hottest social media platform worldwide, TikTok is the chief in short-form video.
- Instagram – With the introduction of Instagram Reels in 2020, the platform has leaned into short-form movies. If you happen to create brief movies on Instagram, the algorithm will possible reward you.
- YouTube – Whereas YouTube is best identified for long-form movies, which we’ll dive into under, the platform has additionally been branching into short-form movies. It launched YouTube Shorts in 2020, which now has over 1.5 billion month-to-month customers.
- Snapchat – The pioneer of the ephemeral video story, Snapchat has considerably light into the background when it comes to social media chatter. However don’t be fooled; it has over 530 million month-to-month lively customers.
Model Instance: Brief-Kind Video
Mediterranean quick informal meals model, CAVA, is a superb instance of an organization that leverages short-form video on social media.
The model has amassed over 87,000 TikTok followers by making enjoyable, snappy video content material that options CAVA’s merchandise and sometimes employs trending TikTok sounds or codecs.
Right here is an instance of a video the place CAVA used a remark by a buyer to create video content material.
@cava Jeffrey stamp of approval ☝️ #CAVA #foodreaction #saladrecipe #foodreview
2. Lengthy-Kind Video
Lengthy-form video is video content material that’s 10 minutes lengthy or longer.
And when you could not see as a lot of it in your day-to-day social media actions, it positively performs an necessary function in model advertising.
Lengthy-form video could be a highly effective instrument for extra in-depth model storytelling and content material.
Some examples of long-form video content material it’s possible you’ll need to leverage for advertising functions are documentaries, branded collection, video profiles, interviews, and extra.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Lengthy-Kind Video
If you happen to’re fascinated about distributing long-form video content material on social media, YouTube is the place you need to be.
YouTube is the chief relating to long-form movies, and also you’re most probably to seek out your viewers there.
When you can – and will – share shorter clips and cutdowns out of your video on apps like Instagram, Twitter, Fb, LinkedIn, and TikTok, many of those platforms received’t even can help you add longer movies.
Model Instance: Lengthy-Kind Video
The staff behind BuzzFeed’s Tasty is aware of what it takes to make nice social movies, together with long-form content material.
Tasty’s YouTube channel options tons of video content material, starting from fast recipes and tricks to collection like “I Draw, You Cook dinner” – an episode of which is featured under.
3. Consumer-Generated Content material (UGC)
Consumer-generated content material, or UGC, is content material created by people unaffiliated together with your model about your model – and it’s excellent proof of what makes social media content material so highly effective.
Over the previous decade or so, UGC has turn out to be probably the most pervasive varieties of model content material on social media, and for good cause.
UGC leverages word-of-mouth advertising to construct belief and neighborhood together with your target market. It’s because persons are extra more likely to belief a advice from their friends than consider in advertising straight from a model.
UGC can are available in many types, from picture or carousel posts to brief movies, Instagram Tales, and so forth.
The Finest Social Media Channels For UGC
Instagram is the apparent alternative for sharing UGC.
It’s visible by nature, has a hyper-engaged person base, and gives totally different avenues and codecs relying on the content material itself – from Tales to Reels or posts in your grid.
X (beforehand often known as Twitter) can be platform for sharing UGC, relying in your trade and the viewers you’re attempting to achieve.
Model Instance: UGC
Adobe options loads of UGC made by clients on its numerous merchandise. Right here’s an instance from the Adobe Artistic Cloud Instagram account.
4. Stay Streams
Stay streaming has been on the rise in recent times, and types are more and more getting concerned.
It’s turn out to be so well-liked that platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok now have devoted dwell video merchandise.
Past this, new platforms constructed solely round dwell streaming have popped as much as cater to followers of this content material format.
For manufacturers, dwell streams present a possibility to have interaction in real-time together with your neighborhood and provide a extra genuine, “behind the scenes” have a look at your model than produced content material can.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Stay Streaming
As talked about above, Instagram Stay, YouTube Stay, and TikTok Stay are all nice avenues on your live-stream content material.
