Did you know there’s a word that combines education and entertainment? Yeah, it’s “edutainment”. Originally, this word was mostly applicable to the video game industry, but with the rise and domination of social media, edutainment became popular there, too.
Properly, however, edutainment on social media is called Educational Content. With time, it became an evergreen trend that informs and engages various audiences: kids, entrepreneurs, marketers, techies, and others. TikTok even has a dedicated feed for such content – the STEM Feed.
Today, users turn to social media for bite-sized tutorials and in-depth courses on the topic of their choice, which makes educational content an evergreen trend that you do not want to exclude from your content strategy.
Why Is Educational Content Trending?
There are two key factors why educational content is trending: audience demand and platform incentives.
Audience: Social media has transformed the way information is consumed. People tend to use social media for entertainment, research, and education; sometimes, all three go hand in hand.
Social media offers people of all ages, backgrounds, skills, and industries an accessible way to acquire new skills and/or find solutions to their niche problems at the tap of their fingers.
Platforms: Algorithms favor and reward value-first content. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube reward content that keeps the viewers engaged and returning for more.
The more value you produce, the more audience you get. The more audience you get, the more the algorithms like you. The more the algorithms like you, the more reach you receive. And the more reach you get, the more motivation you have to produce high-value content.
See, it’s that simple!
The TikTok STEM Feed: Basic Rules
The TikTok STEM Feed is exclusively for content creators and consumers to share and find educational content. It displays content related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
If your target audience resides on TikTok, having your content appear on the STEM feed would be quite useful for your engagement. Here is how to get your content there, according to TikTok:
Step 1: Create a video in one of the STEM topics of your choice. Ensure your topic answers specific questions and offers accurate information.
Step 2: Ensure your video follows all of the community guidelines. The STEM Feed requires all content to be appropriate for viewers ages 13 and above. STEM topics about elementary lessons will not qualify for the feed.
Step 3: When posting your STEM video, include the #STEMtok hashtag.
Note: TikTok uses both internal and external systems to determine whether your content is eligible for the STEM feed. The platform takes educational content seriously, so be sure to fact-check your information before posting. Your content has to pass both checkpoints (internal and external) before TikTok distributes it on the STEM feed.
Creating Educational Content: A Step-By-Step Guide and Ideas
Step 1: Decide On Your Topic
Your goal is to find a topic that is in high demand. If you can, find multiple ones; this will help you avoid the “I don’t know what to post” problem in the future. Your topics can be broad or specific.
Broad topics are great if you want to create multi-part content. You can create playlists on TikTok or YouTube (or both) with these.
Here are some quick tips for finding a unique and high-in-demand topic:
- The 5/5/5 Brainstorm Method: Open your notebook or a new doc, and list the following things: 5 skills you have that your audience is interested in, 5 pain points your target audience has, and 5 popular (or not) questions you get asked by your audience.
If you do not have an audience yet, research some creators or brands in your industry and pay attention to their comments section and content. Note how they address common issues and see if you can spot something they’re missing. - Value Validation: At this point, you should have 15 topic ideas (5 pain points, 5 questions, and 5 skills). Pick one idea and verify that there is an actual demand for it.
Go to the social media or search engine of your choice and search for that idea. Are others talking about it? Is that content receiving engagement? If the answer is yes to both, that’s validation.
However, if the answer is no, your topic might either be a hidden gem or in low demand.
Now, you can either bank on the possibility of your idea being a hidden gem or test a different idea. You can also post a poll on your Instagram Story or X feed and ask your audience to choose between ideas.
Step 2: Choose Your Format
Is your topic broad or short and specific?
- Broad: If your topic is broad, use a long-form video format (YouTube Video or an Instagram Carousel) where you do a “deep dive” into it. Teach people the ins and outs, provide a detailed explanation, and guide your audience step-by-step if applicable.
If long-form isn’t for you, split your broad topic into multiple short videos and post actionable and practical TikToks, Shorts, or Reels. - Short and Specific: If your topic can be explained within a minute, use Reels, TikTok, and Shorts. Such topics often consist of tips, short how-to videos, or common mistakes.
Use the HPSA guidelines to structure your short-form videos:
- H – Hook: Your hook shouldn’t be longer than 5 seconds. State a common problem or make a bold claim relevant to your topic. For example: “If you’re doing this when filing your taxes, you’re doing it wrong.”
- P – Problem: The following 10 seconds of your video. Explain the pain point or the why behind your statement. “You’re missing out on thousands of dollars by doing this, and you don’t even realize it.”
- S – Solution: The key ~30 seconds of your video. Give your audience the answer to the problem. For instance, tell them, “Here’s what you should do instead…”
- A – Action: The last 5-7 seconds of your video. Tell your audience exactly what to do next with a CTA. For example: “Click the link in my bio for a free tax guide” or “Comment your biggest struggles during tax season.”
Step 3: Prepare Your Content
No matter which format you choose, your educational content should be:
- Clear: Use simple language, get to the point quickly, and present information concisely.
- Visually Appealing: Use engaging graphics and high-quality visuals. Ensure your video has a smooth flow and is well-edited.
However, consider experimenting with raw and unpolished videos, as they often outperform high-production ones, especially in short form. - Actionable: Your audience should be able to implement your advice, tools, or tips immediately after watching your video. Make your content highly actionable and practical.
- Interactive: Encourage engagement through questions, Instagram Story polls, and community discussions. Encourage your audience to be specific about the topics they want to learn, and be sure to consider their suggestions and create content on them.
- Story-Driven: When and if appropriate, connect with your audience through storytelling. This will increase your relatability and create an emotional connection between you and your audience.
Quick tip: Consider using the following AI prompts to generate a hook and script for your videos:
- Hook Prompt: “I am a {describe your niche}. Generate five compelling hooks for a video about {your topic}. The hooks should be under 10 words and create intrigue or induce curiosity.”
- Simplifier Prompt: “Act as an expert content creator. My audience is {describe your audience}. Simplify the concept of {your complex topic} into 3-5 simple steps I can use for an Instagram Reel. Use clear, simple, and engaging language.”
Once you have your script, film your content. You can film the entire video all at once, or break it down into parts (even if it is short).
Once you are done, use CapCut or Canva to add appropriate text overlays and edit out long pauses and any video bloopers, like mispronounced words, weird facial expressions, and anything else you feel does not belong there.
Apply any color corrections and insert the necessary infographics. Ensure the video has a good flow to it.
You are now ready to post.
Add the necessary finishing touches, an appropriate caption, and hashtags. If you are posting on TikTok, don’t forget to add the #STEMtok hashtag.
Post your video and analyze its engagement over time. Instead of just likes, look at watch times, overall engagement, and saves. These metrics will help you understand if the audience found your video useful.
Follow the steps above to start creating your next video and implement any necessary changes you learn from your previous video analytics.
Edutainment is an evergreen content trend that can open doors to tremendous opportunities for you. While there are other “edutainers” out there, not everybody is for everybody, so don’t be afraid of your competition.
Remember, people want fast and practical insights from someone they enjoy listening to. (Did you have a favorite teacher in school? Wasn’t it easier to pass a class with that teacher vs someone you didn’t enjoy as much?)
Someone out there will resonate with you and your unique style. So, get out there and edutain!
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