How Do I Get More Shares on My Social Media Posts – A Masterclass in Shareable Content

Shares spread the word. More people see your posts and with that, you get more leads and conversions. You instantly expand your reach with shareable content.

Every day, 2 million blogs are published. Those articles are shared millions of times on social platforms. That’s a lot of noise to cut through. Shares only help. If you write your content right, maximize effectiveness. If you create share-friendly content, you maximize visibility.

Brands struggle with organic reach. If you aren’t getting the shares you want, find a fix. Change what you’re posting and how. Shares remain the most important target for brand awareness on social media. Here’s where to start with getting more shares on your posts.

Is what’s trending important on social media?

Trends are tough to set. A lot of them you can’t predict. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a trendsetter to be successful in social media marketing. Follow the trends that are out there. Look at what others are talking about. Create content that says something unique around topics in discussion. From Instagram to Twitter, ‘trending topics’ are easily found.

What do your competition’s social media posts look like?

Sneak a peek at your competition’s social media. Make notes about posts most shared. What’s special – if it’s something their audience likes, it will likely be something your audience does as well. You don’t want to copy directly. Make it your own. You may find videos to get the most shares, or lists, or stories. Note the content type. Note how the content’s structured. Use it as a starting point.

What is the best way to write compelling content?

What compels people – stories. Expressive storytelling in social media marketing makes people want to share it. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. A simple story is describing a problem, introducing a solution, and showing the value a solution brings. Think of a customer’s experience with a product or service. Picture a problem they have that could be solved by connecting with your brand. Tell that story.

Will clickbait headlines help my social media shares?

Clickbait headlines don’t work. They’re sensational. They over-promise and under-deliver. Clickbait is false advertising. Don’t participate in it. It can have the opposite effect on shareability. Numbers can plummet. Write healthy, attractive, entertaining, unique headlines. Deliver on what you write. Don’t be overly sensational or exaggerate. Always deliver.

How active should I be on social media?

Be active with your followers. React to comments. Discuss questions. Answer social media queries. Content ideas can come to you like this. Look at what your followers are saying. See what resonates with them. On top of that, when you reply or acknowledge, you show users you care about what they have to say.

How can I make a social media post go viral?

Nothing is wrong with striving for a viral social media post, other than viral popularity isn’t sustainable. A viral post will pop a number. This could create momentum that lasts a couple of weeks. It’s not going to do much for you beyond that though. For more social media shares, implement strategies that are going to build long-term momentum. You do this through high-quality, unique content.

How do I write emotional social media posts?

Make your reader feel something. That’s what will get you the most social media posts. Evoke emotions like happiness, surprise, admiration, and inspiration. Positive stories create more shares than negative stories. If a user’s reaction is affected at an emotional level, they’re likely to want to share that with their friends and family.

Can I post social media content that is angry or sad?

Though risky, you can also post content that causes anger or sadness. If you do, offer a way to address it. Give the user a way to turn this energy into something productive and positive. You don’t want anyone to feel dissatisfied or upset after reading your social media post.

Do images help increase the success of your shareable content?

Images attract traffic. Social media is image-driven. Images and videos are more shareable than text. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t use text. Do! Simply combine your text with a visual. A post on Facebook with at least one image generates three times as much engagement than text, on average. Try to incorporate text directly into the image. For this type of content, infographics work particularly well.

What is the best way to make my customer happy they’ve read my social media post?

Validate your audience’s opinion with your social media posts. We all have thoughts on certain topics. Give content that validates a certain view. This gives your audience valuable info they can re-post. It shows their opinion to be correct. Everyone likes being correct. Some particularly enjoy having others know about it. Think about the likes and beliefs shared between brand and audience. Work from an agreed-upon premise. Don’t post polarizing opinions. Pique interest with relevant, truthful, and uncontroversial content.

Will influencer marketing help my increase social media shares?

Influencers generate shares. This is why you want to collaborate with a relevant influencer. Show them off on your social media channel. They’ll help you get put in front of the eyes of their audience. They also give you name recognition to further legitimize your brand in the eyes of yours. Influencer marketing increases the trustworthiness of your content, resulting in potentially significant social media shares.

What kind of incentives should I offer for social media shares?

Big corporations offer incentives for social media shares and they work! Everybody likes a good contest or free stuff. Offer a free gift. Enter them into a contest for a gift certificate. Do a free download of something, promotional discounts, or giveaways. The total cost of an incentive is minimal and the exposure can be high.

How do I not sound like an advertisement on social media?

We see ads all the time. Way too many. Your content shouldn’t read like an ad. This isn’t a sales pitch. Users want something substantial in their social media. They don’t want to be sold to. Promote your brand by publishing posts you care about and that your audience cares about. Authentic information, emotion, and value trumps selling. We can’t say it enough. Don’t sell.

How can I encourage sharing without selling?

When you release content on your website or social channels, encourage sharing. Have share links included with your content? If you make it easy to share, one is more likely to share. A one-click process is ideal.

How important are keywords and hashtags for social media sharing?

Keywords matter in social media marketing. Keywords in titles, descriptions, URL links, and hashtags. Use them. Keywords make it easy for people to find your posts. If new followers can’t find your posts, how can you expect them to follow you – they won’t. Just like you would with search engine optimization, the same keyword research approach applies to social media.

What is some other advice on maximizing social media shares?

 Never use all caps. Be careful about the caps you do use. Don’t overuse.
 Don’t overuse hashtags.
 Post regularly and consistently on a schedule.
 Make every word count. Keep social media posts short.
 Speak authentically and honestly.
 Mix up the type of content you post i.e. text, images, video, contests, and more.
 Re-post user-generated content.
 Post at the best time for shares. This varies platform to platform and industry by industry.
 Percentages perform better than dollar amounts on social media, according to multiple studies.

Do you think you’re doing everything right in social media marketing but aren’t generating enough shares – hire Unlimited Exposure. Compelling shareable content set up right is a made success. Know what to publish, where and when, and invest in real results. See your share count rise!