The place you select to play will depend upon the place your target market spends probably the most time and what kind your content material will take.
Relying on this, Twitch is one other highly effective platform for dwell streaming.
This dwell streaming service was initially constructed round video gaming content material however now homes a wide range of dwell content material – and could possibly be the most effective place to host your subsequent dwell stream!
5. Polls & Questions
One of the best sort of social media content material engages your viewers and encourages them to work together with you.
Enter: viewers polls and questions.
Whether or not you’re utilizing a ballot function in a particular social platform, or asking an open-ended query, posing inquiries to your viewers could be a easy strategy to drive engagement and gather useful knowledge.
Questions can cowl issues similar to your model, your product/s, trade traits, and even what sort of content material your viewers want to see from you.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Polls & Questions
Listed below are the most effective platforms relating to ballot and query content material:
- Instagram – You should utilize Instagram Tales to create each polls and questions, because it has separate instruments for every. You may as well create a picture asking your viewers a query and add that to your grid, after which individuals can reply within the feedback part.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn additionally has a devoted ballot function and lends itself properly to posing questions the place your viewers may need to share their expertise or opinion in a remark.
- Twitter – One other platform with a ballot function, Twitter is a superb place for any sort of question-related content material because of its text-based nature.
- Fb – You may ballot individuals in Fb Teams or pose questions in any of your Fb content material.
- Reddit – In case your model is lively on Reddit, it’s best to think about using the platform’s ballot perform or asking your viewers questions.
Model Instance: Polls & Questions
Fortune is one instance of a model that ceaselessly makes use of polls to have interaction its viewers.
On LinkedIn, the corporate typically leverages ballot content material to quiz followers on a particular subject earlier than linking out to a associated article for them to study extra.
Screenshot from LinkedIn, July 20236. Influencer Collaborations
By now, I’d guess there’s an honest probability that whenever you hear the phrases “social media,” you consider influencers.
Influencers actually have “taken over” social media by constructing loyal communities that look to them for leisure and inspiration, in addition to suggestions and recommendation.
Partnering with influencers can enhance your model’s attain and provides it publicity in entrance of an engaged viewers.
Influencer collaborations can take many types, however the important thing to doing it proper is to seek out an genuine and pure connection between the influencer and your model.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Influencer Partnerships
If you happen to’re trying to accomplice with an influencer, contemplate one among these channels:
- Instagram – Given how linked Instagram creators are to their followers, it’s a best choice for influencer collaborations. It additionally gives totally different prospects for the way your partnership will come to life, e.g., an Instagram Stay interview, a Tales function, a carousel that includes a creator’s prime 5 merchandise out of your model, and so forth.
- TikTok – As manufacturers begin to catch as much as the TikTok hype, increasingly are partnering with trending creators to get their firm in entrance of the Gen Z client.
- YouTube – Dwelling to among the world’s most beloved video creators and deeply engaged customers, it’s no shock that YouTube is a well-liked avenue for influencer partnerships.
- Twitch – In case your model has any connection to gaming or needs to attach with that viewers, Twitch is your platform. Twitch creators are amassing enormous fanbases, and their dwell streams can help you attain streamers on the proper second.
Model Instance: Influencer Collaborations
Dunkin’ is a model well-known for its influencer partnerships.
Maybe one among its extra well-known collaborations was with TikTok creator Charli D’Amelio – not simply one of many platform’s most adopted influencers however a identified Dunkin’ fan.
@charlidamelio the most effective a part of any day @Dunkin’ dunkinpartner
7. Infographics And Charts
One of the best social media content material can inform a narrative utilizing solely visuals.
Infographics and charts are nice examples of this, which is maybe why they’ve turn out to be a go-to content material kind for each people and types alike.
These photos can help you synthesize data in a means that’s optimized for social audiences (that means it’s digestible and clear).
The Finest Social Media Channels For Infographics And Charts
If you happen to’ve received an infographic, a chart, or a knowledge visualization that you simply need to share, I like to recommend testing it out on any of the next channels:
- Fb.
- Twitter.
- Instagram.
- Pinterest.
- LinkedIn.
