Reading Time: 11 minutes

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Trends come and go so fast that it’s hard to know what to care about. But staying ahead of the game is crucial when it comes to social media marketing. We look to 2023 and we see new social media content ideas. So let’s start talking about them now. 

Social media is one of the most important tools for your business. It’s how we engage with consumers. It’s how we build trust. But everyone is trying to bring something new to the table. There’s only one way to stay ahead, and that’s by looking ahead. So let’s start with 2023. Your content has to be orgininal. Experimental. It needs to capture the attention of consumers who ingest content daily. 

Planning is everything. Here are some tips on how to make your strategy work for you. But you need some innovation too. So let’s dive in and take 2023 by storm.

1. Take them behind the scenes
2. Make it interactive
3. It’s all about social platforms
4. Try your hand at influencer marketing
5. AUGC (Always User-Generated Content)
6. Tap into nostalgia
7. Digital marketing of the future

1. Take them behind the scenes

Social media is becoming more significant in our lives every year. Around the world, 4.70 billion people use social media. In the past year, 227 million new users came online. Posting online might’ve once been a tactic for engagement, but now it is a necessity. 

It is not enough to post advertisements now. Consumers can see right through that. They want something authentic. Try adding in behind-the-scenes photos and videos to show the human side of your brand. 

This is also a great opportunity to do some Q&As with followers. Post a live video from your workspace and answer their burning questions. Hey, you might as well show off your new products while they’re here.

Many brands are taking to the social media phenomenon TikTok to show a more personal side to their business. Influencers like Marina Williams are posting behind-the-scenes video content of a photoshoot before the final images to create a feeling of closeness with the viewers. Consumers feel connected to the creator. Having this relationship is crucial for customer retention. 

Big brands are getting in on this too. Cult Beauty, a UK-based cosmetics company, is thriving on social media. This is because of the connection they have with consumers. The brand posts plenty of behind-the-scenes content. They have videos with employees and videos demonstrating how different products work. 

 

Source

Here are a few reasons why this is a must-see in your strategy. 

1. Your brand gets to tell its story. You can merge your values and voice with your content. 
2. Customer trust. Consumers are more likely to purchase your products or service if you’ve revealed more of your brand to them. They can see the employees or the products in a natural way as opposed to advertisements. Make them feel like they are seeing you in real time.
3. Consumers care more about brand transparency now than ever. They want to know how you work, and what you care about. Use behind-the-scenes footage to prove your brand is genuine. 

2.   Make it interactive

One of the biggest challenges for content creators is keeping consumers entertained. Let’s be honest, a lot of us don’t even read captions on an Instagram post anymore. Truth is, consumers want to be invested in the first few seconds. For 2023 social media content ideas, implement some interactive content into your marketing strategy. The numbers speak for themselves. Interactive content is a whopping 2 times more engaging for audiences than static content.

There are some big brands that know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to interactive marketing. Brands like online women’s fashion company Oh Polly. 

Source

They have a smart marketing strategy that rolls around every few months. They post a spinning wheel that users can click on to reveal a prize. This is usually a discount of some variety. 

But here’s the kicker. Participants have to follow the account and share it to their stories to be in with a chance to win. Users spread awareness for the competition themselves. Clever, right?

Interactive content has a lot of benefits. Here are some ideas to try. 

• Animated infographics.
• Polls.
• Customised graphics to increase brand awareness.

Interactive content ideas and their potential are a hot topic in the marketing world right now. There is a whole wide world of interactive content waiting to be explored.

Social media users want to feel involved. There are so many great ways to make this happen. Try posting some polls or content specifically designed for discussions and comments. Create your own social network on your social media channels. 

As mentioned before, Q&As are also great for this. You might be busy replying to feedback or issues. But consumers might want to have a more casual conversation with you. Webinars are also good networking tools. Try to schedule a few of these into your content calendar.

3. It’s all about social media platforms

Content creation needs to be diverse and adaptable. Some brands are even using Snapchat, an app designed for selfies, to promote their goods. The pandemic really showed business owners how reliant we are on these platforms. So, for 2023 social media content ideas, embrace them all. 

Let’s talk TikTok. As mentioned before, brands are flocking to TikTok to embrace the latest social media trend. In fact, 46% of marketers said that TikTok provided the highest ROI. There are several reasons for this. The pure number of downloads is a giveaway that it’s going to be good for content. 

But it’s the algorithm that’s interesting. TikTok has a ‘batch system’. This means content is sent out to sample users to test the quality of the video. In short, brand new people to engage. 

