How to Create Content Your Followers Love

April Draut
May 1
5 min read

Information in this blog post was obtained from HubSpot Blog, Neil Patel, and Hootsuite Blog.

Woman in mustard sweater leans against white wall with red heart icon and "1" above. Green window frames in background. Relaxed mood. — *Image courtesy of Unsplash*

Have you ever spent hours working on a social media post, only to watch it barely get any likes or comments? It's frustrating, right? You might even wonder, "Am I doing something wrong?" Trust me, you're not alone.

Imagine a girl like Determined Daniella, a senior marketing student juggling school, a part-time job, and a social life. She dreams of starting a career in social media marketing. When time is limited and pressure is high, creating content that connects with followers feels overwhelming. This blog post is for every Daniella out there, offering tips to make content creation feel easier and more rewarding.

Good news: creating content your audience loves isn't about luck; it's about having a plan. With a little help from HubSpot, Neil Patel, and Hootsuite, we're going to dive into how you can make content that your followers genuinely look forward to seeing.

Start with Your Audience, Not Your Brand

One of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing too much on what they want to say instead of thinking about what their audience wants to hear. HubSpot reminds us that the best social media content starts with knowing your audience's needs, struggles, and dreams.

Take a second to put yourself in your followers' shoes: What are they stressed about? What makes them laugh? What do they need help with today? Great content meets them where they are.

For example, if your followers are busy college students like Daniella, they probably don't have time for a 2,000-word essay. They want quick tips, easy wins, and inspiration that fits into their schedules. Empathy is your superpower here.

Pro Tip: Build "follower personas" so you can always stay focused on who you're talking to and what matters to them.

Silhouette of a person in front of a wall with neon text "MEDIA IS EVERYTHING" in red, yellow, and blue, creating a reflective mood. — *Image courtesy of Unsplash*

Make Visual Content Your Best Friend

According to HubSpot’s "Handy Little Guide to Creating Visual Content," visuals aren't just a nice bonus; they're a must. Did you know visual posts are 40 times more likely to get shared than text-only ones? A quick video or a colorful graphic can catch someone’s eye way faster than a long caption ever will.

If you’re short on time (and who isn’t?), here are some easy wins:

Quotes: Share an inspiring quote with a clean design.
Short Videos: Record a quick tip or funny behind-the-scenes clip.
Infographics: Break down a blog post into a few key points.
Memes: Tap into trending jokes that fit your vibe.

Strong visuals help your content stand out in a sea of endless scrolling. So if you’re stressed for time like Daniella, try throwing together an infographic! This will save you tons of time and can still resonate with your followers.

Pro Tip: Stick to a consistent style (colors, fonts, filters) so your followers instantly recognize your posts.

Be Authentic and Personable

Neil Patel makes the point that realness wins on social media. Your followers aren't looking for perfect, they're looking for relatable. They want to know there's a real person behind the posts.

Instead of only posting your highlight reel, try sharing:

A behind-the-scenes look
A "lesson learned the hard way" story
A small win or a funny failure

When you're honest and vulnerable, your followers feel closer to you. It's all about building real connections.

Pro Tip: Tell little stories in your captions. Even three or four sentences can create a powerful emotional pull.

Use a Mix of Content Types to Keep Things Fresh

Let's be honest: no one wants to see the same thing over and over. Hootsuite’s "40 Social Media Post Ideas" gives tons of ways to keep your content fresh and interesting.

Here’s a simple mix to try:

that

Educational: Share a quick tip or tutorial.
Entertaining: Post something funny or light-hearted.
Engagement-focused: Ask questions or run polls.
User-generated: Share posts your followers tag you in.
Product-focused: Show off your work, but keep it fun.

Switching up your formats like Reels, Stories, carousels, or Lives keeps people curious and engaged.

Pro Tip: Plan "content buckets" to rotate through each week so you’re never stuck for ideas.

A clock with Roman numerals on a floral-patterned wallpaper. Pink and beige tones create a vintage, nostalgic atmosphere. — *Image courtesy of Unsplash*

Post at the Right Time

,Timing matters more than you think. Posting when your audience is actually online gives your content a much better chance of getting noticed. So when you’re finally done with your homework for the day consider scheduling your content around these times.

Hootsuite suggests these windows as a starting point:

Mid-morning (9-11 a.m.)
Around lunch (12-1 p.m.)
Evenings (7-9 p.m.)

Of course, the best timing depends on your followers. Check your social media insights to find your sweet spot.

Pro Tip: From my colleague Monica Watson, you want to have a clear plan and schedule for your posts. You can learn more from her blog post here. You can also use a scheduler like Buffer or Hootsuite so you can set it and forget it (without missing the best posting windows).

Engage, Don’t Just Broadcast

Social media isn’t a stage where you just perform, it’s a two-way street. Neil Patel says that real engagement is where the magic happens.

Simple ways to show up for your followers:

Reply to every comment (even if it’s just a heart emoji)
Respond to DMs when you can
Ask questions in your captions to create conversations
Do giveaways

When your followers feel heard and valued, they’re way more likely to stick around.

Pro Tip: Spend 10-15 minutes a day engaging outside of your own posts to comment on their posts and build real relationships.

Keep Learning and Adapting

Here’s the deal: what your audience loves today might not be what they love next month. And that's okay. HubSpot encourages constant learning and tweaking.

Keep an eye on your analytics:

Which posts get the most likes, saves, or shares?
Which types of posts bring in new followers?
What days and times work best?

The more you learn, the better your content will get.

Pro Tip: Try new things often. Even if something flops, you'll learn and improve faster than if you play it safe.

Conclusion: Content Your Followers Actually Want

Creating content your followers love isn’t about throwing things at the wall and hoping something sticks. It’s about knowing your audience deeply, showing up authentically, and staying flexible enough to adapt.

Think back to Daniella: a busy, ambitious student who barely has time to breathe. She doesn’t want complicated posts or sales pitches. She wants simple, helpful, inspiring content that speaks to her life.

When you approach content creation with empathy and real understanding, you won't have to chase engagement. Your followers will feel it, and they'll come to you.

Now, go out there and create content your followers can't wait to see!

Disclaimer: No AI was injured in the production of this content. AI (ChatGPT) was used as a tool to supplement, enhance, and make suggestions in writing this blog post.