Creative Social Media Posts Examples: Get Inspo for Your IG!

Profile photo of Karen Lin, author

Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Oct 21, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

Trying to make the same content every other popular creator is doing but not getting the same traction? That’s because people hate unoriginal, copycat content! As a creator, your social media followers expect you to come up with unique, out-of-the-box, inventive content they love. 

Need help coming up with content ideas? We’ve got you. In this blog post, we’re sharing creative social media posts examples from which you can draw inspiration. Let’s jump right in!

A man in a yellow shirt taking a photo of a group of friends in creative, trendy outfits.

Why Creative Social Media Marketing Is Important for Creators

According to a Facebook study, people spend 1.7 seconds on average looking at social media content before scrolling past it. Because people today have such a low attention span, it’s important to captivate them right away with your content. How? Through creative social media marketing, of course.

Gone are the days when all you needed to succeed on Instagram was aesthetic content. Today, pretty isn’t enough. Creators have to wrestle their way to winning the attention of potential followers. And that’s hardly surprising, given how many other brands they have to compete with on the social media platform.

The best way to get your target audience to notice you is by coming up with creative and unique content. That means using innovative design elements and experimenting with content buckets no one’s played around with before. Be funnier, wittier, and more poignant to go viral. By elevating your content strategy this way, you can grab the attention of more potential followers.

A man recording a video of a woman sitting on a bed unboxing a product.

How To Be Creative on Social Media as an Influencer

There are many ways to be more creative with the content you post to your social media accounts. For Instagram specifically, here are things you can do to level up your content and make it more innovative:

  • Build anticipation for product releases with intriguing teaser content before big campaign launches.
  • Ask your followers thought-provoking and silly questions to drive meaningful conversation.
  • Post funny Instagram Reels your fans will watch over and over.
  •  Create Instagram Stories with cute GIFs, pretty fonts, and interactive stickers.
  • Jump on the bandwagon and participate in viral social media challenges, but put your own spin on them!

Two young women dancing in front of a phone camera and tripod.

Creative Social Media Post Examples by Creators and Celebs

Want to stand out from the crowd when making content but don’t know how? Check out these five celebs and creators and how they create original, creative social media content to attract fans. Who knows—you might get inspired by these content ideas and add a few of them to your content calendar!

1. Charlie Puth Making Music Out of Anything

Charlie Puth may be a Grammy-nominated musical artist, but in his spare time, he makes content online. On Instagram, he creates videos making songs from everyday noises. He’s created tunes from the sounds of a water fountain, sirens, and even the “notes” of utter silence.

The way he uses his talent on Instagram is a shining example of the creative use of social media posts. With his creative, out-of-the-box, unexpected content, he’s out to prove that you can make music out of literally anything.

2. KATSEYE Taking On Trendy Challenges To Humanize a Global Girl Group

At first glance, the girls of KATSEYE seem like your everyday popstars who sing and dance all day long. And while that’s partly true, they use their Instagram account to show off their personalities through creative content. Unlike other pop groups, they take on funny, trendy challenges to promote their songs and albums.

One example is this Reel in which each of them takes a video before and after singing at their concert. This is a play on the viral “first and last drink of the night” trend but in popstar form!

Their eagerness to take on silly, creative online challenges on their page humanizes KATSEYE. It makes them seem more authentic and approachable, endearing them even more to their loyal fans. It just goes to show you that injecting humor into your content makes it a hundred times more engaging!

3. Jasmin and James’ Funny Dance Routines to Viral Soundbites

Dance videos might be so 2020, but Jasmin and James have made their dance routines way more interesting. This dancing duo is known to create full-on routines not for trending songs but for hilarious, viral soundbites. They’ve done everything from ballet routines for cellphone ringtones to funny moves performed to popular lines from Harry Potter!

This type of content proves that it’s not bad to jump on trends, like dance crazes. But for your posts to gain traction, it’s important to add your own creative twist to what’s popular. This helps you stand out from the crowd and win the hearts (and laughs) of new fans.

Path Social’s screenshot of Austin Krance’s trivia Reel on Instagram.

4. Austin Krance Engaging Fans Through Trivia Questions

You don’t have to show off prodigy-level talent or have a super trendy aesthetic to make creative, engaging content. You can get people to love and eagerly wait for your content as long as you have an out-of-the-ordinary idea.

Austin Krance, for example, shows his creativity on Instagram by posting interactive trivia videos. Speaking directly to his viewers, he hosts “avoid saying the same thing as me” trivia games on Reels.

