Kseniya I. Content Marketing Expert

What is inspirational content in social networks?

Inspirational posts can be divided into 2 broad categories:

Inspiration for beautiful words and attitude. The author of the post paints a beautiful picture of the future and believes in the success of reader

Practical motivation where the author of the post shares personal experience, tools and tips on how to set goals and achieve them.

Inspirational posts most often have quotes and affirmations. They are built on the “marathon of desires” style so if you want something, it will certainly happen. And you don’t need to do anything, the main thing is to believe.

Practical motivation is based on the experience of the content author. The task is to show that the path to the goal can be difficult, but "I have a couple of thoughts on how to make it easier."

In summary: a practical motivational post helps a person start moving towards a goal and does not provide ready-made solutions, while an inspiring one sets the right mood.

Naturally, there is a demand for both types of content. Accounts with quotes and affirmations can be even more popular than the profile of an HR expert, which motivates people to change their profession and study. Ideally, when both approaches are combined, the post simultaneously creates a mood and provides useful information.

How to choose a topic for an inspirational post

The main thing in the inspirational post is to show the way to the goal through a series of obstacles and end with a positive conclusion. It can be like comparing photos before/after or the story of moving to another country. Inspirational content can be used in any area, but it looks organic in the following niches:

- coaching and personal growth;

- education;

- sport;

- psychology.

All these topics have one thing in common: the audience potentially subscribes to the accounts of sports coaches, psychologists and coaches in order to change their lives. People often lack motivation, and content helps create that motivation. The profit is obvious: a properly inspired and loyal audience buys educational products.

To come up with a topic for an inspirational post, you first need to figure out why you need a post:

- for advertising and sale;

- to engage users.

An advertising inspirational post usually poses a problem and leads to a solution through a product. For example: the topic of the post is “How to start achieving your goals”, a call to action is to sign up for a consultation.

An engaging inspirational post is aimed at increasing activity. Here it is more important to reveal the personality of the author, tell the story and hook the audience with the topic. The topic might be: “How I Learned to Swim at 30.”

Commercial accounts usually use inspiring content: quotes, aphorisms, phrases.

How to make an inspirational post

Inspirational content is not a one-time post, but rather a regular posting. Ideally, you need to identify the needs of the audience and make a list that will become a finished content plan.

And now let's move on to the basic requirements for text and design. There are 2 main points: the visual and the headline.

A good picture for a post can complement or even contradict the topic of the post.

Do not forget about the first sentence, which acts as a headline. It has several tasks:

- to draw attention;

- intrigue;

- to make it clear.

There are several techniques to help you do this. You can start with the output of the post to attract attention:

- I could not run a half marathon, but met interesting people;

- I closed the business and went freelancing;

- I stopped using social networks and lost nothing.

Intrigue:

- it took me several years to understand a simple thought;

- I was angry at not being able to earn much;

- I realized that uplifting quotes have nothing to do with real life.

Note: it is easy to turn intrigue into clickbait, this is when the headline does not fit with the topic and creates false expectations among readers. Try to avoid it as it will have a negative impact.

To make it clear:

- what motivates me to go to work every morning;

- how I stopped worrying about unfulfilled goals;

- reasons for my personal motivation.

To write a motivational post correctly, pay attention to:

Problems. The problem should come from areas where readers have difficulty getting motivated. A good problem is how to learn a language.

Examples. The more real examples, the better. Even if they are small, they will be unique anyway, and unique experiences are what attracts people.

Author's confidence. Behind every word should be a proven life experience. Falsehood is felt immediately.

Favor. If, after reading, the reader has a mess of motivating words in his head, there will be no comments, no sales. A good motivational post should have a practical conclusion.

Unobtrusiveness. The more you promise success, wealth, fame, 100% victory the less faith in the content of the post and in the author himself.

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