Feeling overwhelmed or stuck when it comes to your social media strategy? You’re not alone. Small business owners, social media managers, and marketing professionals often hit creative walls, struggling to keep their content fresh and engaging. The good news? With a few tweaks to your approach, you can revitalise your social media presence and start seeing results again.
Step 1: Revisit Your Why
Start by asking yourself why you’re on social media in the first place. What is the purpose of your content? Whether it’s building brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or fostering community, having a clear goal will provide direction. If your goals have shifted, it’s OK to pivot. A fresh approach can breathe new life into your strategy.
Step 2: Tune into Trending Topics
Sometimes inspiration can come from the outside. Start by browsing trending hashtags and topics on platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or TikTok. What are people talking about? What’s sparking engagement? You don’t have to jump into every trend, but incorporating ones that align with your brand can boost visibility and relevance.
For example, a small bakery could join a food-related trend like “#CheatDayEats” by sharing a creative recipe or behind-the-scenes footage of baking something indulgent. By staying tuned into trends, you keep your content current and relatable.
Step 3: Audit Your Content
Take a step back and review your previous posts. Which ones performed well? What type of formats engaged your audience most? Analysing data from platforms like Instagram Insights or Facebook Analytics can highlight what’s resonating with your followers and what isn’t. From this, you can refine your content strategy moving forward.
If you’re seeing that photo posts outshine videos, or carousel posts generate more saves, lean into those formats more often.
Step 4: Give AI A Try
If coming up with fresh content is slowing you down, say hello to your new creative assistant: AI. AI-powered tools can help you supercharge your strategy, from generating captions to scheduling posts more efficiently.
Use AI for Inspiration
Stuck on what to post? AI content suggestion tools can recommend topics or trends tailored to your audience. Platforms like ChatGPT or Jasper can even help draft captions or create witty hashtags. Just be sure to personalise the output to fit your brand’s voice.
Spot Trends Before They Boom
AI tools like BuzzSumo or Feedly can comb through blogs, news, and other social media platforms to surface trends relevant to your industry. Discovering what’s starting to gain traction early on gives you an opportunity to create content that positions you as a thought leader.
Analyse Competitors
Use AI to dig into competitor profiles and identify what strategies and types of content are working best for them. Tools such as Socialinsider or Hootsuite’s analytics platform can help you measure competitors’ engagement levels and spot gaps in their content that you can capitalise on.
Step 5: Look Outside Your Niche
Sometimes we get stuck thinking only about our industry. Break out of that bubble by gathering inspiration from brands or individuals outside your niche. For example, a tech company could learn from how beauty brands use storytelling, while a small café could adopt photography techniques used by travel bloggers.
Diversifying your sources of inspiration doesn’t just give you fresh ideas but also helps you build content that stands out from the competition.
Step 6: Refresh Your Visuals
If you’re sticking to the same colour palette, photography style, or design templates, it might be time to switch things up. Clean, engaging visuals go a long way in capturing attention, especially in a competitive landscape. Try experimenting with video formats, new filters, or animations to keep your feed exciting.
Apps like Canva or Adobe Express make it easy to quickly create refreshed branding elements for your posts – no experience necessary.
Step 7: Engage and Listen to Your Audience
Sometimes the best inspiration comes directly from the people who follow you. Run a quick poll or ask a question in your stories. What kind of content do they want to see more of? What challenges are they facing?
You can also use your comment section and DMs as a treasure trove of ideas. If multiple followers have asked how to use your product or service, highlight this in your stories or posts. If there’s a recurring question, create a video tutorial or blog post around it.
Step 8: Plan and Schedule
Once you’re re-energised with ideas, create a content calendar to bring them to life. Planning your posts in advance allows you to be strategic and consistent without scrambling for last-minute ideas.
Tools like Buffer or Hootsuite can help automate scheduling across platforms, giving you more time to focus on engagement. Plus, seeing your content laid out in a calendar makes it easier to spot gaps or overlaps in your messaging.
Moving Forward
Getting stuck with social media isn’t a roadblock; it’s an opportunity to re-evaluate and refine your approach. With the right tools, trends, and strategic mindset, you can step away from the struggle and create content that sparks joy for you and your audience.
Stuck for ideas or need ongoing support? At Sprint Digital, we specialise in creating tailored social media strategies that deliver results. From optimising engagement to crafting fresh, impactful content, we’re here to make your social media work as hard as you do.