Path Social’s screenshot of Matt Bernstein’s Instagram post of a graphic talking about Dolly Parton’s clothes.

5. Matt Bernstein’s Witty, Socially Relevant Content

Matt Bernstein is known for using his voice on Instagram to raise awareness of social issues and news stories. However, unlike traditional news outlets, he has a more creative way of sharing his take on current events. He uses bright, eye-catching graphics and witty one-liners to make his storytelling style more vibrant and youthful, albeit very opinionated.

Just check out his post about Dolly Parton rocking out in concert after receiving flak for not dressing her age. Matt doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind, but always in a creative, thought-provoking way that leaves a social impact.

Creative Social Media Posts: Examples for Business (And Takeaways for Creators!)

Creators and celebrities are awesome at making content to showcase their personalities. But creative content isn’t limited to individual people. Brands can also shine with witty, out-of-the-box content. Looking for social media post ideas for businesses? Here are some creative social media post examples for a business by household brands to draw inspiration from.

Path Social’s screenshot of Recess’s Instagram post of a canned drink on a flight.

1. Recess: Personification of the Product

Brands that advertise their products on Instagram typically post photos and videos showcasing the product from every angle. They’ll have stylish, high-production photoshoots to take photos of models using the product or close-up shots of their goods.

But content strategies like that are a dime a dozen today and rarely stand out. That’s why beverage brand Recess took a different approach to its social media accounts.

Instead of simply posting product shots of their drinks, they personified the products. All over their feed, you’ll see photos of the canned drinks acting and posing as if they were people. In the brand’s content, these colorful cans are listening to music, going to parties, and catching flights. Pair all that with a signature aesthetic of soft pastels, and you’ve got a visual brand identity like no other!

By using this creative content style over hard-sell product-centric photos, Recess shows off its personality while promoting its drinks.

Path Social’s screenshot of Starbucks’s Instagram post of coffee levitating with candles around it.

2. Starbucks: Seasonal Product-Centric Content

Another brand that adds a creative touch to its product-centric posts is Starbucks. Instead of the usual shots of coffee cups by the fireplace or at relaxing cafés, they play with seasonal elements. Sometimes, they’re poignant and get you excited for certain holidays. Other times, though, they’re silly, laidback, and will get a giggle out of you.

Starbucks is especially excellent at doing this to showcase its popular seasonal items. For example, other coffee brands promote their fall drinks with your typical autumn leaves and cozy sweaters. But Starbucks is a little more playful with it. They promoted their pumpkin cream cold brew, levitating alongside some candles in time for Halloween. Super cool, right?

Path Social’s screenshot of Oreo’s meme post on Instagram.

3. Oreo: Using Memes To Engage Younger Fans

When you think of Oreo’s marketing, you might still remember their signature “twist, lick, and dunk” slogan and family-centric commercials. So, it may come as a surprise that in the modern age, their Instagram presence is hinged on meme culture.

Oreo’s feed is filled to the brim with funny, shareable content aligned with Gen Z’s absurdist, meme-centered humor. They’re not afraid to be extremely silly and playful with their content, even if it’s a little off-brand at times.

This is an awesome example of how being creative sometimes means getting out of your comfort zone. Instead of family photos and product shots, the brand now speaks in emojis and memes. Oreo may be a classic household name brand. However, online, it shows off its personality with humorous content and by speaking the language of its younger target audience. And people eat it up!

The lesson here? Don’t take yourself too seriously on Instagram. Post content that isn’t just aesthetically pleasing but will make your fans laugh out loud, too! It’s important to adapt to the times, and Oreo does exactly that with its meme-inspired posts.

Path Social’s screenshot of a Redbull Instagram Reel of someone skydiving.

4. Redbull: Chaotic Stunts for Shock Value

Redbull has always been known for its high-energy branding. And what better way to channel that personality into their social media platforms than by posting extreme sports stunt videos? Not only does it align with their brand persona, but it allows for viral content viewers can’t look away from. It gives their followers an adrenaline rush like no other!

There are a bunch of other creators that have adopted this style into their content, too, like IShowSpeed on TikTok. And they’ve found massive success with it. It just goes to show you that pushing the boundaries and doing outrageous creative content always pays off!

Path Social’s screenshot of Nike’s Instagram post honoring Tokito Oda at the Paralympics.

