It’s no secret that social media is a key form of communication these days. However, that means when it comes to your organization or company, it is more important than ever to be selective and strategic with social media posts and messaging.

Here a few key things to consider before posting for your organization or company.

Is this relevant to my organization/company?
This is the first question to ask when considering what to post. If a post is not relevant to an organization’s mission, then it shouldn’t be posted. If you’re having trouble deciding if it is in fact relevant, then try asking yourself the following questions to ease up your deciding factor:

  • Does this post reflect an individual opinion or the mission of the organization?
  • Is this content valuable information to my followers?
  • Would I find this interesting if I saw it on my live feed?

Are you using the right platform for your post?
Keep in mind that Twitter is now a platform that many people turn to for news. If you have an announcement, or even a link to an announcement, Twitter is the perfect place to share the news. Twitter is also a great way to engage with followers by retweeting or responding to tweets.

While some argue that Facebook is becoming “obsolete,” it has its perks for organizations. Facebook offers more length for posts, so it serves as a great way to spread information about your organization, including announcements, new products or even short articles. In addition, Facebook is a great way to share multiple photos, such as an album from an event.

And of course it goes without saying that Instagram is a platform that is visually driven and a place to share high quality, telling pictures. However, just because the photo can speak for itself, doesn’t mean that it should. Always craft a caption that is informative or engaging.

Are you targeting the right audience?
While your audience depends largely on your industry/organization’s market, the way social media posts are written and the platforms that are used can also determine and attract a targeted market as well. For example, posts geared toward teenagers can play up trends, urban slang and pop culture, while posts targeted towards adults should steer away from new age slang, acronyms and other trends. In short, content of a post can help effectively select your audience.

Across the board, make sure that posts are clear and concise. Followers and fans are now viewing most social media sites on mobile devices, meaning most reading is done as they are scrolling (READ: Don’t use three sentences where one will suffice; don’t use a $10 word where a 10 cent one (or a hashtag) will get the job done).

Is your post captivating?
In a world full of clutter, your post has to stand out. Gone are the days where blurry, low-resolution iPhone pictures are considered interesting. Similarly, for Twitter and Facebook, no longer can bland content attract attention. Followers will keep scrolling unless they find a captivating, well-composed picture or post. Text needs to be entertaining, informative in an entertaining way, or engaging. In fact, with only 140 characters to get a message across, anything without humor, wit or eye-catching news is futile when it comes to most followers. Think posts through. Don’t waste precious posts by sharing something that isn’t the best it could be.

Here are a few tips to up your posting game:

  • If possible, use an actual SLR camera for Instagram pictures. Upload them to a computer, edit simple components such as cropping or brightness and then send them to a phone, via email.
  • If an SLR camera is not available, make sure that photos taken on a phone are fully in focus and cropped in a way that will translate to Instagram’s square-crop format.
  • Do not over-edit pictures. Nothing says, “I’m a high school girl,” like cranking up the saturation or the contrast of a picture. If you are a high school girl, don’t worry, this is just a phase. You’ll grow out of it soon.
  • Don’t forget the words! Hook people with the first line of a caption or a post so that they’ll keep reading. Additionally, make sure the most important information is right at the beginning.
  • Stay current. Social Media revolves around current events, simply because social media is instant. What happens today, can be reported on social media in seconds and can make a huge, trending splash (Never forget the #SuperBowlBlackout).
  • Plan ahead. Think through your posts for the week, or month even! This will help you prepare posts that different styles and address different activities, promos or events in advance. These posts will be fan-freaking-tastic when relevant current events are slow and hard to come by.
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