2020: TikTok announced ‘TikTok For Business’. It gave brands access to the app’s advertisement formats.	2020: Instagram introduced Instagram Reels. They promised brands the new video format would engage users.
2020: TikTok’s algorithm helps undiscovered brands to be seen by new users.	2020: Snapchat introduced Snapchat Spotlight. You guessed it. Your videos are played in a public feed.
2018: The introduction of TikTok provided videos for short attention spans. With the added bonus of music and filters.	2020: Youtube introduced Youtube Shorts. The new tool brought short videos and music overlays to the channel.

My advice? Take advantage of it all. Social media channels will always have to compete to keep up with the latest ideas and tools. This means appealing to brands. Different consumers will prefer different platforms. Use this to your benefit. 

You don’t need to be everywhere at once. But you should research which channels are best for your industry and be on them all. Here are some easy tips to make it less overwhelming. Create a schedule for your social media posts.

 It might be a good idea to create content templates so you’re able to post efficiently. Make sure you use hashtags specially chosen for your target audience. As long as you have a strategy, the vastness of social media won’t get the better of you. Remember, you need to appeal to your consumers’ needs. Consumers use many different social media channels and interact with many different accounts. Appeal to them all. 

4. Try your hand at influencer marketing

What is an influencer? They aren’t always famous celebrities, though they can be. The majority are people who happen to be popular online. The definition from the Influencer Marketing Hub suggests a ‘power to affect the purchasing decisions’ paired with ‘a following’. Influencers are definitely the marketing campaign of the future. 

Whether we realise it or not, influencer marketing is everywhere. Our favourite celebrities are always posting photos of cosmetics, food, and anything else you can imagine. We can often spot that hashtag. Paid advertisement. 

Lots of influencers have started partnering up with brands. And turning to influencer advertising in 2023 might be the boost you need for your content marketing. 61% of consumers will trust an influencer’s recommendation. That’s powerful stuff. 

The fashion brand PrettyLittleThing absolutely killed this. Molly-Mae (television personality and influencer) became the creative director of PrettyLittleThing in 2021. Her personal collection brought the brand new customers and a lot of buzz. She brought her values and own brand to the company. This led to articles, interviews, you name it. PrettyLittleThing was everywhere.

Source

Influencers are great for search engine optimization (SEO), too. Social media users are always searching up influencers and celebrities. Establishing a connection between an influencer and your brand will do wonders for your social commerce. 

You want to give it a go, right? What are your options?

• Paid advertisement. You pay, and they create a story or post to promote your brand. This type of content guarantees some attention.
• Gifting. You send them a product. Hopefully, they’ll promote it. But be warned, they don’t have to.
• Have them take over one of your channels. They might post a video. Share a post. Provide some live streaming. Or take part in a podcast. Lots of fun ideas to explore here. 
• Representation. Like PrettyLittleThing, you could promote an influencer to a position in your business. Or have them become a brand ambassador. This is great for a more long-term relationship. 

It’s worth the hassle, I promise. For every $1 spent on influencer marketing, you could be making a $5.78 ROI. It looks like it’s not only here to stay, but growing fast. Use online stardom to elevate your 2023 social media strategy. You won’t regret it. There are so many agencies out there designed to pair you with your perfect influencer. Reach out and see what you’re missing out on. 

5. AUGC (Always User-Generated Content)

Brands lie. They do. Just because they say their product or service is the best, why should we believe them? Creating a trustworthy brand for ecommerce and retention is everything. One way to achieve this whilst also getting some refreshing content on the go is user-generated content (UGC). 

• UGC is content created by people (users) instead of the brand. It makes your brand feel more reliable. And we have the numbers to back this up. 85% of consumers think UGC is more influential than company-made content. Tough to argue with that.

There are a few big brands that do this and do it well. Take Starbucks, for example. The company is well known for its incredible brand identity. And their social media content doesn’t disappoint. 

The brand posts content that they’ve been tagged in by users. This is almost always an image of their highly identifiable cup. They give credit to the taker of the image. This shows users that consumers not only buy from the brand but enjoy it enough to share it. They also cleverly post what’s in the drink, giving consumers subtle recommendations. 

Source

UGC can take other forms though. Small businesses with less content to repost may instead opt for posting customer reviews and feedback. Maybe share blog posts you’ve found that support your product or service. You could also encourage your consumers to take part in the latest internet trends using your brand. 

You could really be jumping ahead with this one. Reports say around only 16% of brands are utilising a UGC strategy in 2022. UGC deserves more credit. Done well, it’s a fun collaboration between brand and consumer. 

