Make it memorable
Creating memorable content is the end game for shareability, but how exactly can you stand out from the crowd to drive social shares? The zig-zag method supports this aim by making it easier for you to approach topics and keywords from a different angle. If competitors are pushing a popular belief or opinion, flip the idea on its head and use research, data and facts to support your position. Just something a little different can be enough to trigger curiosity and get people to share your content.
Fill information gaps
Consumers crave informative and educational content. They are also eager to share materials that provide clarity on a trending topic or one that is not widely known. When content fills information gaps, readers will naturally want to share it with other people. The key to this is providing a concrete solution or resolution to a query or topic so the end user is satisfied. You can tap into the need for plugging gaps in headlines too for greater social shares.
Offer advice
Providing practical advice also lends itself to sharing, but it is important to make it easy for readers or viewers to follow steps so they can achieve the required results within a 5 to 10 minute time frame. A simple step-by-step guide or how to checklist could be the answer. Short and sweet is better, so save 1,000 word output for thought leadership and whitepapers.
Consider design
The power of your prose and messages can be amplified with excellent content design. You could use high-quality imagery and infographics to present important facts and research so readers can get to the most important data easily. Infographics not only work to increase the perceived value of content but are ready-made for sharing on social media. Also consider designing your content for skim readers and bite-sized consumption.
Call to action
Simply asking your audience to share content at the end of an article is an easy and often overlooked method for getting more people to take positive action. This is a natural value exchange. Readers often think about what to do next after consuming something they have enjoyed. Take advantage of this opportunity to increase shares.
