Social media tips that actually work
Let’s be honest: social media can sometimes feel like shouting into the void. You post your heart out, and… crickets. Or worse, a tumbleweed rolls by.
If you want your social media posts to actually grab eyeballs and keep people reading (instead of scrolling past faster than you can say “algorithm”), take these tips to heart.
And you will be posting smarter, not harder.
1. Start With a Goal (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Before you post, decide why you’re posting.
Are you…
- Building brand awareness?
- Driving traffic to your website?
- Generating leads?
- Building community?
- Website traffic: Use clickable links, teasers, and curiosity hooks.
- Brand trust: Share personal stories, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes.
Your goal determines your tone, content type, and call-to-action (CTA).
2. Know Your Audience Like You Know Your Coffee Order
If you try to talk to everyone, you’ll connect with no one. Build 2–3 audience personas and customize your content for them. Get into their heads...
3. Use Content Pillars for Consistency
Pick 3–5 core categories your brand will post about and rotate them. This keeps your content mix balanced, and your audience engaged.
4. Keep It Short & Sweet
People scroll faster than a caffeinated squirrel on a trampoline. Hook them in the first 3– 5 seconds.
Remeber these best practices:
- Facebook & LinkedIn: 100–150 words
- Instagram: First 125 characters matter most
- X (Twitter): Under 100 characters for max impact
5. Use a Hook That Makes People Stop
Ask a question, drop a stat, or make a bold statement. Your opening line should feel like a mic drop, not a “Hi, everyone…”
6. Break It Up & Make It Skimmable
Walls of text are engagement killers.
Remember these best practices:
- Short paragraphs
- Bullet points
- Line breaks
- Emojis for visual cues
7. Leverage the Power of Images and Video
Your visuals are the first thing people notice. Even before they read a word.
- Use high-quality, well-lit photos or custom graphics.
- Keep brand colors and fonts consistent.
- Avoid overloading text on images. Short, bold captions work best.
- For videos, aim for strong lighting, crisp audio, and captions (most people watch on mute).
- Test formats to see which brings the most engagement. Carousel posts, Reels, GIFs, and lifestyle imagery can all outperform stock photos.
8. Mix Your Content Types
Don’t post the same type of content every time.
Rotate using your content pillars:
- Quick tips
- Videos
- Polls and questions
- Storytelling posts
- User-generated content
9. Engage Like a Human, Not a Billboard
Reply to comments. Ask follow-up questions. Share others’ content. Social media is a two-way conversation, not a broadcast channel.
10. Track, Test & Tweak
Look at your analytics at least once a month.
- Identify top-performing posts.
- Test one variable at a time (hook, image type, posting time).
- Double down on what works, drop what doesn’t.
11. Repurpose Like a Pro
Turn one idea into multiple posts to save you time and keep messaging consistent.
- LinkedIn article → Instagram carousel → TikTok clip → Email teaser.
- Instead of that long post, break it up into a series.
The Bottom Line: Strategy Beats Random Posting
Social media success isn’t about posting more often. It’s about posting with purpose. Define your goal, know your audience, use strong visuals, and track your results.
Your audience will thank you by sticking around, engaging, and maybe even sharing your content.
Now go post like a boss.
If you find yourself still needing help, holler at us.