If you struggle to write social media content, raise your hand.
Trust me, you're not alone.
We all know that having a social media presence is crucial for finding customers, but it can be challenging to write content that really stands out.
Never fear! I'm here to share some tips to make writing your next social media post a boo-reeze.
1. Determine your Goal
What are you trying to achieve with this social post? Consider whether you're trying to sell a product, promote a service, or just increase brand awareness. When in doubt, use the 5 W’s:
- Who is your audience?
- What is your message?
- When do customers need to act? (This is where you'll include your call to action.)
- Where can they find more information?
- Why should they care?
For instance, if I was a coffee shop selling pumpkin spice lattes, I could break my post down like this:
- Who: Calling all coffee lovers!
- What/Where: Pumpkin Spice Lattes are now available at our downtown location.
- Why: Featuring notes of nutmeg and cinnamon this latte is sure to get you into the Autumn mood.
- When: This seasonal favorite won't be here long, so come try one while supplies last!
I challenge you to open your favorite social media app and ask yourself how they are using the 5 W's. Soon, you'll notice them anytime you see an advertisement.
2. Know your audience
It's time to do some research! Dig into your insights and analytics to see who has engaged with your posts in the past. You can also brainstorm what type of person might want to utilize your product or service. For instance, a salon will probably attract a different demographic of clientele than a biker bar. Once you've determined the persona of your target audience, you can focus on tailoring your language choices, tone, and cultural references to be more appropriate. The most important thing to remember here is to write conversationally (no one likes the hard sell).
3. First Impressions Matter
Mobile platforms tend to shorten posts to the first few words to save space. This means your first sentence needs to be ATTENTION GRABBING (see what I did there). I personally like to use questions, quotes, and jokes to get users to click that "more" button. Whatever your tactic, make sure your message is clear in those first few words or you could miss out on valuable conversions.
4. Keep it Simple
Think back to the last time you were scrolling social media and consider how long you spent reading each post. I'm guessing it wasn't long before you kept scrolling to the next post about cute Halloween outfits. In truth, many successful social posts are only about 50 -100 characters (or fewer) in length. Don’t be afraid to cut, cut, cut your post down to the most essential elements of your message.
5. Post it!
Once your post is written, rewritten, and checked over for spelling errors, it's time to let it fly free. Nervous? I have good news! Most Facebook posts have a lifespan of only 6 hours, so don't sweat it out over writing the perfect content.
If your message is compelling, users will engage. If things didn't go so well, remember that you can always change things up and try again tomorrow! Or if all else fails, the team at JH can help you achieve your social media goals.