5. Nike: Sport-Related Success Stories

Creativity doesn’t always mean extreme stunts and funny meme graphics. You can also express it through poignant, heartwarming content that tugs at the heartstrings. That’s exactly what Nike does on their Instagram page, where they post success stories of athletes from around the world.

These posts don’t have long-winded paragraphs of athletes’ life stories, though. Most of the time, Nike has an amazing, witty, creative copy with just one or two lines. Then, they put it on athletes’ photos in their most powerful moments, like when they win a championship. It’s incredibly empowering, especially for lovers of the sport.

Take, for example, the Paralympics. Nike honored the athletes who won in the event’s games, such as tennis player Tokito Oda. This powerful post empowers not just tennis lovers but also those who struggle with mobile disabilities.

As a creator, don’t be afraid to share inspirational success stories, as Nike does. It’s a terrific way to lure more fans in, especially if you know how to hit people in the feels.

Path Social’s screenshot of Glossier’s quadrant chart Instagram post featuring their lip products.

6. Glossier: Trendy Infographics With Their Products Center Stage

Glossier has always been the queen of aesthetics in Instagram’s beauty space. They’re known for their trendy, minimalist, high-brow photography showcasing their products with stunning, dream-like packaging.

But recently, they’ve been kicking their content up a notch with more interactive formats, like fun graphs and infographics. They even recently posted in the trendy four-quadrant mix format to showcase their lip products in a fun, interactive way.

The way Glossier’s content strategy has grown over the years shows that they understand it’s not just about the aesthetic. Succeeding on Instagram also means keeping up with trendy formats, even if it’s not what you normally post online.

7. Sephora: Reposting User-Generated Content by Influencers

Sephora has a different style of showing off creativity to showcase its brand. Instead of coming up with their own content, they cleverly piggyback on creative user-generated content (UGC) by reposting it. These posts are made by a mix of influencers and everyday customers.

Reposting UGC is a genius content marketing strategy. So many beauty and makeup lovers post content featuring their Sephora hauls on the internet. Plenty of them are a sight for sore eyes with beautiful makeup photography and get-ready-with-me Reels with A-plus editing. So, Sephora reposts them to fill up its feed with its customers’ stunning content.

Path Social’s screenshot of Spotify’s Instagram post posing a question to fans.

8. Spotify: Asking Questions To Boost Comments

Lastly, we have Spotify. One might assume that Spotify’s Instagram would be full of announcements for song releases and updates in the music industry. But that’s only half of it. The brand also sometimes posts questions to drive engagement among fans. These questions are about anything music-related, from what band you’d want to join to your most chaotic playlist on Spotify.

This type of content might not be as flashy and aesthetically creative as others. But the idea behind it is out-of-the-box enough to drive funny comments and spark meaningful conversation in the comments. And that’s pretty creative in our books!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a unique social media post?

Start by assessing the pages of other creators and brands in your niche. Look at what they normally post within your industry. Then, come up with ideas for how to elevate that content while adding your brand personality to it. Think of something that hasn’t been done before, whether it’s funny dances, weird trivia, or aesthetic ways to showcase products.

Another way to create stand-out content is by leveraging current trends but adding a fresh spin on them. Make it uniquely you!

How do you write a creative social media post caption?

When writing creative Instagram captions, try to make it as concise but as witty as possible. People tend to scroll through super long captions, so make it short, sweet, and funny.

What makes Instagram posts attractive?

Eye-catching design elements, bold colors, and captivating captions make content more attractive. For videos, a funny or intriguing hook can pique people’s interest, making them more likely to watch the whole thing. When it comes to attracting fans with creative posts, the key is to grab people’s attention right away.

Let More People Appreciate Your Creative Content With Path Social!

Getting as creative as you can and churning out interesting, engaging content is key if you want to grow online. Whether you do it with aesthetic design elements, funny memes, or heartwarming success stories, creating unique content attracts more fans. Keep it up, and you’ll gain an influx of new followers eager to engage with your creative content.

Use the creative social media posts examples above as your guide when filling up your content calendar. With the right out-of-the-box ideas, you’ll be on your way to Instagram virality.

Want more people to appreciate your content? Work with Path Social! We use AI targeting tools to promote your content to your niche audience. More people discover your profile, which means you get tons of followers who love your posts!

We’ve helped thousands of creators succeed, like Sergio from Pushing the Project, who gained 17,000 followers with our help. See similar results when you grow your Instagram community with Path Social!