It's the time of year when we make our list of resolutions for the new year. And it's also the time when we look back on our last year and remember what worked and what didn't. What posts performed well? Which topics are worth writing about in 2021? What social content was deemed relevant? It's a great time to evaluate your content performance and plan for the future. Planning your content is a lot like planning out your meals for the week. Every day is planned out in advance, right down to what you're going to have for dinner. It makes grocery shopping easier and saves you time during the week.
Creating a content plan is similar! By taking some time to plan out your content ahead of time, you will save yourself a lot of headache at the beginning of the new year and beyond. So, without further ado, here are our top three tips to help you be successful in 2022!
Conduct a Brainstorming Session
Content ideation is the powerhouse behind everything you post on social media. It’s the brainstorming session that goes into creating an Instagram story, or the outline you write before drafting a Facebook post. Even though it may feel like you’re running in circles at times, ideation is a necessary step in the content process. What’s worked in the past? What didn’t work? How can you improve on your tactics? These are questions you should be asking yourself when crafting your content ideas for the new year.
First, take a look at your performance from the previous year. This will help you understand what worked and what didn’t and how to use that information to craft your new ideas. For example, if you noticed that links to blog posts did well for you last year, consider sharing more of those in 2022. If videos have performed the best out of all of your content, then make sure you have a few video ideas ready to go. If something does not work, do not be afraid to try something else. The key is to keep moving forward until you find what works best for your brand.
Create Content Buckets
Consistent, quality content is the key to success for any brand. This can be difficult to achieve in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment like e-commerce. In order to stay fresh and relevant on social media, it’s important to find ways to effectively deliver your message. Content buckets can serve as a guide to the types of content you will be posting throughout the year. They are also a great place to start your brainstorming sessions, by writing down content ideas that you come across during your research.
Content buckets also help keep your social media feeds consistent and branded. By organizing your content in buckets, it is super easy to plug new posts into your calendar. It’s also a good idea to do this process every few months to make sure you’re staying on top of new trends in your industry. If you notice that infographics are trending towards the end of a quarter, for example, start brainstorming infographic ideas for your next content bucket. Tailoring your content with the audience in mind will help you better connect with them, build awareness around your brand and ultimately drive traffic back to your site.
Gather Visuals
Have you ever heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”? It’s true! What you display to your customers has a huge impact on their overall perception of your brand. That’s why it’s so important to have a content library that is diverse, relevant and rich with imagery. You should aim to create new visual content on a regular basis. This can be accomplished by hiring a professional photographer or videographer or by creating original content with your team. It is also essential that you have the rights to use any image or video you plan to include in your social media posts.
Additionally, always look for interesting visuals that will engage your audience. If you are targeting females, try picking up seasonal trends from fashion blogs, Pinterest boards, and Instagram hashtags. If photography isn’t your thing, consider using stock photos from sites like Envato Elements, Getty Images or iStock. When searching for images, don’t just search by keyword; use filters to narrow down the results and find the perfect visual for your content. Plus, who does not love great imagery alongside content?
Like new year resolutions, content planning can be a way to get yourself motivated and on track. Content planning is like a roadmap, helping you develop ideas and figure out what topics to write about. And, like a roadmap, it is flexible - you can change it as often as you need to, depending on circumstances and what's going on in your business. With our helpful tips in mind, you will be able to plan content ahead of time in 2022 and beyond!