Love it or hate it, Facebook is the market leader when it comes to social media channels. It was the first social network to surpass 1 billion registered accounts, and now boasts a massive 1.44 billion monthly active users. Creating content that gets shared and liked is every marketers aim. Whether you consider it an art or a science, here are 6 simple ways to get more likes and shares on your Facebook posts.
Use Eye Catching Images
Although it’s not recommended that you post an image each and every time, pictures do tend to have better visibility in the Facebook news feed. Images are simply easier to consume than text and will, therefore, get more attention from your fans. Make sure you share photos of high quality, though, and always those that will be of interest to your target audience. It’s also important that you include relevant links with your images so that you’re sending the traffic back to your website.
Ask Your Audience for Ideas
When you’re looking for ideas for a new bit of content, why not ask the opinion of those who will actually see it? Ask for feedback from people in your online community, influencers and customers. When you’ve taken on board their opinions and produced content you know will please them, they’ll be more likely to engage with it, share it, and comment on it. Because they’ve been part of the idea process, they’ll be more inclined to share the content with their audience.
Share Other People’s Content
If you want to encourage people to share your content, start by sharing theirs. If someone in your online community shares a piece of information that you think would be useful for your own audience, share it yourself. Of course, the creators of that information will be appreciative, and in turn be motivated to return the favour for you.
Incentivise Sharing
Another great way to motivate people to share and like your posts is by offering them an incentive to do so. The simplest way to do this is by posting an update informing your audience that every person who likes and shares your post will be in with a chance of winning a prize. Of course, the value of the object or service that you’re offering must be substantial enough for people to bother, but it needn’t break the bank. For example; a nail bar could offer a free manicure, a dog grooming parlour could put a free cut and dry up for grabs, and an SEO company could offer a free website evaluation – you get the idea!
Keep it Short and Sweet
Everyone is guilty of scrolling through their news feed and not being bothered to read a more lengthy looking post. Time is precious, and the nature of social media demands short bursts of information that are easy to digest. Research has shown that posts containing 80 characters or less get around 27% more engagement, suggesting that shorter posts are the most effective when it comes to engaging your audience.
Include a Call to Action
Inviting your friends, fans and visitors to share your posts can increase exposure. Create a simple call to action, for example, “Like if you agree” often works well, providing that the preceding statement is relevant. Or you could ask people for their thoughts, therefore encouraging them to comment.
Social Media Management Sheffield
As a Sheffield based social media company, we spend our days creating content for a wide variety of social media channels. Our ongoing Sheffield social media management services can include contributing to and monitoring the Facebook page for your business. Call us today on 0114 383 0711 today for more information about how we can help you.