What are some best practices for writing for social media and blogs?

In some cases, you may also need to set a tone and style to set the groundwork for the type of audience and environment that you want to foster. This is especially important if this is not in a crowded niche or the subject matter is deeply personal.

Why should I care? Why should I share? Your message needs to connect with your audience in a compelling way. In a way that means something *to them*. Fundamentally social media is algorithm based, so if your content isn’t thumb stopping then it’s time to rethink. Your content needs to be curated for your audience, by platform. It needs a conscious strategy, regular cadence and thoughtful review based on insights.

Another thing is looking at your piece of writing and asking 'why would I want to read this?' There must be something in there that will drive you and engage you other than 'I was paid to write this' or 'I'm trying to draw readers.' You need to find your passion inside the piece, if you expect it to attract readers.

People’s time is limited. Offer something valuable before you utilize a call to action. You need to make your posts a must read

Use hook lines in your heading, yes. They should be clickbait, NO! Work on your heading and make sure that there is a surprise element to it -- something that works as a hook point!

Start with the value your content offers: One approach to creating effective headlines is to clearly communicate the value or benefit the reader will gain if they keep reading. Headlines like "Unlock the Secrets to Successful __________" or "Discover Proven Strategies for __________" appeal to our desires for reliable solutions and improvement.

Know your platform. If you're writing for Substack, you can use larger paragraphs; if you're writing a caption for LinkedIn (which can actually function like a mini blog post) one-line paragraphs are key for the formatting to look good and keeping the reader's attention. Also, try to write in a way that even a 10-year-old could understand. Many people think this will make them sound dumb, but the truth is powerful concepts explained in simple language make you sound intelligent and authoritative, and most importantly, help the reader truly understand your ideas.

Writing for social media and blogs is like being a tour guide in a bustling city. You're there to grab your reader's attention, show them around, and leave them wanting to visit again. For social media, keep it short, snappy, and engaging. It's the equivalent of a speed tour – you've only got a few moments to pique their interest, so make your words count. For blogs, dive deeper into the subject matter. It's the extended city tour, where you have the time to share intriguing insights and tell compelling stories. But remember, it's not a lecture – keep the tone conversational and include compelling visuals to keep them on board.

Hot take: AI is actually a very helpful editor. Just copy and paste your draft into Bard or ChatGPT and ask it something like "Rewrite this in the most concise yet compelling way for [insert target audience]."

Sometimes a typo or mistake makes for a great 'next' post. I did that once and rather than apologizing profusely for it, I owned the mistake and used it as a learning tool. You can be genuine without being too formal. I also listed all the steps I took that I thought were enough until it was too late to do anything about it

Without engagement, you are posting into the void. This is marketing 101. This is how social platforms work. It is called social media, strong emphasis on the first word. When you engage with your readers you show that you care about them and their input. You show your audience you are listening and paying attention. We all like to feel seen and heard, and when a creator interacts with their audience, it creates a strong bond. Not only that, but ongoing conversations strengthens the connection and keeps building. It is a ripple effect. And lastly, engagement with your readers appeases the algorithm. Platforms recommend you engage and when they recommend something, you should pay attention.

Whenever you receive comments on your posts or blogs, always reply with a meaningful comment or if that’s tricky, simply thank the person for taking the time to interact with your content. People want to be heard and responded to so make the effort to write back when you get comments. It’d be rude not to.

Some blogs provide a variety of topics, and write to a wide audience. If you prefer writing this type of blog, be sure to change up your Tags when submitting each blog. It will grow your readership. Make sure to provide responses to all comments if time permits as this reflects your professionalism and respect for your readers. People will return if they feel welcome.

Be it writing a blog post or posting on social, is a two-way street. When you think about what to write, also think about why? Who do you want to engage with and why? What value can you provide and why would someone find it useful/interesting? It's also helpful to stick to a theme (or own your swimlane if you will) instead of catching 'flavor of the month'.