Model Instance: Infographics & Charts
Right here is an instance of an informative Instagram chart produced by HubSpot.
8. Memes
What would social media be if not for memes?
These entertaining and relatable photos, movies, and textual content catchphrases that iterate on a trending thought or subject are the “bread and butter” of social media content material.
Whereas manufacturers needs to be conscious of which memes they use (ask your self in case you have one thing so as to add to the dialog), when leveraged appropriately, memes can obtain a home-run advertising second for you.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Memes
Instagram and Twitter are the go-to spots for all of your memes, although LinkedIn is quick on its heels with some extra skilled/work-related meme content material.
For video memes, look to Instagram Reel and TikTok.
Model Instance: Memes
If you happen to’re in search of a model that is aware of the best way to use memes, look no additional than Netflix.
The model’s Instagram account typically creates memes utilizing clips from well-liked Netflix exhibits and flicks, like this instance.
9. GIFs
Graphics Interchange Format, extra generally often known as GIFs, are small, soundless video or animation clips which can be well-liked with social media customers.
GIFs are usually used to symbolize how one feels or depict a selected scenario and are sometimes shared as a response to a bit of social content material.
For manufacturers, GIFs could be a enjoyable and relatable instrument when talking on to members of your social neighborhood.
The Finest Social Media Channels For GIFs
Wish to work GIFs into your social technique? Twitter and Fb have lengthy been the place for that, although Instagram just lately launched GIFs in feedback.
If you wish to create customized GIFs on your model, contemplate making a profile on GIPHY. Right here, you’ll be able to create a profile on your firm that homes all of your uploaded GIFs.
This may enable customers all around the web to make use of your GIFs by way of numerous GIPHY integrations with different platforms.
Model Instance: GIFs
Right here is an attention-grabbing instance of Salesforce leveraging a GIF to create a social-friendly meme.
10. Webinars & Occasions
Connecting together with your viewers on social media is all about offering them with priceless content material. And what’s extra priceless than an academic webinar or digital occasion?
Some of these content material can help you interact on a deeper degree together with your viewers and attain a world person base.
Whereas webinars are usually displays that go deep on a particular subject – and sometimes function key audio system from exterior organizations – different occasions can cowl something from a digital convention to a workshop.
And these can all be dwell or pre-recorded.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Webinars & Occasions
LinkedIn is the most effective platform for selling and internet hosting your webinars and occasions.
Other than providing all of the performance you want, it additionally has an viewers that’s extra more likely to be in search of instructional {and professional} content material.
Fb and YouTube are additionally useful platforms for internet hosting dwell video occasions.
Model Instance: Webinars & Occasions
Bizzabo is a model that involves thoughts after I consider webinars.
It typically promotes and hosts informative digital occasions for its followers on LinkedIn – which makes excellent sense, provided that Bizzabo is an occasions firm.
Screenshot from LinkedIn, July 202311. Contests And Giveaways
If you happen to’re trying to get your followers excited and engaged, contemplate attempting a contest or giveaway on social media.
This includes providing a particular prize – whether or not that be a free product, cash, or a visit – in alternate for particular interactions out of your customers (e.g., remark under, tag a buddy, observe this account, like and share this publish, and so forth.)
The Finest Social Media Channels For Contests & Giveaways
Instagram might be probably the most generally used social channel for contests and giveaways.
Nonetheless, you can even run them on Twitter, Fb, Pinterest, and even TikTok.
Model Instance: Contests & Giveaways
Loads of manufacturers execute contests and giveaways, particularly across the holidays. Here’s a latest instance of a giveaway hosted by Escape Brooklyn.
In Abstract
These are simply among the many social media content material varieties to select from. And with so many choices, there are additionally a number of methods to strategy social media advertising.
Understanding which codecs work finest on your model – and resonate most together with your viewers – often takes experimentation.
I like to recommend beginning with a number of of the content material varieties we explored above primarily based in your overarching content material technique, goal platforms, and the assets accessible to you.
Then begin posting and see what occurs!
Extra assets:
Featured Picture: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock
