Every brand today faces the challenge of engaging with its audience on social media. One effective way to tackle this challenge is through creator marketing, which focuses on partnering with social media content creators to produce engaging content that promotes your products or services.
If you want to grow your business’s social media accounts, especially LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), this strategy will help you achieve your goals. In this guide, we’ll review how you can get started with creator marketing for your business.
One way to find social media content creators to partner with is to check out Megaphone’s viral on-demand platform. You can use this tool to find creators who match your brand’s values, goals, and target audience to help you grow your LinkedIn and X accounts with organic engagement.
What is a Social Media Content Creator?
Social Media Content Creators
Social media content creators produce and share content across social media platforms to entertain or inform an audience. The internet offers numerous avenues for content creation, including blogs, web copy, newsletters, and more. However, social media content creators are distinct for their focus on understanding and building an audience on social media.
At face value, this may appear limiting. In reality, it’s anything but. Social media trends and functionality change daily. Their focus on the channel gives them an unparalleled understanding of what works on their preferred networks.
What Makes Social Media Content Creators Unique?
Social media content creators don't just create posts on social media—they create engaging content designed to attract users and get them to interact with a brand. These creators typically work independently or as part of a marketing team to develop a distinct social media strategy for a business. They use their expertise to establish a brand’s voice, increase awareness, and boost audience engagement. Their ultimate goal is to create targeted content that will resonate with a brand’s followers to achieve specific marketing objectives.
How Do You Hire a Social Media Content Creator?
If you’re interested in hiring a social media content creator, you can go a few different ways. You could:
Hire an in-house creator.
Work with an agency that employs creators.
Contact a consultant or freelance content creator.
Each option has its pros and cons, depending on your needs. Regardless of your choice, one thing is sure: these individuals should focus solely on creating content.
What Does a Social Media Content Creator Do?
That may not seem like enough responsibility to justify an entire role, but much work can go into a single post. Greer Hiltabidle, a TikTok creator for 360i, broke down the role responsibilities in a recent interview with Marketing Brew: “You’re a director; you’re an actor; you’re a filmmaker; you’re a writer. You do wardrobe, set design.”
On top of all these production duties, social media content creators are also tasked with creative ideation. Adding too many additional responsibilities can efficiently overburden a creator.
Benefits of Using Social Media Content Creators for Marketing
Social Media Content Creators
1. No One Is Paying Attention to Your Content
Are you posting regularly but still getting no views on your content? A skilled social media content creator understands what kind of content appeals to your target audience and can help tailor your social posts by creating a solid social media strategy. They can also audit social media and determine which social channels to prioritize and why. With a social media content creator, you can leverage your social media presence to generate brand awareness, boost your social media following, generate new leads, engage with existing ones, and drive sales.
2. You Don't Have Time to Build a Social Media Presence
We understand that being a small business owner is no cakewalk. You have a lot on your plate to juggle every day. However, when it comes to social media, maintaining an active social presence requires a lot of planning, time, and effort. Also, if done incorrectly or by someone who doesn’t know much about social media, it can waste your most valuable resource – time.
A good content creator will be familiar with engaging with customers using platform-specific features (e.g., hashtags). They’ll also consider the best times to post, create a hashtag strategy, etc. Hiring a social media content creator to do this for you will save you the stress of making mistakes and give you ample room in your daily schedule to focus on other essential aspects of business, like customer service and sales.
3. You Are Unable to Provide Timely Responses to Customers
Promptly answering the queries and concerns of your customers should be your utmost priority when building better customer relationships. This huge factor determines customers’ opinions about a brand and helps them develop trust. According to the 2022 social media trends report by SocialMediaToday, “Responding to 8X more tweets gets 10X more mentions from customers.”
A social media content creator is great at understanding and managing the online community. So they’ll know what kinds of questions are likely coming from the community and will already be prepared for those inquiries before they’re asked by crafting strategic responses, including automated responses. They will also be able to create content around the pain points and commonly asked questions.
4. You Have No Idea About the Current Social Trends
Do you get confused when someone mentions ‘trending Reel music’? Or are you one of those people who simply hate social media? The world of social media is constantly changing. If you’re not keeping up, your competitors could leave you in the dust. A social media content creator can keep up with these changes for you, so you don’t have to worry about it yourself.
He/she will be comfortable with the latest social media trends and be able to incorporate them into your strategy. You can be assured that all your posts will be timely and relevant to current events so that people will continue engaging with them long after publication. This will help you stay ahead of the curve and be pertinent to your audience and industry.
5. You Lack an Eye-Catching Social Feed
A successful social media presence needs more than a strong strategy – it also requires an eye-catching social feed (and even a catchy hashtag). Most social media content creators are experts at designing engaging visuals to excite your audience about your offer. Visuals are processed by the human brain 60,000 times faster than text. This also explains why the shoppable post feature is one of the currently hottest trends.
