In this digital age of marketing, unstructured content is gaining substantially more traction than structured content. Unstructured content, characterized by its spontaneous, informal and humanized nature, diverges from the conventional framework of structured content. Yet, small-business owners and marketing professionals are wondering how to use it effectively on Facebook.
As one of the most widely used social media platforms, boasting approximately 2.98 billion active users, Facebook provides a fertile ground for unstructured content. However, maximizing your unstructured content’s reach on the platform requires a deep understanding of effective techniques and strategies.
What Is Unstructured Content?
Unstructured content is information that does not adhere to a predefined data model, making it less organized and more challenging to analyze. Despite its lack of organization, unstructured content holds immense value and is expected to dominate approximately 80% of worldwide data by 2025. This staggering statistic represents a significant, often untapped, resource.
Some examples of unstructured content include social media posts, blog entries, emails, videos, podcasts and even customer reviews. These forms of content are often rich in narrative, offering a deeper, more humanized connection with audiences.
On social media platforms like Facebook, unstructured content may look like spontaneous live videos, candid photos, real-time reactions to events or user-generated content (UGC). This type of content thrives on originality and spontaneity, helping brands become relatable and responsive to their followers.
As you seek creative ways to engage your Facebook audience, these proven tactics help promote your content effectively.
1- Create Engaging Visual Content
Crafting visually engaging content is an art that can significantly boost audience interaction and brand recall. Start with high-quality images or graphics since blurry images can deter audience engagement. You can easily do so using tools like Canva or Adobe Spark to create professional-looking designs.
Infographics can also be highly effective, providing valuable information in a visually appealing way. They are ideal for sharing statistics or explaining complex processes. When creating infographics, ensure the design is clean, and the information is easy to read and understand.
Videos, especially short, snackable ones, are increasingly popular. They could be behind-the-scenes clips, product demonstrations or customer testimonials.
Regardless of the format, your visual content should align with your brand aesthetics and messaging. You should also be sure to include a call-to-action (CTA) to enhance further engagement. Remember, consistency is key, as it creates a cohesive and recognizable brand image.
2- Craft Captivating Captions
Captions are a crucial aspect of social media, as they can be effective in social media engagement. While a well-written caption may describe the visual content, it should also invite interaction, share valuable information and reinforce your brand voice.
Start with a compelling hook to grab the attention of your audience. This could be in the form of a question, a bold statement or an intriguing fact. Then, the caption should have context or details to elaborate on the statement you are making in the overall post.
However, consistently using your brand voice is important. For instance, if your brand is lighthearted and humorous, reflect that tone in your captions. If it is more professional and informative, it is essential to maintain that energy.
Furthermore, emojis can add a playful element and break up text for readability, but use them sparingly and appropriately.
Lastly, include a CTA, like asking a question to encourage comments or directing users to a link on your website. A well-crafted caption can significantly enhance engagement and drive desired actions.
3- Leverage Facebook Live and Stories
Facebook Live and Stories can be unstructured content that allows brands to connect with their audience in real-time, fostering genuine interactions and boosting engagement. With Facebook Live videos, you have the opportunity to showcase unscripted, authentic moments that resonate with viewers.
Many times, small-business owners will use it to have casual two-way conversations with their audience. However, there are other great ways to use this feature, including Q&A sessions, product reveals, behind-the-scenes tours and hosting interviews with industry experts.
Facebook Stories are also extremely popular because of their 24-hour life span. This feature offers a platform for sharing ephemeral content that complements your primary feed. To use Facebook Stories effectively, consider sharing time-sensitive information, such as updates on when you will be launching promotional discounts.
You could also promote daily tips and create polls to gather user opinions. Additionally, it is a great space to repost UGC or highlight customer testimonials.
Facebook Live and Stories also benefit from prior promotions. Announce your Live session or tease your upcoming Story to pique interest and encourage participation.
4- Encourage User-Generated Content
UGC is a powerful tool for brands because it enables them to build a community, enhance authenticity and extend their reach. UGC is unstructured content — photos, videos, reviews or comments — users create about a brand or product.
