Stop Sucking at Social Media in12 Simple Steps
So, you want your audience hanging onto your every word, like a smoking hot date on Valentine’s Day…
Well, whether you're a business looking to spread the word about a game-changing product, or a solo hustler working on your personal brand, one thing's clear…
You’ve got to supercharge your social media, fast!
From Facebook to WhatsApp, mastering the art of crafting killer content that stops scrolling fingers (and glues wandering eyeballs instantly) can be the difference between staying relevant, and simply being another account online.
In this post, you’ll discover potent social media strategies in 12 simple steps, taking you from clueless to clued up, faster than a politician making promises during election year.
So, when you’re ready, let's get into it!
Step 1: Choosing Your BFF (Best Followers Forever)
The bedrock of damn good writing lies in understanding your audience.
Before putting pen to paper, bury yourself in research, forming vivid personas of your dream followers. Here’s a few pointers to use:
Demographics: How old are they? What's their gender preference? Where do they
hang out? What’s their level of schooling?Interests: What gets their hearts racing? What do they like? What brands or products are they standing in line for?
Challenges: What hurdles and hoops are they navigating every day?
Goals: What are they after?...Fame? Riches? What?
Once you have a crystal-clear image of who you’re talking to, you'll start to get an idea of how to communicate with them.
Step 2: Pull Them In
Next, your headline is the swirling vortex sucking up folks from a distance. It's the make-or-break moment for seizing their focus.
You’ve got to make it sharp, relevant, and dripping with curiosity. Concoct headlines like such:
Keep it Pithy: Short, sweet, and to the point.
Pack-In Power Words: Pepper your posts with phrases like "ultimate cheat sheet", "proven tactics", or “hidden secrets”, to name a few.
Harness Numbers: Lists and stats have tremendous pulling power in headlines. Pro-tip: Use odd numbers, and exact digits to increase believability.
Pose a Provocative Query: Challenge your readers' minds with a “WTF-Did-I-Just-Read” question. For instance, if your post revolves around the sacred art of time management, a headline like: "Unlock 10 Proven Time-Saving Secrets for the Chronically Overwhelmed Professional".
Step 3: Level Up Your Look
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, glisten with visual eye candy making a stash of high-caliber imagery non-negotiable.
Do this when selecting white-hot visuals to get your readers’ hearts racing:
Cherry-Pick Premium Pictures: Stay away from hazy or pixelated images (this isn’t 1999). Do your posts justice with High-Definition visuals all the way.
Simplify Using Clips: Video content can transform complicated concepts, into bite-size digestible eye-chunks (plus, it’s more memorable).
Interesting Infographics: Translate dull as dust data, into captivating works of informational art with useful infographics.
Mobile Mastery: Most people are not on laptops, or even behind clunky desk computers. They’re surfing the socials on smaller screens. Optimize your visuals for maximum mobile likes.
Step 4: Trim the Fat
Attention spans are as fleeting as farts in gale-force winds. To make sure your message strikes home, keep your copy lean and to the point, like this:
Say More with Less: Avoid long, complicated sentences that might send your audience on an unplanned nap. Deliver key points quickly, minus the excess baggage.
Crystal Clear Communication: Make your writing easy to understand. Use simple words and ideas.
Divide and Conquer: If you have lots to say, break it up into smaller pieces. Share your message bit by bit – this keeps things interesting and flowing.
Step 5: Hit Them with “Once Upon a Time…“
Deep within humanity’s DNA, is our primordial love for sensational stories.
And if you want your social media game to rise above the noise, you've got to tap into the magic of storytelling.
This is how you can infuse different types of narratives into your content:
Personal Anecdotes: Share snippets and experiences of your journey. Be real, be vulnerable.
Customer Success Stories: Shine a spotlight on how your product or service has changed lives. Let your audience be the star of your story.
Brand Origin Tales: Unearth the roots of your brand, and show the values that brought you to this point.
Step 6: Apply Egg Plants and Pound Signs
Need a bit of extra spice in your social media sauce? Add hashtags and emojis to your content, like this:
Be Selective: Choose emojis that sync up with your message. Let them do the talking when you’re lost for words.
Hunt for Hashtags: Scout for trending topics in your arena, then use hashtags relevant to your post.
Craft Your Own: Don't stop at the ordinary – create custom hashtags for your brand and campaigns.
Beware of Overkill: Less is more. A handful of carefully placed symbols is often all you need.
Step 7: Be Your Damn Beautiful Self
Listen up, coz this might come as a massive shock to your system, but your audience actually wants YOU! (Warts and all.)
In a sea of sameness, being authentic is potent social currency. It’s your golden ticket to earning trust and building a true following. Here's how to show up:
Shoot Straight: Drop the fluff and puffery. No room for exaggerations or tall tales. Be honest, always.
Show Your Colors: Let your brand's personality shine on each post. None of this cookie-cutter shit... Be unapologetically you.
Peep Behind the Curtain: Let your followers in on the backstage action. Share those real-life moments, the victories, and the struggles.
Heartfelt Engagement: When your audience reaches out, answer with your heart and soul. Authenticity isn't just in your posts; it's in every response.
Step 8: Burn Asses
Alright, folks, time to kick it up a gear. Let’s get into urgency – the spark that lights a fire under your audience to act right now.
Urgency turns casual looky-loos into action-takers. Here’s a few hacks used by the pros:
Power-Packed Phrases: Sprinkle in attention-grabbing statements like "limited time offer," "act now," "exclusive deal," or "last chance." These words can ignite a sense of urgency (and Fear of Missing Out or “FOMO”) in the most wishy-washy buyer.
