Every single social media platform has seen a significant increase in user activity as a result of millions of people around the globe staying home. The COVID-19 influence has changed how we live in a very short time, leaving most of us grappling with new schedules and routines as we try to find some semblance of everyday normal. From a pure numbers’ standpoint, there has never been a better time to engage with your audience. But at the same time, what do you post?
Most people have no interest in shopping for goods or services other than essential needs. That typically takes much of your content off the table which has left many fumbling for answers as to what people will engage with. As a top digital marketing firm, we wanted to share our decade-plus of experience with these Tips for What to Post on Social Media During Lockdowns.
What to Post on Social Media
This is a unique time, one that has never been seen by the social media world. A global pandemic has created waves of uncertainty and stress along with massive disruptions. The focus for a business at a time like this on social platforms should simply to be human. We’re all in this together, so do what you can to support your fellow Earth-dwellers and create a stronger online community.
- Inform – People turn to social platforms for news and information as much as anywhere else on the internet. A key service which a business can provide is to offer current, relevant, and useful information in your niche. This can be a way to connect with the business for customer service needs, to sharing important COVID-19 information from reputable sources like the CDC or WHO or using your expertise to provide relevant knowledge people might need right now.
- Entertain – Everyone can use a laugh right now along with ways to alleviate boredom. Find diverse ways to entertain your followers on your various channels. Have co-workers share experiences and pictures of the struggles of working at home. Take a page out of the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City that let their head of security run their Twitter account which has resulted in a viral explosion. Do your best to stay on brand, but don’t be afraid to try something different as well.
- Tips – As you might have guessed from the title, tips and lists are always a great content format. They are generally shorter bits of bite-sized content people can snack on. The best tips and tricks are those within your wheelhouse of expertise. For example, this article makes sense from a digital marketing company, but would you really look to us for Tips for Effective Homeschooling?
- Connect – For those communities on lockdown, the isolation and loneliness can be very difficult to bear. People are looking to connect which creates a perfect opportunity for a brand on social media. Answer people’s questions and interact with their posts. Comment on interesting conversations. Try live streaming. Play games with your communities and launch challenges. Join other people’s challenges. Share your human side with your followers and support each other during this challenging time.
- Share – Bond with your audience by sharing personal stories and experiences. Often people avoid getting overly personal because they don’t want to share embarrassing things or showcase flaws or perceived weaknesses. But we are all in the same boat right now. People are feeling the same things and facing the same problems. Bonds are forged when people survive and overcome obstacles so share that journey and encourage others to share theirs as well. For example, “Briefly contemplated a late-night trip to work to raid the supply closet for TP. Realized they only have single-ply. Idea shelved for a week after checking the Toilet Paper Calculator.”
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is this is an unprecedented time, but something we can all get through if we work together. Our tips for what to post on social media during a lockdown provide a few good ideas for how to approach social media in this current environment. No one wants to be in this situation, but it looks like we will be here for a while, so it makes sense to adjust your approach until we get back to a level of “normal”.
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