What to keep in mind when creating your own social media content.

Creating social media content for a small business can be a great way to engage with customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. However, with so many businesses competing for attention on social media, it can be a challenge to create content that stands out. Here are some tips for creating social media content that will help your small business succeed:

• Identify your target audience.

Before creating any content, it is important to understand who you are trying to reach and what they are interested in. This will help to ensure that your content is relevant and appealing to the right people. Knowing your audience will help you cultivate useful content that not only attracts viewers but has usefulness for those who enjoy your content. A large part of business in all of its aspects is understanding and meeting your customer's needs. Content is no different,  the success of your content hinges on your ability to predict what people want to see and providing it to them.

• Plan your content.

The more organized you are the more successful you will be. The key to creating good content is being intentional with your time. Creating social media content on the fly can lead to inconsistency and lack of direction. Instead, planning out your content in advance is a good idea. This can help to ensure that you are posting regularly and that your content is consistent and aligned with your business goals. The most successful online personalities post consistently this allows their audience to learn what to expect and crates an audience that will come back again and again to enjoy your content.

• Be authentic.

With more and more emerging online personalities the importance of authenticity is more and more relevant. Social media users can spot inauthentic content from a mile away, and it can turn them off. Instead, aim to be genuine and transparent in your content. This can help to build trust and authenticity with your audience. Your audience will begin to grow if you show yourself and inject your genuine personality into your content. Having your personality and brand be at the core of your content will set you apart and turn social media followers into future customers.

• Use visuals.

The biggest problem with televised commercials today is that they are boring. People want to be entertained and the public values their time, they have no patience for boring content. This above all else is why you must focus on utilizing visuals. Social media is a visual medium, and content with strong visuals is more likely to grab attention and engage users. Consider using photos, videos, infographics, and other visual elements to make your content more appealing and shareable. Holding your audience's attention is the most important part of creating content. Use visual cues to reinforce the hook and give the audience a reason to stick around.

• Be responsive.

The importance of interacting with your audience is huge. Social media is a two-way conversation, this means communication from the content creator or brand account with the audience that is consuming your content is a must. Regularly checking your social media accounts and responding to comments, questions, and messages in a timely and helpful manner will go a long way in cultivating a growing audience. Over time your audience will begin to suggest ideas for future content and engage with you. The only way this dynamic is created is by the initial efforts of the content creator and following through after the content is posted.

• Track your performance.

It is important to track the performance of your social media content so that you can see what is working and what is not. Most social media platforms have built-in analytics tools that can help you to understand the reach and engagement of your content, and make any necessary adjustments to improve your performance.

Creating social media content for a small business is a valuable way to connect with customers and promote your brand. By following these tips, you can create content that stands out, engages your audience, and helps to drive success for your business. If you need assistance with content creation we are happy to help you. TBD Marketing can help you create a content strategy, film and produce content in an organized and intentional way. We highly recommend you begin creating your own content even if you can't yet afford our assistance, every little bit helps. Every business is a content business and your customers will appreciate the efforts you make to connect with them though the medium of social media