How to Play a Bigger Game on Social Media
Scoring on social media is hard to quantify. It's really based on how you measure success. For some, social media is more about self-expression and connection with friends. For others, it's more about self-promotion and metrics with fans.
Regardless, today's post is a two parter! Let's dive in.
Social Scoring
Reach = 1 point
Reach is a fancy marketing word for people who saw your post—primarily speaking of views or impressions. Remember you're fighting algorithms and activity levels on each network... so getting seen is still a success! Still, this is a low score and really just about staying top of mind.
For you shy types, you can still score just an many "reach" points through engagement with other peoples' posts. I would argue it's more effective than just posting daily for reach and top of mind awareness. That's like someone who won't shut up at a dinner party! 😬
Engagement = 2 points
Engagement is getting people to interact with your post—primarily speaking of likes and comments. If you get people to engage with your post, it means your content was so good that it forces people to react—like people in musicals who have to bust out into singing or dancing!
With engagement, I give double points: one point for your content/reach, one point for their (re)action. Engagement is about keeping the "social" in social media—creating a two-way relationship at scale.
Share = 3 to 7.4 billion points
The share is the best way to "win" at social media. Your message is then presented to someone else's audience... resulting in so much more reach and engagement!
Obviously, the share is traditionally what you want to aim for with social media. However, keep in mind that there are so many ways to use social media. Let's examine some powerful posts you might want to play off of.
Posts to Play
See if these recent high-scoring posts (from celebrities... and me!) inspire new ways for you to share things online! Don't get stuck... get creative!
Art Only
Video (Social Media... or Vlogging)
Video (Pro Media)
Photo (Social Media... or Selfie)
Photo (Pro Media)
Art
Emoji
narrativesinemoji.tumblr.com
Graphics
Copy Only
Long Form
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) October 30, 2017
Short Form
....Also, there is NO COLLUSION!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2017
Questions
What’s it like to be Donald Trump today, just hrs away from the first of many criminal indictments that could send friends & family to jail?
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) October 29, 2017
Polls
What’s the first thing you check in the morning?
— Phil Pallen (@philpallen) October 30, 2017
a) Email
b) News
c) Social
Quotes
The artist never entirely knows.
— Tony Howell (@tonyhowell) October 30, 2017
We guess.
We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.
-Agnes de Mille
News (Please don't share alternative facts!)
BREAKING: U.S. court bars Trump from changing military policy on service by transgender people.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) October 30, 2017
Art + Copy
Video + Caption
Slideshow + Caption
Photo + Caption
What's your highest scoring post? Comment below!
Tony Howell is a digital strategist dedicated to helping you design your future—creating offline success from your online presence.
