Creating content for social media is a great way to increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your site. Many business owners struggle with exactly what type of content they should be publishing or how to design an effective social media strategy.
There are several different aspects to effective posts. Compelling images, GIFs, and video clips related to the interests of your target audience help to stimulate interest and attention. The most effective captions should be about 15 words or around 150 characters. Use a mixture of photos, images, and videos to improve the visual appeal of your posts.
Different Types of Content
Use a variety of different types of content to keep your audience interested and engaged. Spark curiosity with educational content such as FAQs and lists of tips. Focus on entertaining your audience with some of your content using humor, interesting stories, or behind-the-scenes perspectives.
Use promotional content to get your audience to take a particular action, such as to participate in a poll, leave a comment, shop a sale, or enter a contest. Focus on inspiration in some of your content by delivering a positive or memorable message on topics such as community involvement or people-focused stories.
Use Emojis But Don’t Overdo It
Emojis can be eye-catching to social media users who are scrolling through their feeds, and they often add personality to your posts and help to stimulate engagement. Emojis can be used to separate blocks of text, making your post easier to read. Businesses that are reluctant to use emojis can use simple symbols such as a thumbs-up or a checkmark.
To Hashtag or Not to Hashtag
When you create content on social media, your efforts need to be seen by the right people. Hashtags are words following the # sign that help to categorize your content so that those who would be interested can easily find it. Users of social media platforms can click on a hashtag and see content related to that hashtag.
Using hashtags is a great way to increase the visibility of your posts, helping you to reach a wider audience. They can be included in your profile as well as posts, articles, and comments.
While hashtags can increase your visibility, it’s important not to overstuff your content with hashtags. One or two hashtags are usually enough to help increase views on your content. Multiple hashtags can have the opposite effect and cause your content to be categorized as spam.
When you have a clearer idea of what types of content you need to prepare, plan ahead using a content calendar. On your content calendar, include things such as:
- Events
- Testimonials
- Videos
- Graphics
- Company culture
- Tips and tricks
Keep in mind that not all your content has to be created from scratch. Repurpose or reshare existing content. You can also share valuable content from other companies in your industry, which can help you to stand out as a knowledgeable voice in your industry.
The Timing of Your Posts
Individual platforms often have suggestions for the best time to post on that platform. Mornings and early afternoons are often good times to post. Some platforms, such as LinkedIn, have the highest engagement in the middle of the week, such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. In many cases, posting during evenings and weekends may be less beneficial than posting during the week in the morning.
Algorithms and audiences on different social media platforms can vary, and audience preferences may vary based on industry or demographics. Experiment with different types of posts and post at different times of day. Analyze the performance of the previous 30 days of posts to determine the best timing of your posts on a platform. When you’ve determined the best time to post, schedule your content ahead of time to post at the recommended time, and continue to evaluate your results.
If you’re not getting the results you want from your social media marketing, the experts at Softline Solutions can help. Softline Solutions has helped many companies attain better results in raising brand awareness and targeting the right people on the right platform. Let us help you grow your business and your online presence today.
