People are always looking for their next great escape. A vacation. The weekend. Maybe even just a daydream. It seems like we’re constantly trying to get away from our everyday lives. But as the saying goes, too much of a good thing isn’t always the best.
Maybe we should be thinking smaller, because sometimes, it’s little things that matter the most.
What’s the simplest way people escape every day? Grabbing that smartphone! Seeing what everyone else is up to on social media or checking up on the latest celebrity gossip. It’s no secret that social media is huge in the marketing industry right now. But how do you break through all the clutter as a brand?
Not only do you have to compete for attention among other brands, but you’re competing other people – Bailey’s beach selfie, Colin’s culinary masterpiece, and Lucy’s latest dog video.
So what can you do stand out?
- Facebook. Videos. I’m talking about the short ones with captions that can be watched with or without sound. Get your main point across as quickly as possible to pique interest. Then link the full article, video, story, etc. It keeps you on people’s radar while giving them the choice to click on the full content.
- Instagram. Two words – lifestyle photos. Instagram is a very visual platform, and no one wants to check out the picture that looks like an ad. Take fashion for example. A model styled for a night on the town with the caption “Ready for Girls Night” is more intriguing than posting all the items separately and saying, “Shop new styles at X brand”. The first promotes an experience, while the second only promotes the product.
- Pinterest. If you’re looking for interaction that’s more than just a pin, think about your audience. Besides a great photo, specifically targeted titles are your best friends here. “20 Easy Styles to Try this Fall” goes a lot further than “Fall Outfit”. The latter is something most people would just pin, whereas the first title has a better chance of someone clicking through and checking out the entire post.
- Twitter. This is probably one of the most time sensitive platforms. If you’re talking about trending topics, make sure to do so as they’re happening. This increases the chance that others interested in the subject will see your tweet(s). If you’re trying to modify a meme and make it your own, be sure post it while people will still get the reference! And don’t forget, it’s a great tool for customer service too because you can at least acknowledge the problem immediately.
- LinkedIn. This is a great place to post blogs, share industry news, and find up in coming trends. Being a professional social networking platform, many users turn here for more in depth news in their industry, company updates, and best practices. With the right title, it’s usually okay to poster longer pieces of content since that’s what people are looking for.
So next time you post, think about how you can give users a mini getaway throughout their day. Now it’s no European adventure or weekend in Vegas, but making them smile or laugh can go a long way!