Boost Your Brand’s Visibility: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Shareable Social Media Content

Understanding what drives growth on social media platforms like Instagram is key to getting your brand noticed. As Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri mentioned, shares are the most crucial metric for growth on the app. But this isn’t just limited to Instagram; —creating content that clicks with people and makes them want to share it is how you grow on any social media platform.

Whether you’re a business owner, a seasoned marketer, or just trying to get your personal brand out there, knowing how to make shareable content can really boost your online presence. In this guide, we’ll go over the types of content people love to share, strategies to make your content resonate with your audience, and some tips for optimizing your posts to help get them shared more often.

Understanding Why Shares Matter

Before we jump into the content creation tips, it’s crucial to understand why shares hold such significant value in social media marketing. Shares expand your reach beyond your immediate audience, introducing your content to new users who may not have discovered it otherwise. It’s the online equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing, where one share can lead to a ripple effect, exponentially increasing your content’s visibility and engagement.

Plus, shares show that your audience is really connecting with what you’re putting out there. When someone shares your content, it’s because they think it’s valuable enough to pass on to others, effectively acting as an endorsement for your brand. This not only increases your credibility but also builds trust among potential new followers.

What Types of Content Do People Share the Most?

Understanding the types of content that are most likely to be shared is the first step. Here are four key categories of shareable content:

Relatable & Authentic Content
Entertaining & Engaging Content
Informative & Helpful Content
Visually Appealing Content

1. Relatable & Authentic Content

Authenticity is huge on social media at the moment, so brands that show their true selves are more likely to connect with their audience. Relatable content resonates because it reflects real-life experiences and emotions. People love content that feels real. When your audience sees themselves in your content, they’re more likely to feel connected to your brand.

Examples of Relatable Content:

Behind-the-Scenes Glimpses: Share unfiltered moments from your day-to-day operations, whether it’s a look into your creative process or the challenges you face. For instance, a fashion brand might share the hectic yet exciting atmosphere backstage during a fashion show, while a small business owner could show the process of handcrafting their products.
Vulnerable Stories: Open up about challenges you’ve overcome or lessons learned in your business journey. Sharing these experiences can start genuine conversations and create deeper connections with your audience.
User-Generated Content: Encourage your customers to share how they use your products in their daily lives. Reposting user-generated content not only builds community but also shows real-life uses of your products, making them more relatable to potential customers.

How to Make Your Content Relatable:

Use Real Language: Speak to your audience in a conversational tone, avoiding overly formal or technical language. It’ll make your brand more approachable and relatable.
Highlight Common Experiences: Tap into universal experiences or emotions that your audience can easily relate to, whether it’s the joy of achieving a goal or the frustration of dealing with everyday challenges.
Encourage Storytelling: Ask your audience to share their stories and experiences with your brand, creating a space for genuine interactions.

2. Entertaining & Engaging Content

Entertainment is a big reason people share content on social media. People love content that makes them laugh, smile, or feel inspired. If your brand’s personality allows, adding humor into your content can be a game-changer, making your posts more memorable and shareable.

Examples of Entertaining Content:

Humorous Skits or Memes: Create short, funny videos or memes that relate to your industry or audience’s interests. A beauty brand might share a humorous skit about makeup mishaps, while a tech company could post a meme about the daily struggles of remote work.
Behind-the-Scenes Bloopers: Share the funny moments and bloopers from your content creation process. It entertains your audience and makes your brand more relatable.
Interactive Polls and Quizzes: Engage your audience with polls, quizzes, or challenges. For instance, a travel brand might create a post about dream destinations, sparking excitement and discussion among followers.

How to Create Entertaining Content:

Know Your Audience’s Humor: Understand the type of humor your audience enjoys and create content that matches that vibe.
Incorporate Visual Elements: Use engaging visuals, such as gifs, animations, or eye-catching graphics, to make your content more entertaining.
Encourage Interaction: Ask your audience to share their thoughts, reactions, or funny experiences related to your content to create a sense of community.

3. Informative & Helpful Content

People love content that teaches them something new or helps solve a problem. Informative content positions your brand as a go-to resource, encouraging people to share it because they found it useful.

