700+ Social Media Content Ideas for 2026 (The Complete Guide)

The hardest part of social media isn't posting — it's figuring out what to post. According to the Creator Economy Report 2026, 73% of creators struggle with sustainable posting schedules while maintaining quality. The culprit? Running out of ideas.

This guide solves that problem permanently. You'll find 700+ proven content ideas organized by platform, content type, and industry — plus frameworks for generating unlimited ideas on your own. Whether you're a solopreneur posting daily or a marketing team managing multiple brands, you'll never stare at a blank screen again.

Quick Navigation: Platform-Specific Idea Guides

Jump to 100+ ideas tailored for each platform:

TL;DR

• Content pillars simplify planning — Use 3-5 core themes (educate, entertain, inspire, engage, promote) to organize all your ideas
• Evergreen content builds the foundation — 70% of your content should be timeless; 30% can be trending
• Repurposing multiplies output — 94% of marketers use content repurposing, seeing 40% higher output without proportionally more creation time
• Quality beats quantity — 3 high-quality posts per week outperform 7 mediocre ones
• Batch creation saves time — Plan and create content in batches using a content calendar
• Every platform needs native content — Adapt ideas to each platform's format, not just cross-post

Table of Contents

1. The Content Pillar Framework
2. 50 Universal Content Ideas That Work Everywhere
3. Content Ideas by Category
4. Content Ideas by Industry
5. Platform-Specific Strategy Overview
6. How to Repurpose One Idea Into 10 Posts
7. Building Your Content Calendar
8. 10 Content Mistakes to Avoid
9. FAQs
10. Your Content Idea Action Plan

The Content Pillar Framework

Before diving into specific ideas, you need a system. Content pillars are the 3-5 core themes your brand consistently creates content around. They're the structural support for your strategy.

According to Sprout Social, content originality is one of the top ways a brand can stand out — second only to service quality. Content pillars ensure you're consistently original within themes that matter to your audience.

The 5 Core Content Pillars

Most successful social media strategies include some combination of these five pillars:

1. Educate (30-40% of content)

• How-to tutorials and guides
• Tips and best practices
• Industry insights and data
• Myth-busting and misconceptions
• Tool recommendations

2. Entertain (20-30% of content)

• Trending sounds and formats
• Humor and relatable moments
• Behind-the-scenes bloopers
• Creative challenges
• Pop culture references

3. Inspire (15-20% of content)

• Success stories and case studies
• Motivational quotes and messages
• Transformation journeys
• Goal-setting content
• Community spotlights

4. Engage (15-20% of content)

• Questions and polls
• User-generated content campaigns
• Comment prompts
• Controversial takes (within brand guidelines)
• "This or that" posts

5. Promote (10-15% of content)

• Product features and benefits
• Limited-time offers
• Customer testimonials
• New launches and updates
• Lead magnets and resources

This framework aligns with what HubSpot calls the "value-first" approach: 85-90% of your content delivers value, while only 10-15% directly promotes.

Plan your content pillars visually: Use PostEverywhere's calendar view to see your entire month at a glance and ensure you're hitting each pillar consistently. Start your free trial →

50 Universal Content Ideas That Work Everywhere

These ideas can be adapted for any platform. Adjust the format (video, carousel, text post) based on where you're posting.

Educational Content (1-15)

1. "How I [achieved result]" — Share your process for a specific achievement
2. Common mistakes in [your industry] — List 3-5 mistakes and how to avoid them
3. [Number] tips for [specific outcome] — Actionable, numbered advice
4. Tool tutorial — Walk through how you use a specific tool
5. Industry jargon explained — Break down complex terms for beginners
6. Step-by-step guide — Visual walkthrough of a process
7. Book/resource recommendation — Share what you're learning from
8. Data breakdown — Visualize interesting industry statistics
9. Before and after process — Show transformation with explanation
10. FAQ compilation — Answer your most-asked questions
11. Myth vs. reality — Debunk common misconceptions
12. Comparison post — Side-by-side analysis of two options
13. Checklist — Downloadable or saveable list for a specific task
14. Template share — Provide a reusable framework
15. "What I wish I knew" — Lessons from experience

Entertaining Content (16-25)

16. Day in the life — Behind-the-scenes of your routine
17. Trending audio with your twist — Adapt viral sounds to your niche
18. Expectation vs. reality — Humorous contrast in your industry
19. Hot takes — Controversial (but defensible) opinions
20. Relatable struggles — Content your audience will share
21. Fails and bloopers — Humanizing moments of imperfection
22. Industry memes — Create or adapt memes for your niche
23. "POV" content — Point-of-view scenarios your audience experiences
24. Reaction to industry news — Your take on recent developments
25. Personality quizzes — Interactive content that reveals something about the viewer

