THE 14TH ANNUAL SHORTY AWARDS

The Shorty Awards honor the best of social media and digital. View this season's finalists!
From the 9th Annual Shorty Impact Awards

Call for Content Creators

Entered in Single Post

Objectives

The "Call for Content Creators" single social media post was designed to engage and attract talented content creators in the West Hollywood area to apply for our Request for Qualifications (RFQ) as part of our ongoing digital media efforts. Our primary goal was to find creative individuals locally who could contribute fresh, innovative content that resonates with our community. We aimed to achieve this by creating a short, humorous video that showcased the type of engaging and relatable content we value. 

By using a trending sound and featuring a staff member holding a colorful sign reading "Content Creators Wanted" amidst the lively streets of West Hollywood, we intended to capture attention and convey the fun, vibrant spirit of our City. The video’s simplicity, paired with the vibrant sign and bustling backdrop, emphasized our desire for content that stands out amidst the noise—content that is both eye-catching and meaningful. 

Ultimately, our objective was to create a lighthearted, appealing call-to-action that would not only encourage applications but also reflect the creative and fun atmosphere that potential collaborators could expect when working with us. 

Strategy and Execution

This post was brought to life on the spot, driven by the urgency to attract content creators quickly. During a brainstorming meeting, the idea struck us, and we knew we had to execute it immediately. With a tight timeline and a need for simplicity, we improvised. We found a piece of cardboard and paper, taped them together, and created a colorful sign that became the centerpiece of our video. 

The entire process—from concept to filming and editing—took no more than 45 minutes. We filmed our staff member holding the sign on a busy sidewalk in the heart of West Hollywood, but this quick execution didn’t come without challenges. We had to navigate the unpredictable nature of pedestrians walking through the shot, and the constant flow of traffic created background noise. When the traffic noise proved too loud, we pivoted to using a trending audio track, which added a new layer to the project. 

Selecting the right sound was challenging. We wanted something humorous and on-trend but also appropriate for the message we were conveying. We sifted through various trending sounds until we found the perfect match that aligned with the playful tone of our message. 

To complement the video, we kept the caption simple and direct, further reinforcing our call to action: "You probably can’t tell, but we need content creators. 🥲🫵 For more deets, head on over to go.weho.org/creators!" This encouraged viewers to visit the link and apply without getting lost in too much text. 

The quick turnaround, hands-on approach, and collaborative teamwork made this creative post unique and successful. It highlighted our ability to create engaging content on the fly, reflecting the creative nature of our city.  

Results

The single post exceeded our expectations and achieved our primary objectives. On Instagram, the video garnered 74.8k organic views and 75 comments, making it our most viewed video of the year (at the time). This significant boost in engagement was a clear indication that our approach resonated with our audience. 

However, the most crucial success metric was the impact on our RFQ process. We received 101 applications from local content creators, far surpassing our average submission of 10—a remarkable increase of over 900%. This demonstrated that not only did the post capture attention, but it also effectively motivated individuals to take action and apply. 

Through this campaign, we successfully found the talented and creative content creators we were seeking. The combination of increased engagement and a substantial rise in RFQ applications proved that our efforts were both impactful and successful. 

Media

Video for Call for Content Creators

Entrant Company / Organization Name

City of West Hollywood - Communications Department

Link

Entry Credits