Countdowns and Deadlines: Use timers or specify exact deadlines when promoting offers. Ticking clocks or countdown graphics scream “Your time's running out, bucko. Get going!”
Benefit Bonanza: Spell it out for your audience. What do they get by acting pronto? Is it savings, exclusive access, or a golden opportunity?
The Scarcity Card: If you've got limited quantities of something…then tell ‘em. When folks know there's only a handful left - they'll be sprinting to secure their slice of the action.
Specific Purpose: Be crystal clear about what you want your audience to do. Actions like "Swipe up to shop now" or "Click to claim your discount," are easy for them to seize the moment.
Consistency Counts: Whether it's on your website, in email campaigns, or splashed across social media, use consistent messaging to drive home urgency.
Step 9: Ask Questions
Spark meaningful conversations with your audience. Asking questions encourages folks to talk, share, and bond like back in the good ol’ cave days. Use these question types:
Open-Ended Inquiries: Don't settle for 'yes' or 'no.' Go deeper. Ask open-ended questions that demand thoughtful and detailed responses. Ask about preferences, experiences, and challenges in your niche, inviting your audience to spill their hearts and minds in meaningful ways.
Tailored Relevance: Customize your questions to fit seamlessly into your content - giving your followers what they want.
Friendly Banter: Keep it casual (even cheeky). Don't sound like a robotic monologue. Be warm and conversational.
Encourage Participation: Explicitly invite your audience to share their thoughts. Phrases like "Tell us in the comments," "Share your story below," or "We'd love to hear from you" can be inviting.
Keep the Dialogue Alive: Once responses start rolling in, don't let the conversation fizzle out. Engage with their answers – show your appreciation, ask follow-up questions, and provide insights related to their responses.
Get playful with polls and surveys: These handy social media features are great for multiple-choice options. They're quick, easy, and a surefire way to get your audience involved.
Step 10: Provide Outstanding Value
To keep your audience royally hooked on your content, you've got to pile on tons of value. Demonstrate value like this:
Be a Fountain of Knowledge: Become the go-to source in your niche. Dish out valuable info, insights, and industry wisdom. Establish your social media profile as a treasure trove of expertise.
Nuggets of Wisdom: Share practical tips, tricks, and advice to make their lives better. Show your commitment to their well-being. Be a trusted guide.
Hold Their Hand: Craft step-by-step guides and tutorials, empowering your followers to conquer tasks or gain new skills.
The Magic of Entertainment: Never underestimate a hearty laugh, or a heartwarming moment. Use humor and memes. These types of posts build a community and keep your audience glued to your content.
Exclusive Treats: Roll out the red carpet for loyal followers. Exclusive discounts, promotions, or early access to your offerings. Who doesn’t love VIP treatment?
Pain Points Tackled: Be a problem-solver. Conquer their nightmares. Tailor your content to offer solutions, relief, or a helping hand.
Personal Bonds: Open up and share personal stories, experiences, or the human side of your brand. Transparency and authenticity create emotional bonds that’s worth their weight in gold.
Step 11: The Art of A/B Testing
To guess is a mess. It’s better to know what works and what doesn’t.
A/B testing is a sneaky secret all top copywriters use to level up their social media game. Here's how it works:
Dare to Experiment: A/B testing is all about crafting different versions of your posts. Tweak the copy, visuals, or any element you fancy – headlines, calls to action, imagery, even post timing.
Face-Off Time: Compare these variations head-to-head. Measure them against metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates.
Find the Unicorn: Discover what content, writing styles, or messaging tactics hit the bullseye for your specific goals.
Ever-Refining: This isn't a one-time deal; it's a lifelong journey. As you collect data from different tests, you’re improving your approach. It's like sculpting a masterpiece one chisel at a time.
Adapt or Perish: The world of social media is a shapeshifter and an unruly beast. A/B testing keeps you agile, and ready to dance circles around its monstrous algorithm. Stay relevant and razor-sharp.
A/B testing ideas: Try different headlines, toss in some emojis, pit short-form against long-form content, and tango with posting times. Your tests should be in line with your goals and audience.
Step 12: Keep Watching
Carefully monitor your wins and WFTs! Be on the lookout for:
Tools: Platforms offer sweet insights and analytic tools. Look for your engagement rate, click-through rate, and conversion rate before tweaking your content.
What Works: Figure out which posts get their heart pumping or blood boiling – look for likes, shares, comments, and engagement.
Weaknesses: Careful analysis can expose chinks in your copy’s armor. Posts with crickets? Time to fortify and improve.
Trends: Keep ahead of the curve, adapting your content to stay relevant for maximum impact.
Markers: Over time, establish benchmarks for your social media performance. Compare present data to past performance. See what needs some adjusting.
Of course, mastering social media is more like an ever-evolving journey…rather than a definitive destination.
But you've taken the first leap towards mastering social media. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your online connections.
With patience, practice, and persistence, you'll transform from a clueless newbie to a social media maverick in no time.
So, go ahead, and apply these 12 potent steps now. I guarantee you’ll suck less at social media…
However, I can’t guarantee you’ll still have a hot date after Valentine’s Day.
Bye for now.
P.S. Yep, we do write posts for other people, businesses, and brands. Send me a message, and let’s see how we can help you fish for more followers…hook, line, and click.
P.P.S. Since you’re here, go check out some of our other outrageously generous blog posts (some of the stuff should be illegal it works so well). All my stuff is related to marketing, advertising, copywriting, and life.
Hope you find it useful, cheers…