If you are an e-commerce company, for instance, a social media professional can use your product images to create shoppable posts for you on Instagram, YouTube, etc., and boost sales. The basis of the most popular social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc., is a visual feed.
Visual content — images, infographics, videos, etc.- is key to social media marketing, and a social media content creator is the best person to help you. However, do not confuse a social media content creator with a graphic designer. You may still need a graphic designer to create branded visuals for your marketing needs. A social media content creator will most likely know how to use essential design tools like Canva, Photoshop, etc.
6. You Don’t Know How to Write Great Captions
An organized and good-looking feed is excellent, but you will need engaging content — such as appealing social media captions with appropriate call-to-action — to persuade your audience to take action. A social media content creator can create exactly that for you.
Writing enticing captions that connect with your followers’ interests and needs and drive engagement is something that comes as second nature to content creators. Captions can help you boost engagement (likes, shares, saves, etc.) and increase traffic through links. So, do not underestimate the importance of a good caption.
7. You Don’t Know How to Run Social Media Ads
Social media advertising tools can be a constructive way to reach your target audience. As your business grows, it’s essential to have a team member who knows how these tools work. A social media content creator understands various social platforms' pros, cons, and limitations. They also understand how to utilize advertising tools best to help you achieve your desired business goal. They can track your ads' performance, create more effective ads, and measure their return on investment (ROI).
How to Hire the Right Social Media Content Creators
Social Media Content Creators
1. Use Megaphone
Megaphone is a viral on-demand platform designed to boost your online presence authentically and organically. Our software connects you with influential creators in your niche, helping you grow impressions, followers, and leads without relying on paid ads. Key features include:
A sophisticated engagement network,
Private engagement pod service (coming soon),
Diverse creator partnerships for sponsored posts, X spaces, and newsletter ads (coming soon).
Megaphone caters to startup founders, marketers, emerging creators, and ghostwriting agencies seeking to amplify their digital footprint and social proof. Our complex matching algorithm ensures you partner with your field's most suitable and valuable creators. Go viral today with our viral on-demand platform.
2. Determine The Type Of Content You Need
Before searching for social media content creators, you should outline exactly what you’re searching for. While several freelance content creators can wear many hats, it’s best to focus on those who excel at the specific things you’re looking for. If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to outline what type of content you’re looking for and briefly describe the scope of work.
Example
If you’re looking for someone to write an ebook you can use to bring in more B2B leads, that will require a different skill set than someone looking for catchy social media content for a campaign you’re running. The more insight you have on what you need to be done, the greater your chances of hiring the best person for the job.
3. Determine Your Budget
After you’ve identified what type of work you’re looking for, the next step will be determining how much you’re willing and able to spend on your project and how to pay the contractors you will work with. When outlining the budget, the number one question is always… How much does a freelance content creator cost?
The truth is, how much you need to pay is going to vary based on several factors like how big the project is, what type of content you’re looking to create, the skill level and experience of the person you hire, their location (since it’s now possible to employ global contractors), and what the content is actually about.
Once you’ve set your budget, don’t forget to outline your shared obligations in an employment contract. Using an employment contract template will help outline everyone’s rights and jobs, protecting you and your future content creator. It’s all about ensuring everyone’s on the same page and feels secure.
4. Create Your Job Postings
Once you know what you’re looking for and how much you can spend, it’s time to piece it all together into something you can use to find the best talent for the job. When it comes to finding freelance writers and content creators, the process will be a bit different than hiring full-time team members. Instead of relying on full-time job search sites like Indeed, Alongside, Jooble, or Lensa, you’re going to be focusing your efforts on freelance-focused sites like CopyHackers, CopyBlogger, Upwork, and Fiverr, as well as your company website.
5. Go Where Content Creators Spend Time
Now that you have an active job posting on your website, it’s time to start searching for the best talent you can find. The key here is to go wherever these talented folks are already spending their time. Here’s the thing: The best freelancers create their own content on top of their client work. They know how to promote their own freelance business to grow.
Find some folks creating content similar to what you’re searching for and reach out to them. If they’re interested, share your job posting and go from there. Use these popular networks as a starting point: Medium for Writers, YouTube for Videographers, Instagram for Photographers & Videographers, Unsplash for Photographers, and Dribbble for Graphic Designers.
6. Share Your Job Posting In Popular Communities
The key here is to give your job posting as much reach as possible. The more qualified people you’ll be able to reach, the greater your chances of finding that perfect fit for the project. Regarding the communities you should be sharing in, there’s a clear frontrunner you should be focusing your efforts on… Facebook Groups.
