Every new startup or aspiring influencer and creator dreams of making it big on social media.
But the ones who have been through the grind will tell you it is not easy. This is why many brands and creators just vanish or give up after a lot of effort.
Millions of posts, stories, and videos flood your feed every day, which makes it vital to get creative if you want to grab attention and keep it. Be it launching a new product, boosting your brand’s visibility, or engaging with your audience, the right campaign can make all the difference.
Here are some creative ideas to help you get started.
Contents
Using Influencers for Authentic Connections
Influencer marketing is not new, but there is a real art to using it effectively. The important consideration in this regard is to focus on authentic partnerships with influencers who genuinely connect with their followers. When done right, influencer marketing can help present your brand in a way that feels relatable and natural.
So, to leverage this, do not just offer influencers free products for a shout-out! Instead, get them involved in the creative process. Let them come up with ideas or campaigns that can help present your brand in a unique way.
One example of this is how clothing brands partner with lifestyle influencers to share their everyday routines, subtly integrating the products into their content.
Work with influencers who have a loyal following, even if it is smaller. According to a report, around 44% of marketers prefer to work with nano-influencers for more impact.
Encouraging User-Generated Content (UGC)
If you thought influencer content was impactful, get ready to have your mind blown away.
According to a survey, user-generated content was found to be 8.7 times more effective than influencer content.
People love to share their experiences, especially when they are about a brand they enjoy. The good thing about UGC is that it is authentic and trustworthy, something that is more influential than any brand’s ad.
Here is how you can use UGC effectively
- Create unique hashtags for users to add to their content
- Offer incentives to encourage participation
- Feature the content on your feed or stories to encourage others to partake too
If you have seen Airbnb’s #LiveThereCampaign, you will know what we are talking about.
The company encouraged users to share photos of their travel experiences. This created a viral effect and helped increase the brand’s visibility.
Running Flash Sales or Time-Limited Promotions
As a brand, you can use flash sales to leverage the factor of FOMO in social media users.
Use this psychological trigger to your advantage and drive your engagement and sales. Here are some tips if you are considering running a similar campaign:
- Keep the promotion limited to a specific timeframe. Some brands introduce sales for hours or a single day to create a buzz around the brand
- Use all your social media channels to promote the flash sale heavily and build excitement leading to the actual sale. Elements like teasers and countdown timers can help you in this regard.
- Launch exclusive deals like special prices, limited-edition items, or bundles that they can buy only during the sale period.
This technique is widely used, especially by the bigger names and during major shopping events. Some examples would be Amazon's Prime Day or Black Friday, where the combination of urgency and discounts leads many to a shopping frenzy while you can enjoy more engagement and sales.
Running a Social Media Challenge
Social media is rife with challenges, and many brands opt for them as they encourage the audience to participate and help improve your reach.
A challenge gives users something fun to do while getting them to think about your product. It also encourages people to share their content and interact with others.
For instance, fitness brands may host a 30-day workout challenge and encourage people to share their workout routines. Similarly, beauty brands run makeup challenges where followers are encouraged to create a look using their products and sharing them online.
If you, too, want to run a challenge, just keep it simple so people can participate and complete it without too much effort or hassle.
Creating Limited-Time, Location Specific Experiences
Popup events are a great way to generate excitement and bring real-world experiences to social media. Be it virtual or physical, these events create buzz and give your followers something exclusive to look forward to.
A popup is particularly effective when you combine it with a surprise element.
For instance, a secret location or an event that is available for a short period only. Someone participating in it would feel like an insider and give them something special to post, thereby helping to spread the word about your brand organically.
One example of this is the collaboration between Spotify and Blackpink for an exclusive popup event.
Social media was abuzz with the news, and attendees excitedly shared their experiences across the platforms. It worked because it was limited, exciting, and connected to the music and the overall fandom culture.
Final Thoughts
When you tap into creative social media campaigns like influencer collaborations, UGC, time-sensitive promotions, etc., you can instantly capture your audience’s attention and keep them coming back.
It all depends on how innovative and creative you are and how much you stay consistent with your efforts. Only then will you be able to get noticed and make your brand stand out on social media?