“Don’t screw up!” was the instruction I got from my boss in my first job, as a young social media manager. Although not very detailed, this was (and still is) good advice.
Over the years, I’ve developed a few helpful strategies to avoid making mistakes when posting content on social media, which I’d like to share with you here.
1. Think before you post! If possible, never publish under pressure. The risk of writing something that’s inaccurate or misleading is much too high.
2. The same rule applies to answering comments. And, especially if you’re posting on behalf of an employer, remember that false or misleading content on social media can have the same legal consequences as in any other form of media.
3. You should always be yourself. All content on social media should have one thing: authenticity. And include a call to action so readers will like, comment and share.
4. Use relevant keywords that appeal to your audience and provide search engines with information about your topic. Keywords and hashtags make it easier for others to find your post.
5. A picture should be eye-catching, but it also needs a relevant caption (again, including keywords) to make clear why it’s there.
What other tips can you think of? Think of a comment you would like to share with us!
- Use relevant captions, even for eye-catching pictures
- Keep a clear focus and stay on topic
- Less is more: avoid too much text
- It’s imperative to end with a question