Edutainment is Here to Stay — Are You Keeping Up?
- Duline Theogene
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 7
The buzz around edutainment has taken over the content marketing space. But are brands using it effectively?
A staggering 66% of social media users now say they find edutainment, content that both educates and entertains, to be the most engaging form of brand content. (The 2024 Social Media Content Strategy Report, Sprout Social, p.6)
However, in the rush to embrace this trend, many businesses focus more on generating views and engagement than delivering clear, valuable content.
🎯 The Hidden Challenges of Edutainment Marketing
Many brands focus on producing viral posts with little substance, resulting in short-term engagement spikes rather than lasting brand authority.
According to The 2024 Social Media Content Strategy Report, while brands posted an average of 10 times per day across platforms in 2023, 91% of users say production quality still affects engagement. (Sprout Social, p.7)
This focus on quantity over quality shows how easy it is to prioritize visibility at the expense of meaningful engagement.
📊 Quality-Driven Content Wins
Audiences crave informative content, even on highly visual platforms.
Brands can break complex topics into visually appealing, easy-to-understand posts that capture attention while educating their audience.
Successful edutainment ensures clarity and creativity work together for long-term value.
Take Instagram, for example.
Despite its reputation for short-form content, 69% of social users say they see the most engaging brand content on the platform, with 44% wishing brands used it even more often. (Sprout Social, p.8)
🦉 Duolingo: Edutainment Done Right
A standout example of effective edutainment is Duolingo, the language-learning app.
Duolingo's TikTok content creatively blends humor with education by featuring its mascot, Duo the Owl, in entertaining skits reminding users to stay consistent with their language lessons.
For example, Duolingo recently shared a post about its 2024 Language Report on Instagram, using humor with '2 truths and a lie' to engage their audience.
The post generated over 70,000 likes and sparked active conversations in the comments, balancing education and entertainment while driving impressive engagement.
🎥 Experiment with Trial Reels on Instagram
If you want to test video content instead of static images, Trial Reels can help you experiment with different content styles while minimizing audience fatigue.
Why Try Trial Reels?
Reach New Audiences: Share content with non-followers only for broader reach.
Data-Driven Feedback: Gain performance insights within 24 hours.
Flexible Sharing: If successful, you can share the trial reel with your followers later.
Trial Reel Requirements
A professional Instagram account is required.
Some creators without professional accounts may still have access as part of Instagram's testing phase.
For detailed instructions, visit Instagram's official help page.
💡 Craft Impactful Edutainment
Creating successful edutainment content requires a thoughtful balance between educational value and engaging storytelling. Here's how you can achieve it:
Prioritize Value Over Virality: Ensure the educational component drives your content, with entertainment as the vehicle.
Data-Backed Storytelling: Use meaningful insights, like how instructional videos drive product discovery.
Focus on Quality Control: Ditch content overload. High-quality, insightful posts resonate more than frequent low-impact posts.
📣 My Take
Edutainment, when done right, strikes the perfect balance between informing and captivating your audience.
Focus on delivering high-quality educational content with a touch of creativity to foster trust and long-term engagement.
Author Bio
I create content strategies that help businesses streamline their operations. I've written articles across multiple industries, always with a focus on clarity, engagement, and delivering impactful results.
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