We all know by now that if your content sucks, your social media presence isn’t going to go very far. Yes, you can throw money at advertising which will help you reach more people, but that doesn’t mean that the content you share is going to resonate with your audience. The truth of the matter is your content is your most important social asset.
Why Is Content So Important?
Content is what sharing is built on. If you aren’t creating content on a regular basis and sharing it on a regular basis your social media presence will and probably already has gone stale. You need great content to get the attention of your customers and to engage your customers to take action. Without content you have nothing to share. Without content your customers have nothing to share on your behalf.
The most powerful thing that can happen within your community is that they share for you without you forcing them. How does that happen? By creating amazing content that hits them right in the eye. It’s content that is so targeted that when they see this content clicking the share button is just obvious.
What’s the key to creating content that is highly shareable? Well for one, it needs to be unique to you and your business. Here are 3 ways to make your social media posts standout and attract the right attention.
1. Use Custom Images
Stock images while they can come in handy for somethings aren’t the best way to capture the attention of your audience. If you have to use them, then by all means it can be a good way to get content out, but there are ways you can enhance them. One way to do this is by adding text to them to make them a bit more custom. You can use sites like PicMonkey or Canva to do this easily. There are also a ton of apps that you can use on your phone. If you do go the stock image route, try to find images that are unique in some way. I also like to use Stocksy which has really great images that do not look like stock images.
If you do have access to a graphic designer and or photographer, then creating custom images and graphics is the next best thing. If you have a product to sell then you should be using your own images. You can even use your own mobile phone photos and that will work too. Get creative.
2. Use User-Generated Content
User-generated content is the best. Not only is it authentic as someone else took the time to capture a moment featuring your brand or business, it also taps into the idea that you are giving your fans and customers a little nod and thank you. It shows you are paying attention to what they are doing online and it gives them that feeling of fame. If you have a product this is some of the best content you can use. But you need to get permission first. Most of the time the person who shared the original content will give you the permission and you are good to go.
3. Share In Real-Time
The last tip is to share in real-time. That means tapping into what’s happening now and getting in on the trend. For example, SuperBowl is coming up, there are a ton of ways to interact and engage during a live event. You need to be careful what you say and how you word things because some events are trademarked, but it is definitely something to think about.
Another way you can engage in real-time is to post live instead of scheduling. Through a few tests I’ve done, I’ve found that when you post live you will reach more people. Of course the content has to resonate like anything else. But it’s worth the extra work to get things out there.
What tricks and tips can you share?