Inspiring Content (26-35)

26. Customer success story — Spotlight a client transformation
27. Your origin story — How and why you started
28. Milestone celebration — Share achievements with your audience
29. Team spotlight — Introduce the humans behind your brand
30. Community feature — Highlight a follower or customer
31. Motivational quote with context — Why this quote matters to you
32. Goal update — Progress toward a public goal
33. Rejection/failure story — What you learned from setbacks
34. "If I started over" — What you'd do differently
35. Gratitude post — Genuine appreciation for your community

Engaging Content (36-45)

36. Poll or quiz — Get opinions on a relevant topic
37. "This or that" — Two-option choice relevant to your audience
38. Fill in the blank — "____ is overrated. ____ is underrated."
39. Caption contest — Ask followers to caption an image
40. Controversial question — Spark respectful debate
41. AMA (Ask Me Anything) — Open Q&A session
42. Prediction request — Ask audience to predict an outcome
43. Unpopular opinion prompt — "Share your unpopular opinion about..."
44. Challenge invitation — Invite followers to try something
45. Rating request — "Rate my [setup/content/strategy] 1-10"

Promotional Content (46-50)

46. Problem-solution format — Pain point your product/service solves
47. Social proof compilation — Multiple testimonials in one post
48. Feature spotlight — Deep dive on one product feature
49. Limited-time announcement — Urgency-driven offer
50. Results showcase — Concrete outcomes from using your product/service

Content Ideas by Category

Short-Form Video Ideas (Reels, TikToks, Shorts)

Short-form video accounts for over 60% of total social media consumption in 2026, according to Social Insider. Here are ideas optimized for the format:

Hook-based ideas:

• "Stop doing [common mistake] and do this instead"
• "Here's the [tool/strategy] nobody talks about"
• "I tried [trend/method] for 30 days — here's what happened"
• "3 signs you're [doing something wrong]"
• "The [number] second rule that changed everything"

Format-based ideas:

• Quick tutorial (15-30 seconds)
• Before/after transformation
• Day-in-the-life montage
• Trending sound adaptation
• Green screen reaction
• Duet/stitch response

Engagement-focused ideas:

• "Save this for later"
• "Comment your answer"
• "Which would you choose?"
• "Tag someone who needs this"

Use a social media scheduler to batch-schedule your short-form content at optimal times.

Carousel/Slideshow Ideas

Carousels generate the highest save rates on Instagram and 278% higher engagement on LinkedIn than single images. Perfect ideas for the format:

• Mini course — 10 slides teaching one skill
• Listicle — "10 tools every [profession] needs"
• Process breakdown — Step-by-step visual guide
• Data story — Statistics with visual design
• Comparison — Two approaches side by side
• Timeline — Evolution or history of something
• Quote collection — Themed quotes with commentary
• Mistake gallery — Common errors illustrated
• Resource round-up — Curated tools or links
• FAQ answers — Visual Q&A format

Text-Based Content Ideas (X, LinkedIn, Threads)

Text posts thrive when they're either highly valuable or highly relatable. Ideas:

Thread/long-form ideas:

• "Here's what 5 years of [experience] taught me" (numbered list)
• "[Industry] predictions for the next 12 months"
• "The complete guide to [topic] (thread)"
• "I analyzed [number] [things]. Here's what I found."
• "My [tool/process] stack for [outcome]"

Short-form ideas:

• Hot take with evidence
• Contrarian opinion with reasoning
• Simple truth that resonates
• Question that sparks discussion
• Observation about your industry

Live Video Ideas

Live content builds real-time connection. Schedule these in your content calendar:

• Weekly Q&A sessions
• Product demos with real questions
• Behind-the-scenes of your process
• Guest interviews or co-streams
• Tutorial with live troubleshooting
• Reaction to industry news
• Community challenges or games
• Launch announcements
• "Build with me" sessions
• Office hours for your niche

Content Ideas by Industry

E-commerce/Retail

• Unboxing and first impressions
• Styling/outfit ideas with products
• Customer transformation stories
• Product comparison guides
• "How it's made" behind-the-scenes
• Seasonal lookbooks
• Flash sale announcements
• Size/fit guides
• Product care tutorials
• User-generated content reshares

Find more platform-specific ideas in our Instagram content ideas and TikTok content ideas guides.