Examples of Informative Content:

Bite-Sized Tutorials: Share quick, easy-to-follow tutorials or how-to guides that address common challenges your audience faces. A fitness brand might create a series of short workout tutorials targeting specific muscle groups.
Visually Stunning Infographics: Design infographics that break down complex topics into digestible, visual content. This could include statistics, step-by-step guides, or comparisons, making it easier for your audience to understand and share.
DIY Projects or Time-Lapse Videos: Show creative DIY projects or time-lapse videos that demonstrate your products in action.

How to Create Informative Content:

Focus on Clarity: Make sure your content is clear and easy to understand, using straightforward language and instructions.
Use Visual Aids: Add diagrams, charts, or videos to make your content easier to follow and more engaging.
Address Audience Needs: Focus on creating content that directly addresses your audience’s most common questions or pain points.

4. Visually Appealing Content

In the visually-driven world of social media, eye-catching visuals are crucial for grabbing attention and encouraging shares. High-quality photos, graphics, and videos are more likely to be shared as they stand out in users’ feeds and leave a lasting impression.

Examples of Visually Appealing Content:

High-Quality Product Shots: Capture stunning images of your products, highlighting their features. A food brand might showcase beautifully plated dishes, while a lifestyle brand could display products in various settings.
Eye-Catching Close-Ups: Focus on unique aspects of your products through close-up shots that highlight craftsmanship or design details.
Creative Videos and Animations: Create engaging videos or animations that showcase your products or services in action.

How to Create Visually Appealing Content:

Invest in Quality: Use high-resolution images and professional-grade photography or videography equipment to ensure your visuals are crisp and clear.
Experiment with Composition: Play with angles, lighting, and composition to create visually interesting and dynamic shots.
Incorporate Branding Elements: Include your brand’s colors, logo, or unique style in your visuals to maintain brand consistency and recognition.

Optimizing Your Content for Maximum Shareability

Creating shareable content is only part of the equation. To really get the most out of your content, you need to optimize it for each platform to make sure it connects with the specific audience you’re targeting.

Adapting Your Content for Each Platform

Each social media platform has its unique characteristics and audience preferences. Tailoring your content to fit these nuances can significantly increase your chances of shares and engagement.

Instagram & Pinterest: Focus on visually stunning content that captures attention. Use high-quality images, graphics, and short-form videos to engage users. For Instagram, consider leveraging features like Stories and Reels to create immersive experiences.
Twitter & Threads: Keep it short and sweet. Craft concise messages that encourage retweets and shares, and use hashtags to join trending conversations.
LinkedIn & YouTube: Share in-depth content that shows off your expertise. On LinkedIn, consider posting long-form articles or thought leadership pieces, while YouTube is great for detailed tutorials, interviews, or behind-the-scenes content.
TikTok: Create longer, fun videos that resonate with TikTok’s youthful and playful audience. Use popular trends, audios, and challenges to increase visibility and shares.

Optimizing Your Content with SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t just for websites—it’s a powerful tool for increasing your social media visibility. By incorporating SEO practices into your social media content, you can ensure your content is easily discoverable by users beyond your immediate audience.

Use Relevant Hashtags: Choose hashtags that are popular but specific to your niche, so your content can be found by people interested in your industry.
Incorporate Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your captions, descriptions, and titles to make your content more searchable.
Utilize Alt Text: Add descriptive alt text to your images to make them accessible and searchable. This not only helps with SEO but also improves accessibility.
Geotag Your Posts: If applicable, use geotags to target local audiences and increase discoverability among users searching for content in specific locations.

Including CTAs in Your Content

A strong call to action (CTA) can significantly boost your content’s shareability. CTAs give your audience a gentle nudge to take specific actions, whether it’s sharing your post, commenting, or checking out your website. Here are some examples:

“Share this with your community and let’s spread the word!”
“If you found this helpful, share it with a friend who would too!”
“Spread the word by sharing this post with your friends!”
“Share this post to your story and tag us for a chance to be featured!”

Conclusion

Creating shareable content is no easy task. It requires a strategic approach, creativity, and a deep understanding of your audience’s preferences. But remember, the more your audience shares, the greater your impact online. Happy sharing!