Harnessing the Power of Social Media Shares
The online landscape is a battleground for social media engagement. With an abundance of content flooding the internet, standing out and capturing attention has become increasingly challenging. To add to the difficulty, Buzzsumo has reported a decline in content sharing on social networks. However, fear not! In this article, we will explore effective strategies to inspire social media users to share your content, ultimately driving more traffic to your website.
Create Exceptional Content
Develop In-Depth, Valuable Posts
Research indicates that longer posts tend to receive the most shares on social media. A study conducted by Buzzsumo and OkDork analyzed over a million blog posts and found that articles surpassing 1,500 words received the highest number of shares. To make your mark in the competitive online sphere, prioritize generating long-form, high-quality content on a regular basis.
Capture Attention with Visuals
Posts featuring attention-grabbing visuals have a higher chance of being shared on social media platforms. Incorporate relevant and captivating images, including graphs, stock photos, and screenshots, to enhance the appeal of your content. Remember to optimize these visuals according to each social network’s image preferences for maximum impact when shared.
Unveil Original Research
Engaging in original research can be a major draw for both traffic and social media shares. Conduct surveys or analyze data relevant to your target audience’s interests, offering unique insights and solutions. By providing valuable and exclusive information, you have a better chance of standing out from the competition and experiencing an increase in social media shares.
Cultivate Relationships with Influencers
Mobilize Employee Advocacy
Encourage your employees to share your content on their personal social media accounts. This leveraging technique, known as employee advocacy, takes advantage of employees’ tendency to share content from their employers. Provide them with suggested content and make it effortless for them to share on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This not only amplifies the reach of your content but also strengthens the bond between your employees and your brand.
Nurture Relationships with External Influencers
Identify influencers in your industry who share similar content and build mutually beneficial relationships. Engage with their content by sharing, featuring, and linking to their posts. Reach out to them personally, expressing your admiration for their work and informing them whenever you share their content. Establishing a rapport with influencers can lead to them sharing your content with their dedicated followers, exponentially increasing your social media reach and shares.
Optimize Your Content for Sharing
Strategically Place Share Buttons
Although it may seem logical to include share buttons for multiple social networks, offering too many choices can actually hinder sharing rates. Analyze your data to identify which social networks generate the most traffic and shares for your content. Then, include share buttons only for those platforms. By streamlining the sharing process, you make it easier for readers to share your content, ultimately resulting in higher engagement.
Embed Share Buttons Throughout Your Post
Rather than confining share buttons to the beginning and end of your post, scatter them within the content. By doing so, you encourage readers to share as they come across intriguing or useful information. You can also incorporate interactive features like click-to-tweet boxes for sharing specific quotes or statistics. This not only enhances user experience but also makes sharing more convenient and engaging.
Create Scannable Content
In today’s fast-paced digital world, readers often skim through content before deciding whether to engage with it. To make your content more appealing and shareable, ensure it is easy to skim. Utilize bullet points, lists, and headings to break up the text and make important information stand out. By catering to skimming behavior, you increase the chances of readers finding value in your content and sharing it with their networks.
Conclusion
In the competitive realm of content marketing, implementing effective strategies to encourage social media sharing is crucial. By creating exceptional content, engaging with influencers, and optimizing your posts for sharing, you can significantly expand your reach and attract more traffic from social media channels. Remember to continuously evaluate and refine your strategies to stay one step ahead of the competition and foster meaningful engagement.