B2B/SaaS

• Feature tutorials and walkthroughs
• Customer success case studies
• Industry benchmark reports
• Thought leadership threads
• Integration guides
• Workflow optimization tips
• Team culture content
• Product roadmap updates
• Comparison posts vs. alternatives
• ROI calculators and tools

Explore our LinkedIn content ideas guide for B2B-specific strategies.

Service-Based Businesses

• Process explanation videos
• Before/after client results
• FAQ answers
• Day-in-the-life content
• Team member spotlights
• Client testimonial stories
• Pricing transparency posts
• Portfolio highlights
• Industry insights and education
• Local community features

Content Creators/Influencers

• Get ready with me (GRWM)
• Day in the life vlogs
• Hauls and favorites
• Honest reviews
• Collaborations and features
• Behind-the-scenes of content creation
• Trend participation
• Story time content
• Advice and lessons learned
• Community shoutouts

Generate ideas faster with AI: Use PostEverywhere's AI content generator to brainstorm hooks, captions, and content variations. Turn one idea into dozens of platform-optimized posts. Try it free →

Platform-Specific Strategy Overview

Each platform has unique strengths. Here's how to adapt your content ideas:

Instagram

Best content types: Reels (15-30 seconds), carousels, Stories, user-generated content

What works in 2026: According to Hootsuite's research, Instagram engagement has stabilized around 0.48%. Reels still dominate for reach, but carousel posts drive the highest saves.

Adapt ideas by:

• Making content visually striking
• Using trending audio on Reels
• Creating swipe-worthy carousels
• Adding interactive Story stickers

Full guide: 100 Instagram Content Ideas

Schedule your Instagram content with an Instagram scheduler for consistent posting.

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TikTok

Best content types: Short-form video (15-60 seconds), trending sounds, duets, stitches

What works in 2026: TikTok has the highest engagement rate at 3.70%, up 49% year-over-year according to Social Insider. Shares increased 45% YoY, indicating the shift toward private sharing.

Adapt ideas by:

• Hooking viewers in 1-3 seconds
• Using trending sounds within 2-5 days of peaking
• Creating content that prompts shares/saves
• Participating in challenges with your unique twist

Full guide: 100 TikTok Content Ideas

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LinkedIn

Best content types: Text posts, carousels/documents, native video, articles

What works in 2026: Carousels generate 278% higher engagement than video. Personal profiles outperform company pages by 2.75x. Dwell time is a major ranking signal.

Adapt ideas by:

• Leading with a strong first line (hook)
• Sharing professional insights and lessons
• Using data and specific examples
• Creating educational carousels

Full guide: 100 LinkedIn Content Ideas

Use a LinkedIn scheduler to maintain consistent posting cadence.

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YouTube

Best content types: Long-form tutorials, Shorts (under 60 seconds), how-to content, vlogs

What works in 2026: Shorts drive 200 billion daily views. Long-form requires 50%+ retention. Thumbnails with expressive faces increase CTR by 20-30%.

Adapt ideas by:

• Creating searchable, evergreen content for long-form
• Using Shorts for discovery and channel growth
• Optimizing thumbnails and titles
• Structuring content for retention

Full guide: 100 YouTube Content Ideas

Schedule your videos with a YouTube scheduler.

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X (Twitter)

Best content types: Threads, single tweets, memes, real-time takes

What works in 2026: X engagement has dipped to 0.12%, but threads get 63% more impressions than single tweets. Replies are weighted 150x more than likes.

Adapt ideas by:

• Breaking ideas into thread format
• Engaging heavily with replies
• Keeping content text-focused
• Joining real-time conversations

Full guide: 100 X/Twitter Content Ideas

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Facebook

Best content types: Reels, native video, Groups content, community posts

What works in 2026: 98% of viewed posts contain no external links. Reels get 135% more reach than photos. Groups with the 24-1 value rule (24 value posts per 1 promo) thrive.

Adapt ideas by:

• Keeping content native (no external links)
• Creating for community engagement
• Using Reels for reach
• Building Group-specific content

Full guide: 100 Facebook Content Ideas

Schedule Facebook content with a Facebook scheduler.

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Threads

Best content types: Conversational text, photos with captions, replies

What works in 2026: 6.25% median engagement rate — higher than any other text-based platform. Photos get 60% more engagement than text-only. Replies are "as valuable as posts."

Adapt ideas by:

• Being conversational and authentic
• Adding photos to text posts
• Participating heavily in replies
• Using one tag per post (not hashtags)

Full guide: 100 Threads Content Ideas

Use a Threads scheduler to stay consistent.

How to Repurpose One Idea Into 10 Posts

According to HubSpot's 2026 State of Marketing Report, 94% of marketers use content repurposing, with 46% reporting positive results for engagement and leads. Marketers who repurpose see 40% higher content output without proportionally more creation time.

