So you want to be good at social media. This is an excellent goal for a small business owner. However, one skill may be required of you that hasn’t been needed in years, namely “interesting” writing. I don’t mean the kind where you write an end of quarter summary, or an email, or a work order for a repair.
No, what you need is “interesting” writing. I use this adjective because without it, people won’t read your posts and will probably unfollow you. Having a strong social media presence is somewhat like producing a magazine. Your followers will stop if you don’t keep it inspiring, entertaining, or educational. At first, this can seem daunting, but like anything in life, it just takes some pointers and practice.
STEP ONE
Look for inspiration.
Find two model social accounts that you enjoy reading and think are well written. Why do you like these accounts? Could you adapt elements of their writing style to be your own?
STEP TWO
Write groups of posts.
Try writing more than one post at a time. This will give you some continuity and some flow to your writing. You might even write a series of posts about a related topic and space them out over the next few weeks.
STEP THREE
Edit, edit, edit.
Borrow a habit from professional writers. Before you post, go back and edit for “interest”. How can you make this post description sound more relevant to your target audience? How can you make it more succinct? How can you punch up the copy? Step Three is often the difference between an adequate post and a good one.
Takeaway: Try these three steps and see if your post engagements don’t improve. Our goal is quality of posts, not quantity, so be more purposeful. This is how we will build a following and build engagement. Share any tips for getting comfortable with writing for an audience in our private Facebook group, The Small Biz Builders.
