Let’s be honest—posting random content on social media is like throwing spaghetti at a wall and hoping something sticks. Sure, you might get lucky, but strategic content is what actually grows your audience and drives sales.

So, should you focus on videos, carousels, memes, or good ol’ text posts? The answer: It depends on your industry.

Here’s your no-fluff guide to picking the best content formats—backed by data, real-world examples, and a sprinkle of tough love.

1. The Content Format Breakdown (What Works Where?)

📹 Video (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts)

Best for:

• Entertainment (TikTok, Instagram Reels)

• How-to tutorials (YouTube, LinkedIn)

• Behind-the-scenes (Stories, live videos)

Stats Don’t Lie:

• Short-form videos get 2.5x more engagement than images (HubSpot).

• 90% of marketers say video ROI outperforms other formats (Wyzowl).

Industry Winners:
✅ Fitness: Workout demos (e.g., @thebodycoach)
✅ Beauty: Makeup tutorials (e.g., @hudabeauty)
✅ Tech: Product breakdowns (e.g., @unboxtherapy)

Pro Tip: Hook viewers in 0-3 sec—or they’ll swipe away.

🖼️ Carousels (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)

Best for:

• Step-by-step guides

• Data-heavy posts (stats, tips, lists)

• Storytelling with visuals

Why They Work:

• Carousels have 3x higher swipe-through rates than static posts (Socialinsider).

• LinkedIn carousels get 5x more reach than text posts (LinkedIn data).

Industry Winners:
✅ Marketing: “10 Copywriting Hacks” (e.g., @marketingexamples)
✅ Finance: “How to Save $10K in a Year” (e.g., @personalfinanceclub)
✅ Real Estate: “Home-Buying Mistakes to Avoid”

Pro Tip: First slide = your hook. If it’s boring, no one swipes.

😂 Memes (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit)

Best for:

• Relatable humor

• Trend-jacking

• Engagement & virality

Stats Don’t Lie:

• Memes get shared 3x more than standard posts (Twitter internal data).

• 75% of Gen Z prefer brands that use memes (YPulse).

Industry Winners:
✅ Gaming: @shitpostbot5000
✅ Startups: @startup.laughs
✅ Food: @dudewithsign (but for restaurants)

Pro Tip: Don’t force it. If memes aren’t natural for your brand, skip ‘em.

📝 Long-Form Text (Blogs, LinkedIn, Twitter Threads)

Best for:

• B2B thought leadership

• In-depth guides

• SEO-driven content

Why It Works:

• Long-form posts on LinkedIn get 2x more engagement (LinkedIn).

• Blog posts with 2,000+ words rank 3x higher on Google (Backlinko).

Industry Winners:
✅ SaaS: @lennyrachitsky (growth deep dives)
✅ Finance: @morganhousel (investment wisdom)
✅ Marketing: @garyvee (rants & strategies)

Pro Tip: Break up text with bullets, bold lines, and emojis. Walls of text = ignored.

2. Industry-Specific Content Winners (Case Studies)

🏦 Finance & Investing

• Best Format: Carousels + Twitter threads

• Example: @personalfinanceclub’s simple money breakdowns

• Why It Works: Complex topics = need visuals + bite-sized explanations.

💄 Beauty & Skincare

• Best Format: Video tutorials + UGC

• Example: @glossier’s user-generated content strategy

• Why It Works: People trust real results over ads.

💻 SaaS & Tech

• Best Format: LinkedIn articles + demo videos

• Example: @hubspot’s “How-To” YouTube series

• Why It Works: Educates before selling.

🍔 Food & Restaurants

• Best Format: Instagram Reels + memes

• Example: @wafflewolf’s viral food humor

• Why It Works: Food is visual + emotional.

3. How to Pick YOUR Best Content Format

Step 1: Spy on Competitors

• What’s working for them?

• Which posts get the most saves/shares?

Tool Suggestion: Use SparkToro to analyze competitor audiences.

Step 2: Test & Track

• Try 1 video, 1 carousel, 1 meme per week.

• Check analytics after 30 days.

Pro Tip: Double down on what works—don’t spread yourself thin.

Step 3: Match Content to Funnel Stage

• Awareness: Memes, viral videos

• Consideration: Carousels, how-to guides

• Decision: Testimonials, case studies

4. The Future of Content (2024 Trends)

1. AI-Generated Video (But keep it human!)

2. Interactive Content (Polls, quizzes, AR filters)

3. Audio Clips (Twitter voice tweets, podcast snippets)

4. Personalized DMs (Automated but feel real)

TL;DR? Here’s Your Cheat Sheet

1. Videos = Best for entertainment & tutorials.

2. Carousels = Perfect for step-by-step guides.

3. Memes = Great for relatability & virality.

4. Text = Ideal for B2B & SEO.

Need help creating scroll-stopping content? Our social media content service handles strategy, creation, and posting—so you don’t have to.