The Repurposing Framework

Start with one substantial piece of content — a blog post, video, or detailed guide. Then extract:

1. The Main Points (3-5 posts) Every 2,000+ word blog post contains 5-10 key insights. Each becomes a standalone post:

• LinkedIn text post with one insight
• Instagram carousel expanding on one point
• Tweet thread on one concept
• TikTok explaining one tip

2. The Quotes (2-3 posts) Pull quotable statements and statistics:

• Quote graphic for Instagram
• Text post with the stat for X
• Carousel of top quotes for LinkedIn

3. The Visual Elements (2-3 posts) Transform data and processes into visuals:

• Infographic for Pinterest
• Before/after for Instagram Stories
• Process video for TikTok
• Slideshow for YouTube Shorts

4. The Behind-the-Scenes (1-2 posts) Show the creation process:

• "How I created this" video
• Research process thread
• Tools used carousel

Example: One Blog Post = 10+ Posts

Original: A 3,000-word guide on "How to Schedule Social Media Posts"

Repurposed into:

1. Instagram carousel: "7 Steps to Schedule a Month of Content"
2. TikTok: 30-second "Schedule a week in 5 minutes" tutorial
3. LinkedIn post: "What I learned scheduling 1,000 posts"
4. X thread: "The complete scheduling strategy (thread)"
5. YouTube Short: Quick tool walkthrough
6. Facebook Reel: Same TikTok, adapted for Facebook
7. Threads: "Unpopular opinion: scheduling > posting live"
8. Instagram Reel: Behind-the-scenes of batch scheduling
9. LinkedIn carousel: "Scheduling myths debunked"
10. X post: One compelling statistic with commentary

Use PostEverywhere's cross-posting feature to adapt and distribute content across platforms efficiently.

Building Your Content Calendar

A content calendar transforms random posting into strategic execution. According to Planable's research, small businesses save 10 hours weekly through calendar-based automation.

Step 1: Audit What's Working

Before planning new content, review your last 90 days:

• Which posts got the most engagement?
• Which drove actual results (traffic, leads, sales)?
• What formats performed best on each platform?
• When did your audience engage most?

Step 2: Define Your Content Mix

Based on research from SkedSocial, the optimal approach is:

By pillar:

• 30-40% Educational
• 20-30% Entertaining
• 15-20% Inspiring
• 15-20% Engaging
• 10-15% Promotional

By content lifespan:

• 70% Evergreen (timeless content)
• 30% Trending (timely content)

This ratio comes from content marketing research showing evergreen content delivers 4x higher ROI than trending content alone.

Step 3: Map Key Dates

Plan around:

• Industry events and conferences
• Product launches and updates
• Seasonal trends and holidays
• Company milestones
• Platform-specific opportunities

Use resources like Buffer's social media calendar to find relevant dates for 2026.

Step 4: Choose Your Posting Frequency

Quality beats quantity. Research consistently shows that 3 high-quality posts per week outperform 7 mediocre ones.

Recommended frequencies:

• Instagram: 3-5 posts/week + daily Stories
• TikTok: 3-5 posts/week minimum
• LinkedIn: 3-5 posts/week
• YouTube: 1-2 long-form + 3-5 Shorts/week
• X: 3-5 tweets/day
• Facebook: 3-5 posts/week
• Threads: 3-7 posts/week

Step 5: Batch and Schedule

Create content in batches:

• Set aside 2-4 hours for content creation
• Produce multiple pieces in one session
• Schedule everything in advance

Use a social media scheduling tool to queue content weeks in advance.

See your entire month at a glance: PostEverywhere's visual calendar lets you plan, organize, and schedule content across all platforms from one dashboard. Drag and drop to adjust your schedule instantly. Start free →

10 Content Mistakes to Avoid

1. Posting Without a Strategy

Random posting confuses algorithms and audiences. Define your pillars and stick to them.

2. Ignoring Platform Differences

What works on TikTok won't work on LinkedIn. Adapt content for each platform's culture and format.

3. Chasing Every Trend

By the time a trend is obvious, it's saturated. Be selective — only join trends that align with your brand.

4. Prioritizing Quantity Over Quality

Research shows consistent, quality posting beats high-volume mediocrity.

5. Not Repurposing

You're leaving engagement on the table. Every strong piece of content can become 5-10 platform-specific posts.

6. Skipping the First Hour

The first 60 minutes determine 70-80% of your content's reach. Post when you can engage with early comments.

7. All Promotion, No Value

Follow the 85-15 rule: 85% value, 15% promotion. Lead with education and entertainment.

