I’m sure there are thousands of “Social Media Rule Books” floating around the internet – but I narrowed it down to my top 5 tips that will guarantee better engagement and audience growth. Here we go…

1. Make it VISUALLY aesthetic. No one wants to read a boring status update without an image anymore. Check out these eye-opening stats via Hubspot:
   • Facebook posts with images see 2.3x more engagement than those without images
   • Tweets with images receive 150% more retweets than tweets without images
   • On Instagram, photos showing faces get 38% more Likes than photos not showing faces
     • Throw video into the equation and the engagement continues to rise… by A LOT

2. This goes hand in hand with Rule #1, but choose a different way to display your information. No matter which channel you’re creating content for, you have the ability to display it differently based on your goals for the post. You can create a carousel ad with multiple images that users can swipe through. You can create a clean, engaging website card that takes users directly to a link on your website (no one is using links in their captions anymore :)). You can create a local awareness ad to direct people to your office, store, or to attend an event you’re hosting. The options are endless, and displaying your info just a tad bit differently will make your business stand out in a crowded news feed.
3. Get them talkin’. Start a two-way conversation by posing a question at the end of your caption. Asking for their opinion makes them feel like they are a part of something.
   • Example: You’re a coffee shop owner, and you’re wondering how people prefer their coffee. Post a side by side photo of hot coffee and iced coffee, and ask your audience to vote on their preference in the comment section. Watch the comments fly in – people get passionate about their cup of joe!
     • Do this, but do it sparingly. Sometimes, your visual can speak for itself.
4. Make it personal! Don’t be afraid to take team selfies, get on video, and share realistic, personal stories. Many people enjoy transparency – in their personal lives and business settings. Anyone can pull a stock image and come up with a boilerplate caption… but what will really resonate with your audience is genuine, personal stories that no other business can tell.
5. Make it exclusive! Give your social media audience behind-the-scenes looks at product launches and upcoming projects. This is another point that goes along with #4. Giving your audience “sneak peeks” makes them feel special and gives them a reason to stay updated on your business. I also think it’s a fun idea to give your social audience things you don’t give to anyone else.
   • Example: Create a giveaway for your audience that’s only available to people who are following you on Instagram. And after you announce the giveaway winner, let your audience know there will be more social media giveaways to come – it will keep them hanging around. 🙂

There you have it – 5 simple rules to live by when creating social media content for your business. Do you have any tips that I didn’t mention above?