SocialPostAn effective digital marketing strategy is obtained when you have efficient content that captivates an audience. Content marketers should use carefully crafted posts that are attention-grabbing, up-to-date, informative and relevant.

Writing successful social posts is a skill that lies in being able to attract the audience with a powerful statement or question, and giving a clear direction on what you want them to do next – which, in many cases, leads them to click a link to more information.

“Social media success starts with developing an effective content strategy,” states GMS social expert Jessica Webber.

Start honing your social media skills with the following tips:

  • Be concise. Research indicates that to-the-point posts are more likely to be shared/retweeted.
  • Promote engagement with your audience by asking questions. Create posts that invite conversations by asking your audience for their ideas, opinions or even advice.
  • Including a link in your posts will direct your audience to more information. Your update can also help direct people to more information or lead them to an action.
  • Timing is everything, so make sure you post when the audience is listening and not just at a time that suits you. Scheduling tools are available; they will ensure your post will be delivered at the time desired.
  • People love stats and facts. Throw some of these in the mix to help position yourself as an authority.
  • Where relevant, tag or include @ mentions to engage influencers who will share/retweet your social posts.
  • Use hashtags. Keep in mind, they are not just for Twitter anymore. They’re now also relevant on Facebook, Google+, Google search, Instagram and almost everywhere else.
  • Know your audience. Create social posts that are geared toward a specific platform. For example, you would not want to use the same post for Facebook and Pinterest. Write your posts with your audience in mind.
  • Measure your results. Once your content is created and posted into the social media world, go back and measure your success. What posts had the most engagement? Where did the majority of your shares come from? How many likes did you receive? It’s important to know what’s working and what’s not.