How to create compelling Social Media content

How much time do you spend on social media? No need to answer, probably a lot. No judgment though, we do too. Social media has become a huge part of our lives, and creating content especially for it has developed into full-time job for some.

So much, in fact, that a quick Google search on how much time people spend on social media will show the shocking number of 145 minutes per day! 

Whether you are creating videos, photos, or audio for fun or to make a living, there are some things you need to know about creating compelling social media content—and one of them is regarding the music you should be using.

What is considered social media?

Social media is basically any digital tool that allows users to quickly create and share content with the public. Some of the most popular social media platforms are Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.

Most recently, Clubhouse has made waves as the new “it” platform to share content, while Parler has made headlines as the “free speech-driven” app that attracts U.S. conservatives who disagree with rules around content on other social media sites. 

How to make money on social media?

Yes, it is possible. In fact, many people around the world are making a living out of social media content. Agencies, freelancers and influencers, all have found in platforms like Instagram a way to make money. How do they do it? Well, it takes a lot of time and effort.

As we told you in our article about how to make money on YouTube, social media is all about creating a community, which at the end of the day will give you the “power” to start monetizing your content. As an influencer, for example, by improving your engagement (this is the number of people that interact with your content), you will be able to increase your fees. This means that you will be able to charge brands or sponsors more money.

If you are an agency or a freelancer, having examples of social media accounts that have grown a lot will be very helpful when it comes to finding new clients.

But, obviously, is easier said than done. Creating valuable engagement on social media is becoming harder and harder, with changes in algorithms and the amount of content that is published daily on each of these platforms.

As one of the biggest content trends for 2023, social media is all about creating communities. The more real fans you have, the better chances of them engaging with your content, which translates into having a successful account. Consequentially, a successful account is the one you can monetize somehow through sponsored content, partnerships, or affiliate programs.

So if you are wondering about how to become a social media influencer, the answer is: focus on content and creating communities. The rest slowly follows.

How long should social media videos be?

Let’s get to one of the most popular forms of content on social media: videos. With new generations disregarding long texts and embracing more visual content, videos have become a valuable asset among platforms like Instagram, Facebook and, of course, YouTube. Even news outlets have embraced them as a compliment to articles, while influencers discovered here a new way to let their followers into their lives.

Each platform has its own limits regarding the lengths of videos. TikTok allows up to 60 seconds, while Instagram has different lengths depending on the content: up to 60 seconds on a video on your profile, up to 15 seconds for stories, up to 60 minutes for IGTV and 30 seconds for reels. YouTube, on the other hand, only allows verified accounts to upload videos longer than 15 minutes.

But in general, try to keep it as short as you can. You will need to capture people’s attention in the first few seconds, and trying to maintain that for longer than 4 minutes is a difficult task.

Can I use music on social media?

Of course, you can! But you always need to keep in mind that you can’t just use any type of music out there. No matter the platform, it will most likely have rules regarding the music that is allowed, and those rules will probably ban any copyright-owned track that you don’t have permission to use.

This is where royalty free music comes in, and it will be your best friend when it comes to creating content on social media. Have you ever posted on Instagram a video that immediately got silenced? Most likely, you didn’t have the right to use that track. In this case, you should have used royalty free music for Instagram. 

Same thing happens with music for YouTube. Unless you want to receive copyright claims, which can lead to your video being demonetized or taken down, you should always go for royalty free music. The only exception here would be using music that you have the copyright, meaning that you own, probably because you composed it yourself.

Luckily, we got you covered on background music for videos, and our library is full of royalty free tracks for you to find the perfect soundtrack for your content.