Article

Digital Consumer

Digital

Strategy

Marketing

August 04, 2022

Content strategies on social media

DOI: 10.22167/2675-6528-20220027

E&S 2022,3: e20220027

Silmara Regina de Souza

Social media have become channels of relevance in the communication and relationship strategies between companies and customers. For brands, they function as mechanisms in building a fundamental component, which is digital presence, bringing increased visibility and greater reach.

In January 2022, there were 171.5 million social media users in Brazil, which corresponds to 79.9% of the Brazilian population[1]. In other words, considerable numbers that prove the importance of social media as strategic components of businesses.

Social media is a means to connect with other people, possessing value for the space of interaction it offers. For Appel et al.[2], for example, social networks are spaces in which people conduct a good part of their lives.

In order to interact, other aspects are combined, such as: obtaining information on diverse subjects, searching for content that aids in resolving doubts or problems, and looking for forms of entertainment. This reinforces the social role of social media and its essence, which is to promote socialization in the online environment.

From this perspective, Fetue[3] reports that there has been a paradigm shift in the way people and organizations relate, as digital platforms have allowed for greater versatility in what is offered by the company to the customer.

In this context, by understanding the scope of social media, brands envisioned the possibility of reaching users in a way that advertising and promotional content were not considered paramount in building relationships and social interactions, further transforming the way of conducting business.

These platforms make many efforts to promote themselves as structures for commercial transactions and they are moving towards that, however, it is necessary to prioritize their social informative and entertainment function, which are provided by these tools. In this way, brands need to provide users of these media with quality content, which involves the premises of relevance and utility, following the line of information and entertainment, without establishing a direct appeal referring to sales, in the search to influence and motivate the customer[4].

For the strategic development and application of content, companies need to understand who the users of social media are. Audience segmentation allows for the correct targeting of brand communication when seeking to prospect users, constituting a fundamental process for achieving the outlined objectives. Although there is a large audience on social media, brands need to understand who this audience is and ask themselves: Who are these users? What are they looking for on these channels? How and in what way to communicate with this audience? The answers enable the use of more assertive language and more effective dialogue with the public, which allows for the correct and coherent development of the content to be made available on the networks.

The content should be built with a focus on the audience, not the brand. On this premise, excessive advertising can harm connections and engagement from the public. Regarding this aspect, Suryawardani and Wiranatha [5] stated that understanding the content preferred by the audience helps improve the company’s performance in the online environment and, thus, refine the information disseminated by brands.

Considering, furthermore, a strategic approach, it is necessary to align the content with the companies’ value propositions, under this assumption Aaker[6] stated that the benefits offered by the brand to the customer are what provide them with value. Thus, the content developed for social media must permeate these benefits promised by the brand and delivered to the market.

The attributes that make one business more interesting than another constitute inputs for content generation. In this sense, the more coherent the value proposition, the more interesting the message to be conveyed and the greater the chances of people connecting with it through social media.

Another key point for content to be effective is the need for companies to understand the differences between social media. Different media have distinct characteristics, dynamics, and formats, varied audiences with multiple behaviors. Uniqueness and exclusivity on different platforms are part of the content’s strategic scope.

Thus, the objectives applied in the production of content on social media are dedicated to generating engagement and connection between brands and users, with this content being developed to entertain, inspire, educate, inform, guide decisions, and manage expectations[7]. Promotional components may be present, however, they should not be the main focus of the content.

Furthermore, according to Rez[7], companies need to assimilate that content is not a mere trend, but an effective strategy that defines a new form of communication, promoting greater engagement from the target audience. Businesses that understand this dynamic will move towards reinforcing their positioning, strengthening their image, and increasing loyalty, creating greater proximity with the audience.

References

[1] We Are Social. Digital in 2020. 2020. Disponível em: <https://wearesocial.com/digital-2020>.

[2] Appel G.; Grewal L.; Hadi R.; Stephen A.T. The future of social media in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 2020; 48(1): 79-95.

[3] Fetue W.P. a importância das redes sociais para a comunicação das empresas e marcas. [Dissertação]. Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra. 2020. Disponível em: <https://estudogeral.sib.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/94641/1/Final-Corrigida.pdf>.

[4] Hipwell K; Reeves M. How to use content to grip your audience like a broadcaster. Journal of Brand Strategy, 2013; 2(1): 63-75.

[5] Suryawardani I.; Wiranatha A. Digital marketing in promoting events and festivities. a case of Sanur Village Festival. Journal of Business on Hospitality and Tourism, 2017; 2(1): 9.

[6] Aaker D.A. Construindo marcas fortes. 2007. Bookman, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

[7] Rez, Rafael. Marketing de Conteúdo: a moeda do século XXI. 2016. DVS Editora, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Como citar

Souza, S.R. Estratégias de conteúdo nas mídias sociais. Revista E&S. 2022; 3: e20220027.

Sobre os autores

Silmara Regina de Souza, Mestre em Administração e Consultora de Marketing, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil

Editorado por: Edson Pereira da Mota

Link para download: https://cms.revistaes.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/29.pdf

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