You’ve taken the time to create great content, now you want to make sure it reaches as many people as possible. With these four tricks, you can ensure your website is easy to share through social media.
Fine-Tune Meta Data
When it comes to social media posts, the two most important pieces of meta data are the page title and the description. You want meta data to be as clear and concise as possible so that when people share a web page on Facebook, for example, the title and description capture the attention of readers.
For titles, keep them short and to the point. You want to make sure it is under 100 characters so they are viewed entirely on the social media post. Descriptions can be a little longer, but it is still good to be sure that it is full of content and not too wordy. Keep keywords in mind to boost SEO. Also, by using the right keywords, it helps you to stay visible not only when its on the main feed, but whenever someone is searching for that specific topic.
If you struggle finding useful keywords, you can always use the Google Keyword Planner or you can simply use the search engines within each social network. For example, type your potential title in the search bar of the social network and see what other common words are used.
Optimize Your Images
Images are one of the best driving sources for brands which is why it is extra important to make sure your images are appealing and shareable. Remember that an image that might look great on the web page may not look as good on a social post. Before you finalize your image, you can always test it out by creating a social post and adding the URL of the page with that image. It will give you a quick view in case you need to resize or reformat your photo.
It is also important to consider what is in your images. Depending on the platform, you’ll want to consider the type of image, colors, saturation, dimension and more. HubSpot has a great infographic that lays out the different prime ways to post and optimize your images for the different social media platforms. It can be found HERE.
Make Visitors Want More
Great content will inspire readers to share the message with others, but you want them to keep coming back as well. To do this, you need to offer consistent content that is fresh and relevant. It may also mean updating old posts so they fit the current demands and needs of readers. One way to increase this is to have a clear Call To Action, and one that doesn’t always involve something being sold. Whether it is a good recipe or tutorial, find something that people will want to keep track of, share with friends and come back for more.
Add Share Buttons
After you’ve done your best to optimize your images, create good titles and descriptions and have a clear call to action, don’t forget to add share buttons so it is easy for your readers to share.
There are three key things to remember when it comes to share buttons. These are customization, prominent placement and tracking. As much as possible, try to customize the message so that it is easy for people to share and send the message you want them to send. You can also add your Twitter handle to these customized posts for added optimization. Placement is also very important. You don’t want people to have to look for your share buttons. Make them visible and prominent so they can’t miss them. Lastly, have in a place a way you can track which pages are getting the most traffic and the most shares. This can be done through shortened links, like bitly or plugins or even a more custom tracking system.
In conclusion, taking the few extra minutes to plan and set up your blog posts properly will help to increase traffic to your website and keep your branding fresh in the minds of readers throughout multiple social media platforms.
