Did you know a successful Facebook post might fall flat on LinkedIn?
That’s because every social media platform has its unique preference – a “language.”
If you want to use social media to grow your brand and boost conversion, your content has to align with each platform’s style and audience preferences.
This post explains how writing for different social media platforms can be done seamlessly.
In Case You Missed It: How to Create a Social Media Content Calendar
Understanding Social Platform DNA
Here’s a breakdown of some popular platforms
Facebook has a multigenerational audience and is community-focused.
This social media site is best for community building and telling detailed stories.
Your content here needs to be personal and conversational because of the demographics of users.
The optimal post length is 100 – 250 characters and videos of a maximum of 2 -3 minutes.
Instagram is a visual-focused platform that tilts towards lifestyle content.
It is best for visual content and brands that are strong in aesthetics. Descriptive content with stints of emojis goes well here.
Captions of 125 – 150 characters, short stories, and reels are a good mix of content for this site, and add 3 – 5 hashtags for more visibility.
X (formerly known as Twitter)
X is a real-time engaging platform with an audience hungry for new information. It’s excellent for sharing trending topics and quick, bite-sized updates.
Due to character restriction, the writing style on X is concise with a punch.
Optimal Twitter posts (formerly known as Tweets) are under 100 characters and use threads (linked posts) for longer and in-depth content. 1 – 2 hashtags per post is ideal.
LinkedIn is a business-to-business (B2B) platform where business leaders, experts, and professionals network.
It requires informational content, opinion leadership, and expert advice. Optimal LinkedIn posts and articles are 1,200 to 2,000 characters.
TikTok
This fast-paced platform has many Gen Z Millennials and an increasing number of older people.
It is best for fun, casual, trending content and real, authentic videos.
TikTok videos of 21- 34 seconds, with sounds and 2 -3 lines of text overlays, are optimal.
Related Post: 10 Valid Tips for Creating Engaging Social Media Posts
Platform-Specific Success Strategies for Writing for Social Media
These strategies will help you when Writing for Different Social Media Platforms.
Grab attention by starting with a strong hook and using storytelling elements in your Facebook content.
End your posts with a clear call to action and encourage discussion to get more engagement.
Put the most crucial part of your message at the beginning of the sentence or paragraph.
Break text up to make it easier to read and ask open-ended questions to get more engagement.
Instagram recommends using 3 – 5 hashtags for every post.
X
Begin your post with valuable information; you only have a few characters.
For longer content, use threads of posts. X suggests using a maximum of 3 hashtags.
Share insights backed with accurate data, space it out, and personalize it with your experience.
Space it out and make it easy for your audience to read.
TikTok
Use the first 3 seconds of your video to hook your audience.
Add trending music or sounds to get more visibility and keep your text overlay short.
More reading on The Power of Using Hashtags to Increase Social Media Reach
Content Repurposing Strategy
If you are on many social media platforms, you might wonder if you must create new content for each.
You don’t. All you have to do is to repurpose your content.
1. Core Content Creation
Create content ideas that meet your audience’s needs and your business goals.
Start with a long-form blog post or video addressing your audience’s key topic.
- Create pillar content
Begin with long-form content like a blog post or video that aligns with your audience’s needs.
- Break down content
Break down the content into bits that will suit different platforms. Adapt the writing style and tone as well as the content format.
2. Platform Adaptation
Make each piece of content idea for the platform you will share them.
- Facebook: Transform the topic into you’re a well-detailed post with personal experience.
- Instagram: Summarize the points into an infographic or complement key points with visuals.
- X: Summarize the takeaways into a post or a thread.
- LinkedIn: Use the long form to create a detailed case study.
- TikTok: Make a video showing behind-the-scenes information related to the long-form topic.
Learn more about content repurposing.
Parting Thought
Writing for different social media platforms requires skills and tactics.
However, you don’t have to be everywhere; you only have to be where your audience is.
Start with one or two platforms, create valuable and original content, and master the nuances of social media success.
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