Intelligent SME.tech Issue 33 | Page 22

? EDITOR ’ S QUESTION //

D efining your target audience is the first and most crucial step in creating engaging social media content . Research your audience and create buyer personas to help guide your content creation . Understanding your target audience ’ s interests , pain points , motivations and what social media platforms they use will help you create content that speaks to their needs and preferences .

When looking at putting content to market , it ’ s important to note that visual content is more engaging and shareable than textbased content . According to a recent study , content with images gets 94 % more views than content without images . As such , I advise incorporating high-quality images , videos , infographics and other visual elements in your social media posts .
Storytelling is another powerful way to share your brand ’ s message and values to engage your audience . People love stories ! To help create a deeper emotional connection with your brand , make sure your stories are authentic , relatable and memorable . Share customer success stories , case studies or stories about your brand ’ s journey .
In addition , providing value to your audience is key to creating engaging social media content . This can be in the form of educational content , industry news , product updates or entertaining

DEFINING
YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS THE FIRST AND MOST CRUCIAL STEP IN CREATING ENGAGING SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT . content . Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your social media content . Whatever type of content you create , ensure it ’ s relevant and valuable to your audience . Consider creating content that helps your audience solve a problem or learn something new in their industry .
Social content can also drive demand for your products or services . Creating content showcasing the benefits and unique selling points of your products or services can generate interest and ultimately drive conversions .
Other ways to engage with your audience is by responding to their comments , messages and posts . This can help you build relationships and create a community around your brand .
It ’ s important to remember that success in marketing is not just one piece of engaging content . It ’ s consistent campaigns , engagement and messaging throughout all areas over time . For repeatable results , testing and optimising your social media content helps to improve engagement and ultimately drive results . Analyse your metrics , such as engagement rate , reach and conversions , and use this data to optimise your content and strategy continually . Test different types of content , visuals and posting times to find what resonates with your audience most .
Keep in mind that social content should always be part of a broader marketing strategy that includes other channels , such as email marketing , content marketing and SEO , for example . Ensuring that you integrate your social media efforts with your other marketing channels can assist in creating a cohesive and effective marketing strategy that drives results .

JOANNA REYNOLDS , MANAGING DIRECTOR , BORDEAUX & BURGUNDY

22 intelligent
. tech
Intelligent SME . tech