You only get one chance with a social media post – the WFB team gives expert tips to make sure you grab your readers’ attention.
It’s a Sunday night, with Monday’s doom hanging over you. So you’re scrolling.
That’s the thing with social media – it’s a mind-numbing wasteland of content that’s mostly just ok. If you’re tasked with creating content for social, that can be a bit daunting – how do you create a post that can cut through that apathy?
It’s easier said than done. But with the right tools, it’s possible – and it’s the key to growing your business.
Let us explain.
To capture and engage your audience, you first need to know who those people are. Who are you talking to? What do they want? Getting clear on that is the foundation for every decision you make.
A hook is the reason why someone might stop the scrolling thumb and hand over a precious piece of attention. Finding the hook starts with your readers – what do they respond to? What pain are they experiencing? What are they attracted by? When you find the hook, put it right upfront. Take a look at these two posts. One will get scrolled past. The other is a thumb-stopper. The biggest difference is that the hook – the insanely delicious-sounding new dish – is right at the beginning.
The biggest difference is that the hook – the insanely delicious-sounding new dish – is right at the beginning.
If there’s one thing you spend your budget on (aside from excellent copywriters, of course), let it be a professional, or at least very capable, photographer.
What was once a savvy way to get noticed is perhaps a little outdated. We’re not saying to completely avoid hashtags, just don’t list 100 of them – it looks desperate, overcrowded and unappealing.
Unless your followers are completely loyal and will dote on every word you say, they’re going to get bored if you post the same thing day-in, day-out. Mix it up.
Everyone loves free stuff. Whether we realise it or not, our brains are much more likely to automatically stop on a post if we think we could win something out of it.
Just take our blog on how content marketing is changing the game. There’s no denying that video grabs our attention much more effectively than any other platform – and it’s the way forward in social media. Use a video in your post to really get your audience hooked – and get your message across within seconds.
A single typo can defuse that mind-blowing social post. So, let’s start with the basics. Read your copy out loud, then hand it to someone else to check before you post it – you’ll be amazed at the errors that can sneak past even the eaglest of eyes.
These days, everyone’s on social media – and knowing how to grab attention with a single post is a hard task. Keep it authentic, succinct and professional – and invest in some good photography – so you have your followers hooked in no time.
The lead copywriter and creative director at Words for Breakfast. She spends much of her time working with the copy writing team across a variety of projects.
