Think about the last time you were scrolling through your favourite social app, like Twitter for instance, and you came across a funny tweet. Your first reaction would have been to retweet it, right? 

As social media users, we are inclined to share posts that resonate with us or make us laugh. 

After all, 27.9% of users' biggest motivation to use digital platforms  is so that they can share photos or videos with their peers. 

With that in mind, media update’s Taylor Goodman gives four tips on how you can create more shareable social media copy.

Keep your social media copy simple! 

Given the ephemeral nature of social media, it has become increasingly difficult for marketers to pique consumers’ interest, let alone keep it, because their feeds are constantly flooded with content.

For this reason, it is best to keep your social copy short and sweet if you want it to be shareable. 

Think about it — it is unlikely that anyone would share an essay-esque social post because they’re probably scrolling past it anyway. The average consumer’s attention span is only eight seconds, after all.

To keep your content concise, you must cut out the fluff and ask yourself: What is the one message I need to get across here?

If you are stuck on the notion of needing to cram information into a post because you think that is the only communication the user might see from your brand, think again. 

Rather, you should think of each post as a puzzle piece, fitting together to capture your brand’s identity online. 

For example, a tweet could contain a link to a blog. When the user clicks this link, they are taken to your brand’s website where they can learn more. And all of that happens from a simple tweet. 

Don’t be afraid to use visuals in your posts

Another way to keep your character count low is to include visual aids. You know what they say: A picture says a 1000 words, and there is significant research to back this up. 

According to Brain Rules, when humans read information, they're likely to only remember 10% of what they read. However, if this information is accompanied by a relevant image, 65% of the information is retained up to three days later.

When trying to incorporate more visuals into your social media content, you can:
  • use text overlays on your images: Want to include extra information in your post but what to keep your character count down? Then include some text in your images. This is a great way to enhance your image, making it more compelling or inspiring to the audience.  
  • utilise text to provide context to your images: If you want to post a standalone image on your brand’s social media page, adding a description to the caption will give the reader context.
  • create infographics: Infographics are a simple means to convey information in an easy to consume, visually appealing way. 

Ensure that your content teaches your audience something

The content you post online should complement the platform that you're posting it on. This will ensure that your content resonates with the audience on this site, which will help boost engagement. 

For example, Linkedin is predominantly used for B2B marketing and is populated with professionals, so on this platform, it may be best to share industry-related content. 

Need some inspiration? You could share:
  • industry-related statistics and figures
  • news and trends in your industry
  • quotes from industry influencers, and
  • Q&As with industry professionals

Informational content is highly shareable because it teaches people something, and they want to pass this knowledge along to their peers. 

Sharing this content will not only keep your content relevant to your audience, but it can help to position your brand as thought leaders in your industry. 

Try out user-generated social media content

If you want your content to be shareable, then you can  achieve this by involving your audience in its creation. 

User-generated content is when someone who is not linked to your business, in any capacity, creates content on your behalf. 

Examples of user-generated content could be:
  • product reviews: These are reviews left on the comment section of your brand’s website or third-party platforms, like Yelp.
  • social media posts: Any photos or videos shared on social media platforms showcasing the brand.
  • video content: This includes Instagram stories, TikToks, YouTube videos or live streams showing or discussing your brand’s products.
  • blog posts: This is written content discussing the brand and / or its products. An example of this could be a how-to or product round-up blog.

User-generated content benefits the brand by making it seem more authentic and reliable. This is because you’re giving consumers proof of real people loving your offerings. This is more believable than polished marketing efforts, which may seem to be exaggerated claims. 

From a consumer’s point of view, user-generated content is highly shareable because it gives them exposure, which increases the likelihood that they will share it with their followers. 

What makes social media content shareable to you? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Want to know more about how you can improve your social media content? Then check out The importance of uplifting visual content on social media. 
*Image courtesy of Vecteezy