The best way to promote UGC on Facebook is by creating branded hashtags and prompting users to share their experiences with your products or services. Use clear CTAs in your social media posts, website and emails, asking users to submit their content and explain how you will feature them on your Facebook page.
Many of your followers will find this rewarding, as it demonstrates their status as top fans, and they appreciate the recognition in your highlighted posts. However, another effective method is to host giveaways or challenges, as these require users to create and share content to win something in return.
Be mindful of reposting others’ content, as it is important to give credit to the original creators. Always ask for permission before reposting UGC, and be sure to tag them in your post.
5- Engage With Your Audience
Once you post your unstructured content on Facebook, it is always a good idea to interact with your audience to maintain higher engagement. If you see a comment on your post, be sure to respond promptly using your brand personality. Doing so will make your brand feel more human and strengthen that connection with your followers.
Within your posts, consider asking open-ended questions to invite users to comment. For example, if you are at a coffee shop, you could ask, “What’s your favorite morning beverage?”
Asking questions and getting to know your audience is always an effective engagement strategy that prompts users to respond. However, it is important to remember that engagement is a two-way street. Take the time to connect with your followers to foster community and increase your loyal following.
6- Utilize Facebook Ads and Targeting
A highly effective way to reach a targeted audience with your unstructured content is through Facebook ads. Facebook has extensive user data that allows for precise targeting based on demographics, interests, behavior and more.
Start by clearly defining your target audience by understanding who they are, their interests and other data so you can guide your ad creation and targeting strategy.
You can choose to target Lookalike Audiences, which are users similar to your existing customers, or Custom Audiences, which allow retargeting people who have previously interacted with your brand.
When creating the ad, ensure it aligns with your brand and effectively communicates your message. Utilize compelling visuals and clear, concise copy and adjust your strategy as you monitor your ad performance.
7- Measure the Success of Your Unstructured Content Promotion
When promoting unstructured content on Facebook, it is always important to measure to determine which posts perform better.
Facebook provides a range of analytics through its Insights tool. Key performance indicators (KPIs) to track include reach, engagement and click-through rate.
However, you should always establish a goal if you want to achieve better results. For instance, if your goal is to drive traffic to your website, monitor the referral traffic from Facebook in your website’s analytics. For brand awareness, track increases in page followers and post reach.
Once you have your KPIs set, pay attention to which types of content perform best. Do live videos get more views? Do posts with questions get more comments? Use these insights to refine your content strategy.
Remember, success extends beyond mere numbers — genuine, meaningful engagement with your audience holds equal value.
The Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While promoting unstructured content on Facebook may be beneficial, there are common pitfalls to avoid:
- Over-promoting: Your audience may feel you are constantly trying to sell to them, which tends to become tacky over time. Consider balancing promotional content with value-driven, engaging content.
- Ignoring audience feedback: If your posts are not getting engagement or you are receiving negative comments, it is time to rethink your content strategy. Always respond to comments in a professional and timely manner.
- Working against the algorithm: Be aware of Facebook’s constantly changing algorithms. Stay updated, as it will help you adapt your strategy and maintain visibility.
Avoid these pitfalls by planning ahead, monitoring your analytics and staying informed. A successful Facebook strategy requires attentiveness, adaptability and a genuine understanding of your audience’s needs.
Grow Your Following With Unstructured Content
Leveraging unstructured content and promoting it on Facebook offers you the opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper, more personal level. As always, continue promoting unstructured content using a blend of creativity, authenticity and strategic planning.
The power of unstructured content lies in its ability to humanize your brand, to turn companies into brand communities and customers into loyal advocates. Embrace the spontaneity it brings, and always show the real people behind your brand.
When integrating unstructured content on Facebook, start small by incorporating one new strategy from this guide. Monitor your results, adapt your approach and continue to experiment. The world of unstructured content is yours to explore, and the potential rewards are well worth the journey.