Social media feeds are like an inescapable, entropic labyrinth. And though you may have something important to say, you’re drowned by billions of voices screaming and shouting at once. So, how do we pass through the labyrinth to reach the audience? How can we be heard through the noise? In just a moment, I’ll explain simple methods anyone can use to help clear the fog of the social feeds.
Lights! Camera! YouTube!
What you title your post could be the deciding factor as to whether or not your video is seen. Spend some time on it, and be creative! You put (presumably) a lot of work into your video, why dull it down and under-sell it with a lame, unattractive title? Make sure to keep it under 70 characters to optimize the search results on both YouTube and Google.
Thumbnails work in tandem with your super-creative title, and custom thumbnails work even better!
When describing your video, use keywords to rank better, and always include a link to your website to generate traffic. And, make sure to include a “Call to Action!” in your video. Calls to action increase subscriptions, likes and comments.
In this corner, the heavyweight champion of the world — Facebook.
Start out your post by conveying to your audience why your content is valuable. You’ll find that people will engage more with content they find interesting and important.
Like YouTube, provide a link to your website. Use bit.ly or goo.gl to track links from your page.
Always, always, ALWAYS include a photo (duh). Facebook posts containing photos always get more engagement. And make sure you include a photo that fits! The best size for Facebook in 800x600.
If your audience is attempting to communicate with you… talk to them! Companies who engage with customers wind up building solid professional relationships. And make sure you optimize your posts for mobile users. Studies show that 78 per cent of Facebook users in the US participate through mobile devices.
The GIANT, tiny bird that is Twitter.
With Twitter, length is an obstacle to overcome. You have 140 characters, so make it short and sweet. Oh, and make sure there are enough characters left over to post a photo and so people can RT.
Please (and I mean PLEASE) be aware of you’re grammar! (see what I did there? ;) ) Self-edit and proofread your posts before sending them out into the world. Whether it’s your own feed or your company’s, you don’t want to suffer any means of embarrassment.
Mention people or businesses to which your tweet refers. Use “@” to respond to or mention other accounts to increase engagement. Also hashtag using “#” to add your post to trending feeds.
The galvanizing glamor of Pinterest.
It’s all about the pic.
Think like a photographer. What would a professional shoot for a glossy magazine? In terms of products, think of a catalogue. How do they situate the product? In what environment is it placed? Does everything included in the photo complement the product?
If it’s a subject, make sure the person is the focal point, but leave out the face. Studies show that showing more than 50 per cent of the human face decreases engagement. Make the background in the photo just that — the background! Make it so the eye isn’t distracted from the subject. Decrease the amount of background space as well. Backgrounds that take up less than 40 per cent of the image lead to 2x the repins.
Be striking and colourful! No one will engage in a boring, bland pic. And make sure you always shoot in the vertical (portrait) style. Pinterest’s system in built to complement this style.
Where professionals are LinkedIN.
If you can harness its power, LinkedIN can be your key to success. How? You ask. Well, Forbes put out an article last year called The Millennial Game Plan by Laura Shin. She outlines 5 ways LinkedIN can be used to attract the right people.
1. Make a findable and visually appealing profile:
“A professional headline with your picture and your name is what people see most often on LinkedIn, so it’s worth it to take two to three minutes to craft something appealing,” Viveka von Rosen, author of LinkedIn Marketing: An Hour a Day and founder of LinkedIntoBusiness.com.
2. Use your LinkedIN profile to showcase everything that doesn’t fit on your resume:
Outline your relevant work experience, yet take that extra time to flesh out ALL the experience you cultivated.
3. When you’ve got a profile you’re ready to show the world, strategically connect with others:
Firstly, connect with everyone you know personally. Once you’ve built up your 1st degree connections, check out your 2nd degree connections: people who are connected to your connections. If they fit the bill, send them a personalized message, and continue to grow from there.
4. Once you’ve got a valuable network — snoop:
Shin (2014) says in her article: “Let’s say you’re interested in a job posting. You can use LinkedIn to find former employees who could give you insight into the company’s culture or to determine which of your own friends and acquaintances know current employees who could make an off-LinkedIn connection for you.” (Shin, 2014)
5. Stay active on the site:
Even if there is no specific purpose, remain active. Post curated content relevant to the industry you’re in, keep your page updated, and update as you find new work or gain achievements.
