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January 10, 2024
It is really hard to be a creative business right now. We have poured our hearts into our brands for some time, really caring about what we do and how we present it. So with social media how it currently is, we can be asking ourselves what do we post. Do we follow the trends and forget about the soul of our brands? Do we look at what everyone else is doing? Do we leave the curation behind? Chances are you have so many questions about content right now, and so I'd love to help you with some tips on how I'm navigating the current times as a creative that cares about longevity in her brand.
Ok I get it, things change and social media is constantly evolving to meet society's needs. But right now it is confusing to be a creative business that has been around for a while and really cares about the heart of their brand. We have new platforms emerging like TikTok - ok, not so new but new for me! And over on the platforms that we came to know and love - Instagram and Pinterest - even those are changing. Instagram the most, and lately a lot of what you see on there is short form videos, people mimicking songs, bright yellow text, tons of writing over imagery and trends like writing POV when it isn't your point of view. This can feel intimidating to brands who are all about creating from the heart, having soul and purpose and sharing what they do with beautiful and compelling visuals. None of this feels right for our brand. So what can we do?
Before you start joining in with any trends, ask yourself this question - would my ideal client like to see this? And - is this aligning with my brand values? If it isn't, stop right there. Trends come and go, so it is really important to not just jump on a band wagon and follow them if they are not right for your brand. Don't make any spontaneous decisions and sit back for a moment or two. I can bet your bottom dollar that there are some businesses out there that regret jumping on the pointing and signing bandwagon a while back. It's not to say that this wasn't right for some brands. But if you are a creative with a heartfelt brand that cares about what you do, wants to work with gentle souls who fall in love with what you do, chances are that these trends aren't for you.
But please know that whilst I am telling you not to jump on the bandwagon of trends, I am not telling you to not pay attention to how viewers now consume your content, the ways your analytics are changing, new adaptions to platforms that work in your favour, etc. So whilst I would never add bright yellow text to posts and dance around mimicking a song, I have paid attention to the video aspect of these movements. I understand that I can no longer post a static image and expect it to do well. I now only post carousels and reels on Instagram, as I am aware that this is the main type of content that gets seen. And when I am creating for a client or for myself, I will create some video content for a reel. I know video is here to last and not a trend like writing POV. So have a think about how you can create video content that will resonate with your dream clients, that is aligned with your brand and that really shows your products and services off for what they really are. Still care about the curation of your content, still only share from the heart and still think long-term not short-term.
So what I'm saying in all of this is timeless visuals still really matter for brands like ours. Just this week I posted a carousel of images from my retreat five years ago! They are still relevant today because I consider absolutely everything in my work, because I have built a business based around my passions and because I create visuals that will stand the test of time and work harmoniously despite any changes in the times.
Do pay attention to the video aspect in all these changes, but please take a lot of consideration in any other trends that come and go. And continue to create beautiful, timeless visuals that you can share over and over in different ways, to reach to the heart of those ideal clients.
I hope this has helped you navigate the current demands of content creation and have a think about what you should and shouldn't pay attention to. If you are looking to create a set of beautiful, timeless imagery to stand the test of time, pop me an email here and let's talk about how we can work together on that.
Amy x
