What makes a good social media post?
In 2020, there is an estimated 3.96 billion people using social media. Find out how to write a good social media post to capture attention!
According to an article by Brian Dean, in 2015, there were only about 2.07 billion people who were using social media. However, in 2020, that number had doubled to a whopping 3.96 billion people.
We live in a generation that is closely interwoven with the digital space, from online shops to social media. For many of us, social media is an integral part of our lives. From its initial conception of connecting loved ones across physical barriers to utilising social media for business purposes such as marketing. Given that, businesses need to be more considerate when developing social media strategies. This is due to the ever-changing social platform algorithms that make it increasingly difficult to generate engagement.
Here are some tips that you can utilise when developing your social media strategy!
1. Ask yourself “Who am I writing this for?”
If you intend to promote a product or a service, it is important to consider who the target consumer group is. If you want them to engage with your social media posts, your content needs to be relevant to them.
For example, if you sell trendy shoes targeted at 16 to 20-year-old females, then writing social media posts that state how great they will be for the working woman would not be the best idea. In fact, it might conflict with the “trendy” image of the shoes.
The more relevant your posts are, the higher your engagement will be. But relevance is not enough. It is important to do market research to understand what your consumers are looking for and how your product or service stands out from your competitors. Sticking to the example of footwear, its variables can range from price, comfort, aesthetic, or a combination.
When you write a post, you get to decide what kind of language you want to use to communicate with your prospective consumers. To illustrate this, the post you are writing on LinkedIn for C-suite executives will be very different from a post on Instagram directed at university undergraduates. Writing in the appropriate language will not only increase engagement but also reflect well on the company’s brand.
2. Developing your brand identity and voice
While businesses should tailor their social media posts according to each demographic, it is also important to infuse branding into the messaging. This voice needs to reflect the company’s personality and values. When creating content across various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, this voice must be consistent. This consistency will help build trust and, more importantly, help users identify the posts as uniquely yours. Businesses can do this in various ways, such as a simple tagline used to identify the company. For example, when we hear the slogan “It’s Finger-Lickin' Good”, we automatically think of KFC. We think of how delicious KFC’s fried chicken is, and we thus associate positive emotions with their messages.
3. Simplicity is key
In a 2020 article on Muck Rack, it was noted that on average, desktop users tend to spend 2.5 seconds on any piece of content on the platform, compared to mobile users who spend about 1.7 seconds. These interactions are said to be even shorter with younger audiences. This, however, differs across the various platforms. For instance, digital spaces like Linkedin commands a longer attention span due to the nature of the content.
On the whole, however, we can discern that people value their time and aren’t keen on reading long posts stuffed with jargon. Make sure the content is easy to read and concise. If in doubt, try it out on your friends and family!
4. Visuals matter
When possible, use images, graphics and videos to convey your message. Visual content is more engaging and allows you to share your message at a glance. Good use of visuals are more likely to increase the engagement on your content.
You can also try livestreaming on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. While it may be daunting to open yourself up to the public in real-time, livestreaming introduces an element of authenticity to the brand which people appreciate.
5. Getting user participation
When you’re writing your social media posts, remember to give your audience a nudge. For instance, if you’re promoting a conference, then a corresponding call-to-action (CTA) would be to invite your audience to sign up for the event. Or if you want to increase your overall engagement rate, you can also ask the readers to follow and subscribe to your page for similar content. The same goes for eCommerce, if you’re promoting a new product on social media, you should include links to your online store or direct users to points of sale where they can purchase the product.
Got all that? Now get out there and succeed!
CareerContact is an ed-tech platform designed to bridge the gap between school and work. We help students develop digital skills and connect them with SMEs in Southeast Asia. Feel free to reach out to us at info@careercontact.org or join us at CareerContact.app.
