Small business content creation is a crucial factor for growth. Besides developing your online presence, a sound content marketing strategy can support goals like connecting with your audience, building loyalty, and boosting sales.
However, small businesses must account for their unique challenges when creating content. By adopting these innovative content creation techniques, you can address these challenges and achieve growth.
Embrace User-Generated Content (UGC)
Don’t “tell” users why they should trust you. Instead, “show” them that others already do through User-Generated Content. UGC is relatable, authentic, and trustworthy. It also fosters a sense of community.
Here’s how you can integrate UGC into your content marketing strategy:
- Add reviews and testimonials to your site.
- Contact customers and ask them to leave a review on a popular directory.
- Claim your profiles on local and industry directories. Active profiles will encourage UGC.
- Be active on social media. Keep track of the kind of content that generates replies and interactions so you can share more like it.
- Respond to reviews and comments, even if you just thank the user.
Death Wish Coffee sets a noteworthy example. The coffee company has a unique identity tied to the high-caffeine content of its products, and it embraces UGC by featuring videos of fans showing their coffee setups or discussing their jobs and hobbies.
On Instagram, EasyLunchBoxes is encouraging UGC with the branded hashtag #Easylunchboxes. With over 57,000 posts, users can explore aesthetic shots of the brand’s bento-style boxes and find meal prep inspiration.
Tap Into Interactive Content Formats
Focusing on interactive content creation results in a more memorable experience. Plus, interactive content is rising, and users have come to expect it.
Between quizzes, polls, panoramic images, live videos, or interactive infographics, there are many formats you can work with, even if you have a small marketing budget.
Here are a few examples:
- Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms let you create polls for free. A weekly poll series is a fun way to get feedback and learn more about your audience.
- Live videos are another free option on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. They’re great for product reveals and Q&A sessions.
- Most site-building tools let you create and publish forms. You can use these tools to add contact, feedback, ticket, or subscription forms to your site.
Explore Niche Platforms and Communities
Small business content creation strategies that target niche platforms and communities are an effective way to get your brand noticed in a competitive environment.
You can build a small but loyal community of fans by connecting with these users where they are.
Sharing content tailored to niche communities offers a level of personalization that many significant brands fail to achieve. It also gives insights into your target audience and creates a solid emotional connection.
Here are a few ideas:
- Focus on content quality and uniqueness. Your content has to be eye-catching, memorable, and shareable.
- Do some market research. Explore niche hashtags, message boards, Facebook Groups, and subreddits to figure out where potential fans are.
- Partner with micro-influencers to connect with their audience. These popular users typically have 5,000 to 25,000 followers.
- Build your community with a unique brand identity, branded hashtags, UGC, and engaging content.
Leverage Video and Visual Storytelling
Nine out of ten marketers will be using video content in 2023. There is a high demand for visual content, and this format is ideal for keeping your audience engaged and improving information retention.
There is no need to invest in expensive equipment to get started:
- Stream live videos as part of your interactive content marketing strategy.
- Show your products with video demos and tests.
- How-to videos create value by showing how to get the most out of the products you offer
- Unboxing videos are a popular format that is easy to create.
- Feature content from employees or users.
- Give your audience an exclusive look behind the scenes.
- Sit down with an expert for an interview.
- Be like 62% of B2B marketers and use webinars as part of your sales funnel.
Incorporate Influencer Collaborations
Over 80% of consumers say social media influenced their purchase decisions in 2022. Recommendations from friends and family are essential, but influencers are a crucial factor behind this trend.
Partnering with major influencers can be cost-prohibitive for small businesses. Still, there are plenty of opportunities to explore at the micro-influencer level.
These influencers can share genuine recommendations and endorsements to help you build social proof. They can also introduce your product to a new niche.
The key is to choose the right micro-influencer:
- Start with market research to better understand your audience and their social media platforms.
- Look at who is discussing relevant topics on these platforms and generating engagement.
- Think about partnering with social media users already fans of your brand.
Charlotte Rose’s partnership with the jewelry brand Mejuri is an excellent example. The influencer is active on Instagram and YouTube, sharing fashion advice and outfit inspirations. In this video, the influencer shows her jewelry collection to an audience that trusts her style recommendations.
Invest in Small Business Content Creation
Make your content marketing efforts stand out by adopting these proven techniques:
- Focus on social proof by featuring UGC and partnering with micro-influencers.
- Embrace immersive and innovative content. Explore quizzes, polls, and videos.
- Connect with potential fans where they are by identifying the right niche platforms and communities.
These content creation techniques are effective, but you should tailor your approach to incorporate what makes your brand unique. Creativity and innovation will set you apart and open new doors.
The right partner can help you differentiate your small business and explore new content creation opportunities.
At Tempesta Media, we can drive results for organizations like yours and turn content creation into a growth factor. Contact us now to learn more about our Bullseye Effect and how this managed services model will help you get results.
