5 Writing Tips to Aid Your Social Media Strategy
Communication is an art. It is an essential, influential and immensely powerful asset to any business. Since the arrival of the digital age, the way in which we communicate has changed dramatically with more people spending more time connecting via Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels. This means less chit-chat and more written communication, more hashtags and more ways to express yourself.
These days there is as much charm to be found in a 140 character Twitter post as there is in a winning smile, as much information on offer in a blog post as in a 40 page report and as much sincerity in an repost as there is in a firm handshake. If at this stage you beg to differ, if you feel your love of language is lost in the digital age then you need to read on.
In a climate where half a million new users join Facebook every day with 12 new active mobile users added each and every second, it is in your interest to find out exactly how to communicate online.
1) Grammar & Punctuation
Let’s start with the basics. Under no circumstance should grammar and punctuation be taken for granted. Be it Instagram or WordPress, there is no excuse for sloppy syntax. Nothing says ‘fail’ more than a slender grasp on the difference between their, there and they’re. If you’re not certain on how to use an apostrophe or if you suspect you’ve been using ‘effect’ when it should be ‘affect’ your entire life, then take the time to figure it.
Everyone makes grammatical errors (thanks spellchecker!) and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. However, there is a degree of embarrassment in posting online an article littered with mistakes because you haven’t taken the time to work it out. Truthfully, it’s the difference between knowing your shit, and knowing you’re shit.
2) Know Your Audience
With this in mind, it is also important to remember your audience. The way you market yourself on Twitter should be different to the way you appear on your official company website. The conversational nature of social media necessitates that the language be more casual.
Facebook and Twitter are hardly the place for the Queen’s English (just check out her Twitter account if you need proof!) so when it comes to social media, keep it casual. Pronouns, hashtags, colloquialisms, cultural references and a GSOH go a long way to engaging and endearing the reader to you on a more personal level.
#TheQueenTweets pic.twitter.com/jz69LOlGcD
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) October 24, 2014
3) Straight To The Point
Don’t forget that on social media, shorter is better. Social media users are scrollers, they skim through their news feed stopping only when something takes their interest. In this game there is no space for laborious language and profound imagery. Keep it simple. Keep it short. Save the more in-depth stuff for your blogs, which you can post a quick link to from your Twitter or Facebook accounts.
4) Research, research, research!
When it comes to researching a post, don’t cut corners. Whether you have a word-count of 1000, or are creating a 400 word Facebook status, it’s equally as important to make sure you’re well-informed and up to date on the matter.
The internet is a vast, far-reaching abyss of information, if you get your facts wrong, Mr. Internet won’t be afraid to tell you. More important than the threat of casual trolling however is to make your input stand out on an already overcrowded platform. Have something to say, take a stance, dedicate time and energy finding out what others think, what the latest scholarship proposes and what lies ahead. Do your research!
5) Editing
Which links us to the final and arguably most important tip: editing. Before you do anything, edit and proofread. Better yet, ask someone else to. Never underestimate the importance of a fresh pair of eyes. Equally as wonderful is the power of printing; you’ll be shocked at how much easier it is to spot silly mistakes once you’ve printed your draft.
Think you’re good to go? Edit some more. Every sentence must serve a purpose, not just fill a page. Every stanza must engage your audience to your brand image. Editing is the difference between some thrown together thoughts and ideas and a polished and refined piece of work.
By Aisling Lewis
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