The MoPR Blog

Last time we covered some general “don’ts” of social media, today we’ll talk about some “dos.” The Internet is a colossal source of information, which is awesome, but if you’re publishing content to the Web you’re essentially yelling into a hurricane – fighting to not only get eyes on your page, but to keep them there. Content is important, but how you present that content is key as well. Let’s be honest, books DO get judged by their covers.

Keep it short, sweet and to the point

This is easy to do on Twitter, where you are limited to 140 characters. However, Facebook and blogging are two examples of social media platforms where posting can get lengthy. Remember, sometimes less is more. If you have a lot to say, it is best to break it up into multiple posts.

Make content visually appealing

A little extra work can smooth out the rough edges of your content.

This is especially key in blogging. When a reader lands on your blog you want them to easily skim and understand its content . Not every person is going to read every post in its entirety. Get over this notion now; the sooner the better. Bullet points, short paragraphs and call-out boxes will help the visual flow of your site or blog as well as help people who are skimming your content to take away key points. Whatever method you choose, consistency is key.  Create an eye-catching  style guide your posts to help you maintain formatting and aesthetics. This will keep your posts from being too all over the place.

Include Photos/Videos/Anything

A picture is worth a thousand words. Including a visual element not only helps break up the content, it also draws attention and conveys a theme. Internal images used in general social media posts also aid in personalizing your company. Actively demonstrating that your company is comprised of real people, as odd as that may sound, helps people relate more to your content. This perception technique is where behind the scenes photos at an event, for example, add a personal element to your work. People are curious by nature, and using an image can be a great way to peak curiosity. Tweeting a photo readers would not have otherwise seen helps draw more attention to your post, or encourage readers to click a link to read more. Next time you are at an event or have one going on in your own office, snap a photo or take some video and tweet away.

Content and ideas alone will not keep people interested, aesthetics play an important part in capturing and maintaining that interest.

What are your favorite stylistic techniques for social media content?