If you’re searching for talented freelance workers, Facebook Groups are a great place to look. Whatever it is you’re searching for; there’s probably a group of experts and talented individuals who can either help you directly or refer you to someone who could help. Slack Communities is a great place to find content creators.
Many content marketing Slack groups have a jobs channel where you can share your opportunities and ask for recommendations and applications. The exact process can be used in other communities like LinkedIn Groups, Quora, and Reddit. Share a post asking for recommendations or folks to reach out if they’re interested, include a link to your job posting, and let the conversations flow.
7. Reach Out To Your Network For Introductions
Currently, you have job postings live on Upwork and Fiverr that generate interest, a job posting on your company blog bringing in some traffic, and a few posts in relevant communities on Facebook, Linkedin, or somewhere else that you’re getting some referrals through. By now, you’re probably getting a good amount of traction across the board. Your inbox is probably filling up with interested content creators, and you may find the best person for the job through this process.
But before you commit to someone, there’s one thing you MUST do first… Ask your network for introductions to their best people. There’s no better sign-off than a recommendation from one of your colleagues or network members. If they’re willing to recommend someone, there’s a great chance that person delivers high-quality work and was a pleasure to work with. The best way to do this is through a well-crafted LinkedIn status update. Ensure to provide details about what you’re looking for with the project and include a direct request for recommendations from your network. You won’t get much traction on the post if you don't ask.
10 Tips for Successful Content Creator Collaboration
Social Media Content Creators
1. Establish Open Lines of Communication
Start your partnership off on the right foot by opening channels of communication. Content creators are experts in their field and know how to create engaging content, so listen to them as you discuss your project. Provide them with clear information about your brand, goals, and expectations, and give them room to ask questions and express their thoughts.
2. Get to Know Their Audience
Content creators have a unique connection with their audience; every creator’s audience is different. Take the time to understand their followers’ demographics, interests, and preferences. This knowledge will help you tailor the content to ensure it resonates with the audience and accomplishes your goals.
3. Set Mutual Goals
Define shared goals that benefit both your business and the content creator. Whether it’s brand awareness, engagement, or conversions, aligning objectives ensures a shared vision for success.
4. Allow Creative Freedom
While guidelines are essential, they allow content creators to infuse their creativity. Authenticity is key in content creation; creators often know what resonates best with their audience.
5. Build Long-Term Relationships
Invest in building long-term relationships with content creators. Consistent partnerships foster trust, loyalty, and a deeper understanding of your brand, leading to more impactful collaborations.
6. Provide Resources
Equip content creators with the necessary resources, such as high-quality visuals, product information, and relevant brand assets. This ensures they have everything they need for compelling content creation.
7. Ensure Fair Compensation
Recognize the value content creators bring to your brand and compensate them fairly. Fair compensation respects their work and motivates them to deliver their best.
8. Leverage Analytics
Utilize analytics to measure the success of your collaborations. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to understand the impact on brand reach, engagement, and conversions.
9. Promote on Multiple Platforms
Encourage content creators to share their work across various platforms. This expands your brand's reach and taps into diverse audience segments.
10. Show Appreciation
Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of content creators. Whether through shout-outs, features on your brand's channels, or exclusive perks, expressing gratitude strengthens the partnership.
Megaphone is a viral on-demand platform built to help you boost your online presence authentically. Our software connects you with influential social media content creators—like podcasters, newsletter owners, and YouTubers—within your niche, helping you grow impressions, followers, and leads without relying on paid ads.
A Sophisticated Engagement Network
Many people think of content creators as isolated individuals with their audiences. The truth is that social media content creators belong to networks or communities. These groups help creators keep track of their growth, stay motivated, and discover new ways to engage with their audiences.
Engagement pods, for example, are private groups that help creators boost their social media posts by increasing their visibility and organic reach. When you join an engagement pod, you’ll receive a certain number of “likes” or comments from other group members within a defined timeframe. This initial engagement helps signal to the social media algorithm that your content is valuable, which can help improve its reach.
Megaphone leverages these engagement networks to help you grow your online presence. Our sophisticated engagement network connects you with relevant social media content creators who can help you improve your visibility and reach on their platforms.
Private Engagement Pod Service Coming Soon
In addition to our existing features, we’re launching a private engagement pod service that will allow you to enhance your online presence even further. This service will create a unique opportunity to connect with relevant social media content creators who can help you improve your visibility and reach on their platforms.
Once you join, you can boost your content’s organic reach before publishing it. Consider how much this will reduce the pressure of posting on social media.
Diverse Creator Partnerships for Sponsored Posts and Ads
Megaphone also caters to startup founders, marketers, emerging creators, and ghostwriting agencies seeking to amplify their digital footprint and social proof. Our complex matching algorithm ensures you partner with your field's most suitable and valuable creators. Go viral today with our viral on-demand platform.