5 simple places to find social media content ideas (that actually work)

When you decided to start your own business, I bet you didn’t think you’d also have to be a full-time content creator and copywriter, did you?

Friend to friend, it’s not enough that you’re running that cosy café in Minehead with the best cappuccinos in town, or a beautiful spa in West Somerset, or that dreamy shepherd’s hut in North Devon. Now you’ve also got to figure out how to make people care about what you do online, so they actually want to spend money on it.

Between juggling clients, stock, bookings and the day-to-day chaos of running your business, who has the time (or you know, brain space) to come up with fresh social media content ideas every single week?

But here’s the thing… social media is non-negotiable. It’s not just where your ideal clients find you. It’s where they fall in love with your business, your story, your values - and, crucially, decide to book, buy, or visit.

If your social media content ideas have run a bit dry lately (we’ve all been there, lovely), here are five simple places to find inspiration for your next batch of posts.

1. Instagram & TikTok

   Instead of spending your evening doom-scrolling, make it productive by saving Reels, carousel posts, and trending audio that resonate with you. They don’t have to be specific to your niche or industry to spark an idea.

   
   

   Save posts on Instagram by tapping the little bookmark icon. And if you like to be super organised, create an ‘Inspo’ folder you can refer back to later when you're ready to create your content.

   
   

2. Your competitors' social media & blogs

   I’m in no way shape, or form suggesting you copy your competitors, but there’s no harm in doing a little research to see what’s going well for them (and what perhaps, isn’t.) 

   
   

   Spot popular topics you could offer your take on, or content gaps they’re missing, that you can address with your own unique voice. Get inspired, make it your own, and do it better than everyone else!

   
   

3. Client / customer questions

   Think about what your clients ask you most often. What pops up in your DMs or emails, or what do people ask you about your business ‘in real life’? These questions are gold dust for creating content that actually connects.

   
   

   If one person is asking, there are probably many more wondering the same thing. Your answer could be the piece of content that makes them tap ‘follow’ or finally book with you.

   
   

4. Google search queries

   Building on those customer questions, take a look at what people are searching for on Google. This is a brilliant way to discover what your potential clients are curious about, so you can create posts that answer their questions and make your content more likely to appear in search results.

   
   

   Type in phrases related to your business and location, and see what comes up under ‘People also ask’ and ‘People also search for’ on Google. You can even use tools like AlsoAsked to dig a little deeper into content topics and keywords.

   
   

   As well as inspiring content ideas, it’s worth including relevant keywords and keyphrases in your Reel hooks, carousel text, and social media captions. SEO matters on social media too!

   
   

5. Your own website & blogs

   Another treasure trove of social media content inspiration? Your own small business website & blog posts! You’ve likely got SO much valuable content sitting there already that can be easily repurposed into engaging reels, carousel posts and stories on your social media. 

   
   

   Break a longer blog post into a series of tips or hacks for your social media. Transform a customer testimonial into a storytelling-style carousel. Pull inspo from your ‘about us’ page to create a warm and welcoming reel to pin to your Instagram feed for new followers. I'm all for extracting maximum value from every piece of content!

Where to save your social media content ideas (so you don't forget them)

Social media inspiration is everywhere, and it often strikes at the most random moments. Whether you’re walking on Exmoor, grabbing a coffee in Minehead, or busy running your salon in Watchet, keep a note of any social media content ideas that pop into your head. I like to type mine into my Notes app or just send myself a quick email. Future me is always grateful!

As you start gathering inspiration for social media content, feed your ideas into a monthly content plan. This helps you stay extra organised and consistent, making sure you’re hitting your content pillars (the topics that are most relevant to your business and important to your ideal clients.)

Save time on social media content planning

Struggling to find the time for social media content ideas for your small business in Somerset? I hear you, lovely…and I can help!

My monthly social media content plans (£100pcm) take the guesswork out of what to post, and include:

• 12 on-brand social media ideas for you to create (a mix of Reels and carousel posts)

• Bespoke hooks and captions written in your brand voice

• A list of story ideas and photo/video suggestions

Perfect for business owners who still enjoy social media but could do with a little extra support with ideas and copywriting. Spend more time running your business and less time stressing about what to post.

But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s glowing feedback from one of my social media content planning clients that made me do a happy dance!

Excited to start showing up on social media again with ideas that actually work? Ready to stop spending hours thinking up content or posting sporadically and getting nowhere?

I can’t wait to help you make social media fun (and effective) again. Email me: megan@mjcopywriting.com to chat about your content plan.