As content creation becomes even more popular in 2023, it’s getting harder to break through the algorithm and reach people who genuinely want to engage with your brand.

And while I know many of us are fighting this uphill battle in today’s content-saturated world, knowing what your audience actually wants to consume is a good place to start if you want to reach the right people.

So, at the end of 2022/early 2023, I conducted a poll across my Haylie’s Dailies email list and social media accounts asking people the following:

What content do you want to see in 2023?

And today, I want to share my findings from my super sophisticated poll.

Now remember, these results are for my niche and Haylie’s Dailies brand, but you can use this as a good jumping-off point to see what type of content people are interested in. If you’re looking for brand-specific results, go straight to the source and try conducting a simple survey of your own! Feel free to copy mine.

The results: This is the type of content people want to consume

*Poll conducted across Haylie’s Dailies social media accounts and email list.

Let’s break down the results + Add examples

I’ll start with the most requested content category and make my way down to the least requested category. 📉

1. Helpful tips & hacks

Coming in HOT! 🔥 Almost every single person who took the survey selected this option.

But what exactly are life hacks? And why are we obsessed with them? Refinery29 has a good definition:

— Refinery29

Some examples from Refinery29 include:

Using salt to remove a wine stain
Twisting a face mask’s straps just so to create a better fit
Opening a stubborn banana from the bottom
Turning a sandwich bag inside out to create a larger bag

(See?! You’re probably already intrigued by at least one of those!)

If you’re thinking about going this route and providing more tips and tricks for your followers in the new year, I recommend checking out @brunchwithbabs for inspiration. Babs is “America’s most lovable Grandma” and shares recipes, home hacks, positive vibes, and motherly advice you didn’t even know you needed. (If you’re not already following @brunchwithbabs on Instagram, I’m about to open your eyes to a whole new wonderful world!)

Here’s an example:

📷 | @brunchwithbabs

Isn’t she just the best?!

So next time you’re trying to figure out what type of content to post, you can be fairly certain that your audience will love a good life hack. Just make sure you apply it to your specific niche to better engage your followers.

And if you’re brainstorming and looking for more examples, check out some #HayliesHelpfulHacks I’ve shared over the years:

2. Jokes/memes/funny things

Well, this isn’t a surprise. People love memes. And, people love bite-sized shareable content they can relate to.

Funny jokes and memes are a great way to get people to engage with your posts. Even if it’s a simple “😂” or “🙋‍♀️” - it’s better than them scrolling right past and not engaging at all.

🎨 | Melissa Mekdeci on Pinterest

And, you can find or create funny/relatable content for almost every niche. (Just be sure to give credit where credit is due if you’re sharing someone else’s work.)

3. Happy/positive stories in the news

It makes me happy that people want to see happy things! Accounts like @goodnews_movement, @somegoodnews, @thehappynewspaper, and @tanksgoodnews are becoming increasingly popular. Feel-good stories can help achieve a positive mood and happiness.

@goodnews_movement

In fact, many mainstream news outlets now feature positive news stories daily to counteract the bad news in the world.

According to happiness.com:

— happiness.com

So if you’re looking for a way to evoke emotion from your audience, try a feel-good news story!

4a. Free resources

Posts where I’m giving away some type of free resource that I created tend to perform very well. Like these 19 Free Fall Backgrounds For Your Phone or these Free Printable Pumpkin Carving Patterns or this Printable Vacation Packing List.

Fall Fun Bucket List For The Whole Family

If you’re not particularly skilled at creating content like this, try a program like Canva. Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool that you can use to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos, and more. There are so many templates you can use to get started right away. It’s pretty much how I create everything for Haylie’s Dailies!

4b. Recipes

I always want to ensure I am providing QUALITY content for my readers, and not just throwing up a post for the sake of posting something. That being said, I am not a particularly great chef. So, I think this is a great time to talk about utilizing your resources…

For example, while I may not be a great chef or baker, my little sister is! Try teaming up with a friend, family member, or another creator to work together on an idea.

