By Nathan Garrett
It is reported that every day there are two million new articles posted online. That's almost 1,400 new posts every single minute. As it turns out, most of these post are coming from large, nationally syndicated websites that can push out anywhere from 500 to 1,000 posts alone. With this much competition, it seems impossible to stand out from the crowd.
As the manager of the Garretts Realty Group website, I generally like to keep our content centered around real estate in Louisville, Ky. But doing so doesn't always help when trying to create content that people love to share, so periodically we publish evergreen articles that are more appealing to a broader audience.
Here are a few tips that have helped us create more engaging posts that organically received more shares.
1. Engaging Titles with Numbers & Positive Emotion
It’s no surprise that numbers work in titles. This technique is effective because a reader can quickly consume the article when it is a list format. Typically a reader will jump into the post, scan the bold headers, and then quickly jump back to their news feed.
Another thing to consider is your pitch. Your title is basically the marketing pitch for your article. If your pitch stinks, your article will suffer.
Create curiosity by structuring the perfect title that includes numbers, and add some positive emotion. However, stay away from using click-bait titles. This can cause readers to quickly bounce off your site.
Related: Real Estate Agents: Stay Savvy in Social Media with RISMedia’s ACE
2. Images Added with Informational Text
The average brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text. This is why it is important to leverage images to help readers stay engaged deep into your articles. Lately, we have seen bloggers use informational text overlay's on their images to capitalize on this. This is a great way to keep the reader engaged by using facts or quotes.
A featured image, also known as “og:image,” is the picture that your reader sees when the post is shared on social media. When scrolling through Facebook, users tend to scan images first, and then the title. If there is a sparked attraction, you will likely attract new readers at a higher rate. Take your time when choosing the perfect image for your post.
3. Simple Layouts with Interesting Headers
Readers tend to have shorter attention spans when it comes to reading articles on social media. If your content is hard to consume, you can't expect the reader to stick around. They will simply click the back button and will not give you the benefit of the doubt that there may be great value hidden within the body of the post.
Break up your paragraphs and insert a conversational sentence in between paragraphs. This a great way to keep the content flowing and keep the reader moving from one sentence to another.
4. Offering Your Very Best - for Free
If it is not unique or extremely valuable, you're wasting your time. Expectations are high for readers online. You have to deliver your best if you want somebody to share your content.
If you need to—do the research! Gather as much information as needed to wow your readers and present yourself as a solid source. This will help readers appreciate your post and be more inclined to share it with others.
5. Promoting Your Content and Timing
Creating highly shareable content doesn't just happen when you click publish. Promoting it on all the different platforms is a must!
Promoting your content takes just as much work as creating it. Find out when is the best day and time to post. Turn to other industry leaders that are successful with social media to learn more about boosting your social media presence. Having a large audience on different platforms will help tremendously when sharing your new post.
