You take a photo or video. After that you go on to the app, add a caption — maybe a few hashtags — and hit post. Unfortunately, this will not work for you if you are not an unbothered Gen Z who mastered the art of a messy aesthetic. So where do you begin if you want some social media success?
Whenever you scroll on social media, every post seems to be doing the most. The post itself — whether it is an image or a video — is absolutely perfect and always looks professional.
Everyone has the best possible captions, and they manage to find the hashtags that give them an extra boost. The standard just keeps rising.
On top of that, it feels like it is impossible to not have social media right now. Even possible employers check your social accounts before an interview. This can feel a little intimidating if you are hoping to make a start on the socials.
So, if you are a small business hoping to create some brand awareness, or just a person wanting to build a successful page, we are here to help.
Alrika Möller from media update can get your socials started the right way.
Choose Your Platforms
Sometimes it feels like there are millions of social media platforms out there and you just keep flipping between them all day. The truth is that you don't have to be on all the platforms.
Choose the ones that are best for the type of content you are planning to create, as well as where you will reach your intended audience the best. Younger people live on TikTok and Instagram. Millennials still have a soft spot for X (formerly Twitter) as well. And we can never forget that everyone's parents and grandparents are now ruling Facebook.
It also helps to find the platforms that might be most manageable to you. If you are not comfortable with being in videos or don't have the time to edit video content, YouTube and TikTok might not be for you — and that is okay.
Get Inspiration
Very few people have that amazing spark of creativity for every single post. Sometimes, you have to get a little bit of inspo and help.
You might notice that most of the successful social media accounts — whether that is business or personal — have a consistent vibe. Finding that vibe and keeping it going is easier said than done.
That is why it can be a great help to find your inspiration. The most common way to do this is to just scroll on social media. Go find some accounts that your possible future audience already interacts with and see what speaks to you. Get an idea of what you like and don't like.
After that, go to Pinterest; I know it sounds basic, but trust me — it works. On Pinterest, you can search for social media post ideas and inspiration. You can even specify the aesthetic or the type of account, like a small business or brand.
Just be careful not to copy and paste the ideas you find there. Use it as inspiration and then create your own thing or put your own spin on it. Some things are popular and well-liked for a reason, but nobody wants to see the same posts over and over again.
Another tip for the influencer hopefuls: Pinterest has some great ideas for personal posts and pictures. Remember to have some fun with it.
Use Support Tools
Once you know what you want to post, you need to use various tools to help you finesse and polish the post. These support tools include:
Sites for Image Editing and Creating
The most popular tool is probably Canva. The free version allows you to create a lot of different posts and images, and it also offers a few great ways to edit photos.
However, it does come with a lot of restrictions. If you want to use it to its full advantage, you will have to pay for the premium version, and not everyone wants to do that.
There are alternatives out there, such as ClickUp and many, many more. They might not be as well known, but a few have some really great features and templates. Find the tool that works best for you.
If you keep using the same tool, it will be easier to have a consistent look and vibe.
Video Editing Tools
If you are hoping to create TikToks and Reels, you will need to edit video content. Currently, most creators use Capcut, as the free version has a lot of great features; but if you are looking to create more advanced videos, you might want to invest in a proper editing tool such as Adobe.
Canva also has some video editing abilities, but they are very basic — even on the paid version. The important thing here is to determine what it is that you need from the tool and then choose accordingly.
Find the tools that fit your needs.
Caption Generators
It can get a little tricky to think of a clever caption for every video. That is why so many people turn to caption generators and AI programmes to give them a helping hand.
ChatGPT is a popular one when it comes to social media captions, as well as Sudowrite's brainstorm function. Another great tool is ahrefs; this tool allows you to enter the image you are going to post, and the programme will generate captions for you.
Using AI-generated captions has become so common that most people can spot them from a mile away. That means that with ahrefs, as with any other generator, you run the risk of some AI-generated embarrassment.
Use these tools for ideas and inspiration. Do not copy and paste the caption as is.
Hashtag Finders
We all know that hashtags are a great way to widen your posts' reach. Even with the changes in algorithms, the fact remains that hashtags are still a great way to find content. That means you have to use hashtags if you want people to find you during their searches.
There are many hashtag finders and generators out there. The most popular ones right now are TagsFinder and Inflact. There are many others, but with all of them, you will find that they are limited by country or platform.
The best way to find hashtags right now is to go to the platforms themselves and see what is trending. Chances are there will be at least one popular hashtag that relates to the content you are making.
Social media can seem intimidating. The secret is to just get started and find what works for you.
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It can get quite competitive out there on the socials. Check out our guide on How to grow your Instagram in 2024 and give yourself a little edge.
*Image courtesy of Canva