This Is A Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

You’ll increase your reach, target a new audience, and learn something new. It’s a win-win! 🤝

4c. Gift guides/ideas

How many times have you Googled some version of the following:

At least a few times, right?

And while I love making gift guides like Hit A Home Run This Father’s Day With These 99+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas and A Bouquet Of 140+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas For Mother's Day, they are a lot of work and take a lot of precious time.

Hit A Home Run This Father’s Day With These 99+ Thoughtful Gift Ideas

So remember: it’s important to make sure this makes sense for your brand and niche before diving in to make a gift guide just for the sake of making a gift guide.

5a. Activities for kids

I’m actually surprised this didn’t rank higher! But I’m sure it depends on your niche since not all of my followers are necessarily parents and looking for activities to entertain their children.

And although I am not yet a parent, I am an aunt extraordinaire and love making fun content for my niece and godson!

Here are a few examples to help you brainstorm:

5b. Home decor

As you can imagine, this is quite niche-specific as there are sooo many gorgeous home decor accounts. I tend to shy away a bit from this particular topic because it is so saturated, and I know there are experts who do a much better job than me.

But, that hasn’t stopped me from sharing some of my own home decor posts every once in a while! ;)

6. Playlists

Not only are playlists helpful, but they are FUN to make.

For example, one Christmas my Dad and Mom and I sat down with a bunch of my Dad’s records and CDs, drank hot cocoa, and put together: Holly Jolly Hits - The ULTIMATE Holiday Playlist.

And this past summer, my husband and I had a few drinks and created: The ULTIMATE 4th Of July Playlist!

Be sure to ask your followers to submit songs so they feel like they are part of the process and want to listen to your playlist once it’s live.

7a. Date night ideas

Oh la la. Looks like some people are looking for some cute date night ideas. I love this! And, I’m excited to dive into this a little more! (*Spoiler alert: I’ll be providing more date night ideas in 2023. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it! 😉)

One of my first blog posts (which I have since updated a bit) was this Romantic Stay-At-Home Valentine’s Day Date Idea (PLUS A Free Menu Template). In the post, I provided a date night idea PLUS recipes PLUS a free downloadable resource. So, really hitting THREE categories at once here! #overachiever 🏆😝

You don’t have to overthink this one. If you’re on a date, snap a pic and post it with the hashtag #datenightidea. It might inspire someone else to do the same!

7b. A weekly/monthly newsletter with good news

When done right, newsletters can educate your audience and make them feel more connected to your brand.

According to Dyspatch, newsletters will be one of the biggest email marketing trends in 2023 with 81% of brands sending them.

My advice?

Gather email addresses often
Invest in your newsletter
Deliver quality content

>> Psst while we’re on the topic… if you’re not already, please subscribe to get helpful and fun blog posts like this delivered directly to your inbox! 💌 Hehe! 😁

8a. apparel and accessories for sale

Having an online shop was a new endeavor for me in 2022, and it was a lot of fun! (By the way… I’m working on a few new items that will launch soon! If there is anything specific you want to see in 2023, send me a note!)

Just remember: if people are going to spend their hard-earned money on a product you make, make sure you are offering quality products!

8b. Games

This category is a bit niche. For me, it’s content like The Bachelorette BINGO.

But games can be as simple as a post like Can You Crack This Riddle?

Or even simple posts with quick games that require engagement like:

8c. Interviews/features on other creators

Tagging up with other creators is a great way to reach a potential new audience segment and gain more followers.

Just be sure your collaboration makes sense for your current audience and it’s not out of left field. For example, two things I enjoy are promoting inclusion for people of all abilities and Starbucks. That’s why some of my collaborative posts include:

I know that my audience will enjoy these collaborations, and I get the benefit of reaching their audience if they’re willing to share my post.

@saraengland1

There you have it, my content creating friends!

Keep fighting the uphill battle in today’s content-saturated world, and try using these content categories to reach your niche.

Wishing you all success and happiness in the new year!

Hey Content Creators: Here’s What Your Audience Wants To See In 2023