Is writing social media copy your number 1 dreaded task? 😩

Do you frequently find the blank page/screen staring you down? 👀

Or, are you just finding that your copy isn't landing right? 🤔

Fear not! Here are Hannah's top tips for keeping your social media copy on point.  

1. Nail your buyer personas and a brand voice

Who are you talking to? What are you saying? And how are you saying it?

These 3 questions should be front of mind whenever you sit down to write social media copy. Before you get going on those keys or put pen to paper make sure you know exactly who the content is for.

How old are they? What is their job role? What are the challenges they face that you can fix? What kind of content do they engage with?

Then, once you have your ideal reader in mind, think about your business as a person too.

How do they speak? Are they über chill, super chatty, a bit of a laugh? Or are they cool, calm, and a little more serious

With your ideal reader and your brand's own personality clearly in mind, writing copy for your social channels will be so much easier, and more focused. Using this approach, you will always be writing content that’s relevant to the people you want to talk to. It will also create a consistent and succinct style to your copy.

2. Give people copy they can interact with

Remember, quality copy aims to create engagement, but also connection and conversation.

Write in a way that will get your audience thinking. Teach them something new and create content that’s so thought-provoking that they want to talk to you about it.

Give your knowledge away, show them you understand the situation they are in and that you have the expertise to help. Including questions in your content is a great way to show your audience that you know what’s on their mind. You understand what they are going through.

And, most importantly - it will get them thinking... 💭‍

3. Read your copy aloud

This is one that Hannah swears by!

When you read your copy out loud, you’ll soon spot the errors or what we like to call the “sticky sections”. Catch those sneaky typos and cut out the waffle all by reading out loud. A great way to keep your copy succinct, informative and easy to read.  

4. Use trends wisely

Whatever you do, don't jump on every trend going. With the likes of TikTok and other fast-paced channels, it can feel tempting but you’ll burn yourself out in no time.

And, clients can spot ingenuine content a mile off. If you jump on every trend going it can start to look like you create your social content for vanity metrics, rather than a genuine desire to help.

If you see something happening in your industry that aligns with your values and tone of voice, get involved for sure! The trick is to bring trending content back to the product or service you are trying to promote and remember to put your spin on it. Go back to that personality that you’ve created for your business. How would they respond to said trend?

Maybe there is an interesting new challenge from an influencer in your world, like #marchmeetthemaker. These kinds of campaigns can be a great way to engage a new audience. Make sure your copy is always true to your brand and don’t get caught up trying to emulate whoever is ‘smashing it’ with the latest craze.

5. Be aware of how your copy will be viewed

Don’t do a Burger King folks! 🙈

Always remember - context is key.

Burger King posted the above statement on Twitter in 2021 on International Women's Day, which understandably caused uproar. But, when you explored the feed that this sentence was part of, the message they were trying to convey was actually VERY different to the message they presented.

They were actually trying to highlight that only 20% of chefs were women at the time and that they were on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry by empowering female employees through a new scholarship programme.

Unfortunately, because of how Twitter content is viewed, the campaign absolutely nosedived. They hadn’t considered the context in which the piece was going to be viewed.

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And there you have it, 5 of Hannah's top tips for improving your social media copy.

Keep these in mind and you'll find your copy becomes more intentional, succinct, and impactful.

Give them a go and let us know if they help 👍🏼