If you’re clicking on this blog… it might mean you need to stop what you’re doing and take a ten minute break. Don’t worry, we’ll wait for you to get back.
Done? Great! Now, let’s talk about social media content creation. Like with any creative act, sometimes you can hit a point in your content process where things no longer feel fresh. This can especially happen when you’ve been working with the same account for an extended period of time. So what do you do when you need a bit of inspiration to jumpstart your process?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. No matter whether you’re managing socials for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or TikTok, these three tips can help you get the creative train back on track.
Use Pinterest
What better place to gather inspiration than the social media platform built to inspire?
Pinterest is the perfect place to gather new ideas for any kind of content you’re making, whether it be videos for TikTok, carousels for Instagram, or thumbnails for YouTube.
If you need a helping hand while you’re creating content, with a quick search you can find hundreds of Pins on Pinterest that have fresh and current post ideas for personal and business social strategies. Pins range from lists of post ideas, post “prompts” for you to build off of, full 30-day content calendars you can use in your own calendar, and even convenient hashtag lists you can pull from.
Eternity even has its own Social Media Marketing Inspiration board you can use to get started. (Plus, who knows, maybe while you’re there you’ll decide your company needs a Pinterest presence.)
Just bookmark Pinterest on your computer and start scrolling when you need it.
Perform Competitor Research
If you’re searching for new ideas to try on your social feed, look no further than, well, your feed.
It can be hard to constantly create independently, especially in such a community driven industry like social media. Community is everything—after all, your audience and peers naturally shape what you post every single day. Plus, social media is often trend based, and you won’t be able to keep up with trends if you’re not monitoring your social community.
We suggest routinely looking to peers in your industry to see what kinds of content they’re finding success with, and creating your own posts based on the inspiration you may find. (Remember, copying or stealing posts is a frowned upon practice. Try to create your own, original content, or your own take on a trend.) Our social media team has found the most success with social research by dedicating one to two days each week specifically to research and ideas generation. We typically take Mondays and Fridays to do our studying.
Bonus: You can start your research now by looking at three Instagram business accounts we deeply admire. (Plus three MORE accounts we think have stellar social strategies.)
Get off Your Screen
Yes, you heard that right—get off your screen.
If you’re working in social media, it can be easy to spend all day on a screen, but sometimes your screen can become its own kind of wall blocking your brain.
If you’re in need of inspiration, put down your phone, shut down your computer, and get some fresh air. Try taking a walk, heading to your local park, sitting by a body of water, or even stopping into a cafe. Speak to new people. Seek out new things.
Trust us when we say that experiencing the world around you will not only replenish your brain with new ideas, but it will re-center you with yourself and your community.
At the end of the day, giving your brain a break is the most important step in motivating your process. Once you’ve taken the rest you need, then there is always something or someone that can help you spark something new. And remember: You’ve got this.
PS. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for even more daily social media tips!
