Social media has been on the forefront of digital advertising and marketing for fairly a while, and it’s unlikely this can change within the close to future.
Actually, we’re nonetheless seeing new social media channels and platforms emerge – alongside all kinds of content material sorts, options, and codecs.
This text will cowl the highest social media content material sorts and which channels they’re greatest fitted to.
We may even spotlight a few of our favourite examples of how manufacturers have excelled in every kind of content material.
Let’s dive in.
1. Quick-Type Video
For those who’ve spent any time on social media previously few years, you realize that short-form video has grow to be probably the most widespread – and fashionable – varieties of social content material.
Quick-form video might be outlined as any piece of video content material that’s below 10 minutes lengthy, however sometimes, the shorter, the higher. Once 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 executed proper, it packages compelling visible storytelling right into a bite-sized, digestible piece of content material – which is strictly what immediately’s more and more distracted and busy customers are in search of.
Quick-form video can be versatile. You need to use it to realize totally different aims, whether or not showcasing inner thought management, highlighting a buyer case examine, or that includes your product.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Quick-Type Video
Given the demand for short-form video, it really works effectively throughout most social media platforms, from TikTok to LinkedIn. Nevertheless, the next stand out as the very best match:
- TikTok – This one must be apparent. As the most well-liked 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. For those who create quick movies on Instagram, the algorithm will possible reward you.
- YouTube – Whereas YouTube is healthier recognized 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 by way of social media chatter. However don’t be fooled; it has over 530 million month-to-month energetic customers.
Model Instance: Quick-Type 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
♬ Wealthy Flex Carter Walsh Remix – CarterWalsh
2. Lengthy-Type Video
Lengthy-form video is video content material that’s 10 minutes lengthy or longer.
And whilst you might not see as a lot of it in your day-to-day social media actions, it positively performs an necessary position in model advertising and marketing.
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 wish to leverage for advertising and marketing functions are documentaries, branded collection, video profiles, interviews, and extra.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Lengthy-Type Video
For those who’re thinking about distributing long-form video content material on social media, YouTube is the place you wish to be.
YouTube is the chief in the case of long-form movies, and also you’re most probably to search out your viewers there.
When you can – and may – share shorter clips and cutdowns out of your video on apps like Instagram, Twitter, Fb, LinkedIn, and TikTok, many of those platforms gained’t even mean you can add longer movies.
Model Instance: Lengthy-Type Video
The crew 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. Person-Generated Content material (UGC)
Person-generated content material, or UGC, is content material created by people unaffiliated together with your model about your model – and it’s good proof of what makes social media content material so highly effective.
Over the previous decade or so, UGC has grow to be probably the most pervasive varieties of model content material on social media, and for good purpose.
UGC leverages word-of-mouth advertising and marketing to construct belief and group together with your audience. It is because persons are extra prone to belief a advice from their friends than consider in advertising and marketing immediately from a model.
UGC can are available in many types, from picture or carousel posts to quick movies, Instagram Tales, and so on.
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 supplies totally different avenues and codecs relying on the content material itself – from Tales to Reels or posts in your grid.
X (beforehand referred to as Twitter) can be platform for sharing UGC, relying in your business and the viewers you’re making an attempt to succeed in.
Model Instance: UGC
Adobe options loads of UGC made by clients on its varied merchandise. Right here’s an instance from the Adobe Artistic Cloud Instagram account.
4. Dwell Streams
Dwell streaming has been on the rise in recent times, and types are more and more getting concerned.
It’s grow to be so fashionable 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 interact in real-time together with your group and provide a extra genuine, “behind the scenes” take a look at your model than produced content material can.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Dwell Streaming
As talked about above, Instagram Dwell, YouTube Dwell, and TikTok Dwell are all nice avenues on your live-stream content material.
The place you select to play will depend upon the place your audience spends essentially 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 might be the very best place to host your subsequent dwell stream!
5. Polls & Questions
One of the best type 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 selected social platform, or asking an open-ended query, posing inquiries to your viewers could be a easy approach to drive engagement and acquire useful knowledge.
Questions can cowl issues resembling your model, your product/s, business tendencies, and even what sort of content material your viewers wish to see from you.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Polls & Questions
Listed here are the very best platforms in the case of ballot and query content material:
- Instagram – You need to use Instagram Tales to create each polls and questions, because it has separate instruments for every. It’s also possible to create a picture asking your viewers a query and add that to your grid, after which folks can reply within the feedback part.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn additionally has a devoted ballot function and lends itself effectively to posing questions the place your viewers may wish to share their expertise or opinion in a remark.
- Twitter – One other platform with a ballot function, Twitter is a superb place for any type of question-related content material on account of its text-based nature.
- Fb – You possibly can ballot folks in Fb Teams or pose questions in any of your Fb content material.
- Reddit – In case your model is energetic on Reddit, you need to think about using the platform’s ballot operate or asking your viewers questions.
Model Instance: Polls & Questions
Fortune is one instance of a model that incessantly makes use of polls to interact its viewers.
On LinkedIn, the corporate usually leverages ballot content material to quiz followers on a selected matter earlier than linking out to a associated article for them to study extra.
6. Influencer Collaborations
By now, I’d guess there’s a good likelihood that once 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 increase 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 search out an genuine and pure connection between the influencer and your model.
