Is the Purpose of Creating Content Mostly to Represent Who You Are as a Company and Your Workers on Social Media?
Short Answer: No, the purpose of content creation is broader than just representing your company and employees on social media. Content should be omnipresent, meaning it’s shared across various platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and also your YouTube channel, which functions differently as a search engine. Therefore, the goal extends beyond mere representation to being discoverable and engaging wherever your audience may be looking.
Full Explanation
Creating content is not limited to showcasing who you are as a company or highlighting your workers on social media platforms. While social media like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are definitely important channels where your brand and people may be visible on users’ feeds, content has a wider role. It needs to be present consistently across all relevant channels.
One key distinction lies in understanding how different platforms function. For social media, content appears on feeds, often surfaced algorithmically based on user behavior. This means your audience might come across your posts as they scroll through updates from friends, brands, or influencers. The content helps maintain your presence and engage followers within their browsing experience.
On the other hand, content on platforms like YouTube serves a different purpose. YouTube is primarily a search engine, where users actively look for specific information, tutorials, entertainment, or other content. When you publish videos on YouTube, you make your content discoverable to users who are specifically seeking what your business offers. This search intent changes the dynamic from passive viewing to active engagement.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Create Content with Wide Use in Mind: Develop content that can be shared across multiple platforms without losing its effectiveness.
- Distribute on Social Media: Post on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook where content appears on feeds, helping build brand familiarity and interaction.
- Leverage YouTube’s Search Engine: Upload the same or adapted content to YouTube to reach people who are specifically searching for your type of content or business offerings.
- Understand Platform Differences: Recognize that social media is feed-based and passive in nature, while YouTube is search-based and driven by active user intent.
- Maintain Omnipresence: Ensure your content exists in all relevant channels so you are visible and accessible regardless of how your audience prefers to consume content.
Real Examples
A business posting a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram may gain followers who see it in their feed, while the same video uploaded to YouTube can attract viewers who are searching for detailed product demos or company culture videos. Though the content is shared on the same business pages, the audiences interact with it differently based on platform functionality.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming content only needs to represent company identity and workers without considering broader distribution.
- Focusing solely on social media feeds and ignoring the power of platforms like YouTube as search engines.
- Neglecting to adapt content for different platforms’ user behaviors, which could limit reach and engagement.
- Not maintaining consistent content presence across platforms to enhance visibility and discoverability.
FAQs
- Is representing my company and workers on social media useless?
- No, it is valuable, but it should not be the only goal of your content creation strategy.
- Why is YouTube different from Instagram or TikTok?
- YouTube serves as a search engine where content is found via active queries, while Instagram and TikTok deliver content passively in user feeds.
- Can I use the same content across all platforms?
- Yes, content can be repurposed across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, but consider platform nuances for the best engagement.
Key Takeaways
- Content should be omnipresent across all relevant platforms, not just social media.
- Social media delivers content in feeds, appearing passively to users.
- YouTube acts as a search engine, enabling active discovery based on user intent.
- Understanding platform differences helps maximize content reach and engagement.
- Consistent and strategic distribution ensures your business remains visible where your audience looks for you.