Writing for social media

COM0014 – Assignment #1 Blog #2

Social media platforms are utilizing shorter and more to the point writing than in the past.  These platforms are hosts for conversations with your readers so engage them.  You should encourage them to post on your communications.  You want to write to intrigue your reader so knowing your audience is extremely important when writing on a social platform.   People are spending more and more time on their social media accounts, and they want to feel heard.  You need to know what problem you are solving for them with your communication and ensure that you get the across in the first few seconds of the communication. The way that information is relayed from one person to another is very important in how the information is interpreted, but attention spans have diminished so you need to do this quickly on social media.

This is something that I have been practicing for years.   This course reenforced the information that I have been given in the past.  In my work life I have been working on my storytelling abilities for the last couple of years and I must say I have come leaps and bounds from where I was, but it seems that there is always more to learn.

To make sure your story is heard there are a few things that I have leant:

1. Make sure your spelling and grammar is correct.  This can distract the reader from the point you are making.
2. Make sure you plan your story out.  Your writing should be organized and have a logical flow to the end.
3. Write in the active voice.  This makes your writing more engaging.
4. Know your audience and write for that audience.  You should change your writing style to suit the audience that you are writing for. 

These are the rules that I am learning through my work experience, and they have proven to be very helpful.  I have tailored my emails and presentations using these tips and have experienced a positive result. I have received better answers to my questions and proposals, but what this course has taught me is that writing for social media is different.  Your writing needs to be tailored to what is expected on these platforms.  Clear, precise, engaging, and authentic.