Creating shareable content on social media is the key to expanding your reach, boosting engagement, and growing your audience. When people share your content, it gains credibility and gets in front of new eyes. But how do you make your content so engaging that people can’t resist hitting that share button? In this guide, we’ll explore practical ways to create shareable content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to spread your message.
1. Know Your Audience
To create shareable content, start by getting to know your audience. Who are they? What kind of content do they find valuable, interesting, or entertaining? Understanding the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your target audience helps tailor content that speaks directly to them.
For example, if your audience consists of young professionals, content that’s informative, motivational, or solves a common problem in their career may resonate well. To gather insights, consider using tools like Facebook Audience Insights or conducting simple surveys on Instagram.
2. Use Emotion to Connect
People share content that evokes an emotional response. Whether it’s joy, surprise, awe, or even sadness, emotions are powerful drivers of social shares. Think about the kind of emotional reactions you want your audience to have when they see your content.
Examples of Emotional Content:
Humor: Funny memes or witty captions are highly shareable. Brands like Wendy’s do this well, using humor to connect with their audience.
Inspiration: Motivational quotes, success stories, or posts that uplift the spirit often get shared because people want to inspire others.
Shock Value: Surprising statistics or facts related to your industry can make people say, “Wow, I didn’t know that!” prompting them to share it.
3. Create Visually Appealing Content
Visual content is far more shareable than text-only posts. Graphics, videos, infographics, and gifs grab people’s attention as they scroll through their feeds. When designing your posts, make them visually appealing and easy to understand.
Tips for Visuals:
Use Colors: Bright and contrasting colors can make your post stand out.
Canva: Canva is a great tool for creating professional-looking graphics, even if you’re not a designer.
Videos: Short videos (15-60 seconds) that get straight to the point often perform best. Tutorials, behind-the-scenes clips, and interviews are popular types of videos that people enjoy and share.
4. Add a Call to Action
If you want people to share your content, ask them to do it! Adding a simple call-to-action (CTA) like “Share this with a friend who needs it” or “Tag someone who can relate” is effective in prompting people to take action.
For instance, if you’re sharing a motivational quote, adding a caption like, “Who needs this message today? Share it with them!” can increase the likelihood of your content being shared.
5. Provide Value
One of the most important aspects of shareable content is providing value. This could mean offering helpful information, entertainment, inspiration, or a new perspective. Value-driven content helps solve problems or answers questions that your audience has.
Examples of Value-Driven Content:
How-to Guides: Step-by-step guides that solve a common problem are highly shareable. For example, a quick video on “How to Create Engaging Instagram Stories” can provide instant value to your audience.
Lists: Posts like “5 Easy Ways to Stay Productive” are popular because they’re easy to consume, and people love sharing simple, actionable advice.
6. Keep It Relatable and Authentic
Content that is relatable often performs well on social media. When people see something that resonates with them or reminds them of their own lives, they are more likely to share it. Authenticity is key—people connect with real stories, genuine opinions, and content that feels human.
For example, sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your team or showing an honest “struggle vs. success” post can make your content more relatable. Authenticity builds trust and makes your audience feel more connected to your brand.
7. Use Trending Topics and Hashtags
Jumping on trending topics can give your content a visibility boost. Whether it’s a trending hashtag or a popular meme, leveraging trends can make your content more shareable since people are already talking about it.
Example:
If there’s a viral challenge that’s relevant to your industry, create content around it. Make sure it’s appropriate for your brand and adds value to the conversation.
Tips for Using Hashtags:
Use relevant and popular hashtags to expand your reach.
Don’t overdo it—stick to 3-5 effective hashtags per post.
8. Make It Easy to Share
The easier it is for your audience to share your content, the more likely they are to do so. Include share buttons on your blog posts or website, and consider using social media platforms that have easy sharing features.
For example, when posting on Instagram, encourage viewers to share the post to their stories. On Facebook, add share buttons that allow users to quickly pass along your post to their own network.
9. Be Consistent
Creating shareable content isn’t just a one-time effort—it requires consistency. Posting regularly helps build momentum and keeps your audience engaged. The more they see your content, the more likely they are to share it.
Content Schedule Tip:
Create a content calendar to keep track of what you plan to post and when. Consistency also helps in keeping your audience familiar with your style and tone.
10. Test, Analyze, and Optimize
Not every piece of content you create will be highly shareable, and that’s okay! The key is to learn from each post. Use analytics tools to track which content gets the most engagement and shares. Platforms like Facebook Insights, Instagram Insights, and Twitter Analytics provide detailed information about how your posts are performing.
Key Metrics to Analyze:
Shares: The number of shares helps you gauge how shareable your content is.
Engagement Rate: Likes, comments, and tags are good indicators of what’s working well.
Once you know what works, optimize your future content accordingly. Keep experimenting with different types of posts, headlines, and formats to find what resonates best with your audience.
Conclusion: Start Creating Shareable Content Today!
Creating shareable content on social media is about connecting with your audience, adding value, and encouraging them to spread your message. By knowing your audience, evoking emotions, using visuals, adding calls to action, and staying authentic, you can craft content that people love to share. Remember, it’s a continuous process—keep testing, learning, and refining your approach.
Now it’s your turn! Start putting these tips into practice, and watch as your content becomes more engaging and shareable. Don’t forget to always keep your audience in mind, stay genuine, and most importantly—have fun with it!