The Finest Social Media Channels For Influencer Partnerships
For those who’re seeking to companion with an influencer, think about one among these channels:
- Instagram – Given how linked Instagram creators are to their followers, it’s a best choice for influencer collaborations. It additionally supplies totally different potentialities for the way your partnership will come to life, e.g., an Instagram Dwell interview, a Tales function, a carousel that includes a creator’s prime 5 merchandise out of your model, and so on.
- 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 shopper.
- YouTube – Residence 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 mean you can 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 recognized Dunkin’ fan.
@charlidamelio the very best a part of any day @Dunkin’ dunkinpartner
♬ unique sound – charli d’amelio
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 grow to be a go-to content material kind for each people and types alike.
These photos mean you can synthesize info in a method that’s optimized for social audiences (that means it’s digestible and clear).
The Finest Social Media Channels For Infographics And Charts
For those who’ve acquired an infographic, a chart, or an information visualization that you just wish 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 matter are the “bread and butter” of social media content material.
Whereas manufacturers must be aware of which memes they use (ask your self when you have one thing so as to add to the dialog), when leveraged appropriately, memes can obtain a home-run advertising and marketing 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
For those who’re in search of a model that is aware of methods to use memes, look no additional than Netflix.
The model’s Instagram account usually creates memes utilizing clips from fashionable Netflix reveals and flicks, like this instance.
9. GIFs
Graphics Interchange Format, extra generally referred to as GIFs, are small, soundless video or animation clips which might be fashionable with social media customers.
GIFs are sometimes used to characterize 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 group.
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 lately launched GIFs in feedback.
If you wish to create customized GIFs on your model, think about making a profile on GIPHY. Right here, you may create a profile on your firm that homes all of your uploaded GIFs.
This can enable customers everywhere in the web to make use of your GIFs via varied 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 worthwhile content material. And what’s extra worthwhile than an academic webinar or digital occasion?
These kind of content material mean you can interact on a deeper stage together with your viewers and attain a world person base.
Whereas webinars are sometimes shows that go deep on a selected matter – 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 very best platform for selling and internet hosting your webinars and occasions.
Except for providing all of the performance you want, it additionally has an viewers that’s extra prone to be in search of academic {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 usually promotes and hosts informative digital occasions for its followers on LinkedIn – which makes good sense, provided that Bizzabo is an occasions firm.
Screenshot from LinkedIn, April 202411. Contests And Giveaways
For those who’re seeking to get your followers excited and engaged, think about making an attempt a contest or giveaway on social media.
This entails providing a particular prize – whether or not that be a free product, cash, or a visit – in trade for particular interactions out of your customers (e.g., remark under, tag a buddy, comply with this account, like and share this submit, and so on.)
The Finest Social Media Channels For Contests & Giveaways
Instagram might be essentially the most generally used social channel for contests and giveaways.
Nevertheless, you can too 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 current instance of a giveaway hosted by Escape Brooklyn.
In Abstract
These are simply among the many social media content material sorts to select from. And with so many choices, there are additionally a number of methods to strategy social media advertising and marketing.
Understanding which codecs work greatest on your model – and resonate most together with your viewers – normally takes experimentation.
I like to recommend beginning with a number of of the content material sorts we explored above based mostly in your overarching content material technique, goal platforms, and the assets out there to you.
Then begin posting and see what occurs!
Extra assets:
Featured Picture: Black Salmon/Shutterstock
FAQ
How does short-form video content material impression social media advertising and marketing methods?
Quick-form video content material has grow to be a pivotal factor of social media advertising and marketing owing to its excessive consumption charges and potential for widespread attain. This content material kind caters to customers with restricted time and a focus spans, packaging narratives into simply digestible, participating codecs. Entrepreneurs leverage short-form movies to showcase merchandise, share buyer testimonials, and show model character. The character of the content material aligns completely with the trajectory of shopper preferences in direction of visually wealthy, concise, and interactive media—all important for a robust social media presence.
What are the very best practices for using Person-Generated Content material (UGC) on Instagram?
To profit from UGC on Instagram, manufacturers ought to:
- Encourage and actively solicit content material from their person base via campaigns or incentives.
- Make sure that shared UGC aligns with model values and aesthetics for consistency.
- Credit score unique creators correctly to take care of authenticity and construct group belief.
- Incorporate UGC into varied codecs resembling posts, Tales, or Reels to maximise publicity.
- Use UGC for storytelling, permitting shoppers to visualise themselves utilizing the services or products.
Such practices not solely faucet into genuine buyer voice but additionally improve content material selection and foster a way of brand-community collaboration.
What position do influencers play in extending model attain on social media platforms?
Influencers are instrumental in amplifying model messaging on social media on account of their established belief with their followers. By collaborating with influencers whose viewers demographics align with the model’s goal market, corporations can acquire publicity to new potential clients. Their content material tends to be considered as extra credible than direct model communications. A well-executed influencer collaboration can drive model consciousness, shopper engagement, and conversions when built-in seamlessly with the model’s narrative and values.
How can manufacturers leverage polls and questions to reinforce engagement on social media channels?
Manufacturers can improve engagement on social media by incorporating polls and questions which invite audiences to work together. This may be achieved via:
- Utilizing platform-specific instruments for fast and visible polls to encourage person participation.
- Asking open-ended inquiries to spark dialog and acquire insights into shopper preferences.
- Segmenting viewers queries to drive deeper, extra significant interactions.
- Collating ballot knowledge for content material personalization and bettering buyer expertise.
- Making a suggestions loop, the place viewers responses affect subsequent content material creation.
This strategy not solely fosters a group but additionally supplies worthwhile shopper knowledge for focused advertising and marketing efforts.