6. Tap into nostalgia 

Spotify has a great feature called Wrapped. It allows users to look back fondly on their past year of music. You’re able to relisten to your old favourites and share the results with friends. In fact, in 2020, Spotify had an increase of 21% in downloads in the first week of December as a result. Why? People love the past. Even more, they love to relive it. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spotify (@spotify)

Marketers have grabbed a hold of this idea and thus, nostalgia marketing was born. The idea is for brands to recreate happy memories and bring a sense of comfort to consumers. If you as a consumer are associating positivity from the past with a brand, you’ve got an emotional connection with it. That means more likely to buy. 

Now’s a great time to get into nostalgia marketing. It’s become a powerhouse trend in the past year because of the pandemic. People look for an escape from the present when they are in times of crisis. Research supports the theory that nostalgia promotes optimism and well-being. 

The numbers back this up too. 43% of people surveyed said that the lockdown made them reflect fondly about the past. Mentions of nostalgic keywords saw an increase of 88% during the pandemic. That’s a pretty captive audience. 

What examples have we seen so far to support this?

• 2021: Burger King changed their logo back to the one it used throughout the 70s to 90s. 
• 2021: Primark introduced a collaboration with Nickelodeon. They called it ‘90s Onscreen Style’.  
• 2022: Nintendo’s February showcase displayed mostly remakes and re-releases. 

Nostalgia marketing is going strong. With big brands still tapping in, it’ll see its way into your social media content ideas for 2023. It’ll get people talking about your brand online. Remember though, it’s always more important to feel innovative. Be careful not to alienate generations by trying to appeal to another. Take an edited approach. Do something new with it. When done right, it’ll be the perfect addition to your strategy. 

7. Digital marketing of the future

Augmented reality (AR) social media content. It just sounds like I’ve found the wrong copy of the Matrix. But hear me out. AR isn’t always something space-age. It’s digital content on a live camera feed. You can green-screen yourself into the jungle. Or, even better, make yourself look like an elephant. 

It sounds silly. But the industry is booming. Research claims the AR market is set to see an annual growth of 48.8% by 2025. 

I know this doesn’t sound like the easiest thing to implement. But there are plenty of websites out there to help you create AR content. You just need to consider what’s right for you. Do you have a product you could let customers try out? 

Maybe a fashion filter to let users see what your clothes would look like on them. Do you have lots to say about your brand? Try adding something scannable on a leaflet or card that triggers a video or a compelling graphic. 

There will come a time when consumers expect it. As social media users, we experience AR on many different channels. Like so much else, it’s becoming part of the norm. 63% of online shoppers feel as though AR would improve their shopping experience. 

ASOS took on the challenge. Have you tried the brand’s See My Fit feature? The tool was first trialled in 2020. It gives you the chance to see the product of your choice on 16 different body types and shapes. No more seeing jeans on a 5’11 model and wondering how much of the legs you’ll have to roll up. This is brilliant for numerous reasons. 

1. ASOS get to prove they care about diversity and inclusivity. 
2. Avoids too many customer returns and promotes sustainability.
3. It’s great social media content. It’s new. It’ll get people talking. 

Source

It’s working. In the first half of 2021, ASOS saw a 24% increase in revenue. If this is anything to go by, many brands will be thinking about how their social media could benefit from augmented reality. Truth is, consumers love it. And if you can find a way to make it align with your values like ASOS, even better. 

It’s all about an elevated experience for consumers. Just like interactive marketing, this brings new elements to ecommerce and advertisement. And we’re just scratching the surface of it. 

Your brand doesn’t have to be constricted to physical space anymore. I’ve mentioned the need to stay ahead before. What a way to do it. Start planning your social media content ideas for 2023. Trust me on this. This is going to be big. 

Conclusion 

Excited yet? You should be. These are just a few of the many ideas to consider for 2023. Before you know it you’ll be thinking about your 2024 strategy, reflecting on the great year you’ve just had. 

Just remember: your social media is a clear reflection of your brand and your voice. Keep your social media content fresh and aligned with your values. You’ll be crushing it. 

And of course, get yourself 2 steps ahead and create a winning content strategy. It’s not an easy feat, but take some of these ideas on board. You’ll have an exciting, engaging 2023 calendar. Tom Fishburne, the founder of Marketoonist, was right when he said “the best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing”. Make your social media content feel human. Make it feel like you. 

Which of these social media content ideas for 2023 will you try? Have you seen success with any in 2022? Let us know in the comments below.