8. Ignoring User-Generated Content

According to Sendible's research, consumers are 2.4x more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Leverage it.

9. Not Tracking Performance

If you're not measuring, you're guessing. Review what works and do more of it.

10. Inconsistent Posting

Sporadic posting kills momentum. Use a content calendar and scheduling tools to stay consistent.

FAQs

How often should I post on social media in 2026?

Quality beats frequency. Most platforms perform best with 3-5 posts per week of high-quality content. X/Twitter is the exception, where 3-5 tweets per day is optimal due to the fast-moving feed. The key is consistency — pick a schedule you can maintain long-term. Sporadic posting (10 posts one week, zero the next) hurts your algorithmic standing.

What type of content gets the most engagement in 2026?

Short-form video dominates — accounting for over 60% of social media consumption. On TikTok and Instagram, Reels get the most reach. On LinkedIn, carousels outperform video with 278% higher engagement. On X and Threads, text posts with strong hooks drive discussion. Match your content type to the platform's strength.

How do I come up with content ideas consistently?

Use the content pillar framework (educate, entertain, inspire, engage, promote) to organize ideas into themes. Then repurpose each strong piece into 5-10 platform-specific posts. Keep a running idea bank in your notes app, and use AI content generators to brainstorm variations. Most importantly, review what performs and create more of it.

Should I post the same content on every platform?

No. Adapt, don't copy. While repurposing is efficient, each platform has unique culture, format preferences, and audiences. A TikTok shouldn't be copy-pasted to LinkedIn. Adjust your format (vertical video vs. carousel), tone (casual vs. professional), and call-to-action for each platform. Use cross-posting tools to streamline the adaptation process.

What's the best ratio of promotional vs. value content?

Follow the 85-15 rule: 85% of your content should provide value (education, entertainment, inspiration, engagement), while only 15% directly promotes your products or services. Content that constantly sells gets unfollowed. Content that consistently delivers value builds an audience that's ready to buy when you do promote.

How far in advance should I plan content?

Plan at least 2-4 weeks ahead for consistent posting, with tentative ideas mapped 1-3 months out. This gives you time to batch-create content while leaving room for timely posts. Use a content calendar to visualize your plan, but keep 20-30% of slots flexible for trending topics and real-time engagement.

How do I know what content my audience wants?

Let data guide you. Review your last 90 days of analytics: which posts got the most engagement, saves, shares, and comments? What topics sparked conversation? Beyond analytics, directly ask your audience through polls, Q&A sessions, and comment prompts. Track what competitors post and how their audiences respond. Your best content ideas often come from audience questions.

Is it better to focus on one platform or post everywhere?

Start with 1-2 platforms where your target audience is most active. Master those before expanding. Once you have a content system that works, add platforms strategically — using repurposing to maximize efficiency. Spreading yourself thin across 7 platforms with mediocre content loses to focused excellence on 2-3 platforms.

Your Content Idea Action Plan

You now have 700+ content ideas across 7 platforms. Here's how to put them into action:

This Week

1. Choose your primary platform — Where is your audience? Start there.
2. Pick your content pillars — Select 3-5 themes from the framework above
3. Pull 10 ideas from this guide — Choose ideas that fit your pillars
4. Create your first batch — Produce 3-5 pieces of content

This Month

1. Build your content calendar — Map out 4 weeks using the calendar view
2. Explore your platform guide — Deep dive into platform-specific ideas:
   • 100 Instagram Content Ideas
   • 100 TikTok Content Ideas
   • 100 LinkedIn Content Ideas
   • 100 YouTube Content Ideas
   • 100 X/Twitter Content Ideas
   • 100 Facebook Content Ideas
   • 100 Threads Content Ideas
3. Start repurposing — Turn your best-performing content into 5+ platform-specific posts
4. Set up scheduling — Use PostEverywhere to automate posting at optimal times

Ongoing

1. Review performance weekly — What worked? Do more of it.
2. Refresh your idea bank monthly — Add new ideas from trends and audience feedback
3. Audit your pillars quarterly — Adjust themes based on what resonates

The creators and brands who never run out of ideas aren't more creative — they have better systems. Content pillars, repurposing frameworks, and scheduled batches mean you're always prepared, never scrambling.

Use this guide as your permanent resource. Bookmark the platform-specific pages. Return whenever you need fresh ideas. And remember: the best content idea is the one you actually create and post consistently.

Start scheduling your content ideas today: PostEverywhere helps you plan, create, and schedule content across all major platforms from one dashboard. Use our AI content generator for hooks and captions, visualize your strategy with the calendar view, and post at optimal times automatically. Try it free →