Since we were toddlers, we’ve been told to share. But now the stakes are much higher. Sharing could mean the difference between the life and death of your branded content. When you create content people genuinely connect with, they become your brand ambassadors, extending your reach far beyond what you could achieve alone. This guide provides practical tips to help you create content that makes people want to hit that share button.
1. Understand Your Audience
We always say you need to understand your audience, but it’s always true. Before you even put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you need to know who you’re writing for. What are their interests, pain points, and aspirations? What kind of content do they typically engage with? The more you understand your audience, the better you can tailor your content to their needs and preferences.
2. Evoke Emotion
Content that stirs emotions is far more likely to be shared. Whether joy, surprise, anger, or even sadness, tapping into your audience’s emotions creates a connection and makes your content more memorable. Consider incorporating storytelling, humor, or thought-provoking questions to elicit an emotional response.
3. Provide Value
People share content they think is valuable. So, make sure it’s educational, entertaining, or inspiring. Your content should offer something unique or useful to your audience. This could be a new perspective, a practical tip, or a resource that solves a problem. A rule of thumb is to try to make your content 25% better than other content you’ve seen on the subject.
4. Provide Value
In today’s fast-paced digital world, attention spans are short. Visual content is more likely to grab attention and be shared. Use high-quality images, videos, and infographics to break up your text and make your content more engaging.
5. Craft Compelling Headlines
Your headline is the first (and sometimes only) impression you make on potential readers. A compelling headline can pique curiosity and entice people to click and read more. Use strong verbs, numbers, and keywords to make your headlines stand out.
6. Optimize for Sharing
It may sound obvious, but if you want people to share your content, make it easy for them. Include social media sharing buttons and click-to-tweet links, and use hashtags to encourage your audience to tag their friends. Also, be sure to optimize your content for each social platform.
7. Promote Your Content
Don’t just publish your content and hope for the best. Actively promote it on social media, email newsletters, and other channels. The more people see your content, the more likely it is to be shared.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget the Call to Action
Encourage your readers to share your content by including a call to action. This could be as simple as asking them to share the post with their friends or leave a comment.
Creating shareable content is not an exact science, but by following these tips, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to focus on creating high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience, and the shares will follow.
Whether you need help creating shareable content or building a social media strategy, we’re here to help. Reach out to our marketing experts to expand your reach.