In a social media rut? It happens to us all. We run out of fresh ideas and are left with a blank social media content calendar. It’s a syndrome that happens when you stay too close to the product and forget how to approach your marketing like an outsider — like your customer. If you find yourself scratching your head for ideas, then try the below exercise:
Step 1: Grab a blank piece of paper and a pencil
Look around and snatch whatever you can write on — doesn’t have to be fancy. Heck, it can be the back of an envelope, the flipside of a piece of junk mail, whatever you have lying around. You’ll also need a writing utensil. (We love pencils because who doesn’t love the power to erase and replace?)
Step 2: Draw a giant capital T.
Yep, that’s it. Draw the biggest T possible.
Step 3: Define your audience.
At the bottom of the piece of paper, write down words that describe your target audience. This can be their age, gender, income, hobbies — whatever you can think of that paints a picture of exactly who you’re trying to sell your product or service to. Sometimes it even helps to think of past customers and write down their name so you have a clear visual.
Step 4: On the left side of the “T,” write; “Problem.”
Once you write down the word “Problem,” list out all the problems that your target audience faces. Specifically, this needs to be a problem that you specialize in solving with your product or service.
Step 5: On the right side of the “T,” write; “Solution.”
For each problem you wrote down in Step 4, write down the corresponding solution on the right side of the paper. These solutions can be simple, complex, or somewhere in the middle. They have to solve the problem.
Step 6: Ideate.
You just listed out clear solutions to the problems your customers have. Each one of those solutions can be turned into a social media graphic, quote, diagram — whatever way best illustrates how your product or service solves that problem. Voila!
We hope this simple exercise sparked the creativity you needed to generate quality social media content that adds value to your audience. Remember, adding value is the number one thing you should always strive to do in your social media presence. It establishes credibility and breeds loyalty amongst your followers.