Alright, let’s be real—social media is basically a giant, never-ending talent show where everyone is competing for attention. And if your content doesn’t slap, it’s getting scrolled past faster than a low-effort ad.

I’ve been there. Posting something I thought was gold, only to hear crickets. But after a few too many flops (and maybe an existential crisis or two), I figured out what actually works. So let’s talk about how to make content people actually care about.

Know Your Audience Like You Know Your Coffee Order

Before you hit “post,” ask yourself: Who am I talking to?

If it’s Gen Z, ditch the corporate tone—memes, slang, and realness are the way to go. If you’re aiming at professionals, sure, maybe keep the “LOL” to a minimum (unless you want LinkedIn to collectively judge you).

Point is, tailor your content. Speak their language. And for the love of good engagement, make sure it’s something they actually want to see.

Grab Attention—FAST

People scroll like their lives depend on it. If your first sentence doesn’t hook them, they’re gone.

• Make a bold claim. (“STOP making this social media mistake!”)
• Ask a question. (“Ever wonder why your posts flop?”)
• Use shock value. (“I spent $500 on ads and got zero sales. Here’s why.”)

Your opening line should hit harder than espresso on a Monday morning. No fluff, no wasted words—just straight to the point.

Text, Images, Videos—Mix It Up

Social media LOVES variety. And honestly? So do people.

• Text posts work for storytelling (Twitter/X, LinkedIn).
• Images grab attention (Instagram, Pinterest).
• Videos are algorithmic gold (TikTok, Reels, Shorts).
• Carousels/Threads keep people swiping (Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X).

If you’re only using one format, you’re leaving engagement on the table. Switch it up.

Tell a Damn Good Story

People don’t remember stats. They remember stories.

Instead of saying, “Our product boosts productivity,” try:

“Before using this, I was drowning in emails, missing deadlines, and surviving on caffeine fumes. Three weeks later? My inbox is tamed, I’m actually sleeping, and I even remembered my mom’s birthday. Here’s what changed.”

See? Way more relatable.

Hop on Trends (But Make Them Yours)

Trends can get you visibility. But blindly copying them? That’s how you end up looking like that brand trying way too hard to be cool.

• Memes? Make them niche.
• Challenges? Put your own spin on it.
• Viral audios? Tie them back to your content.

Not every trend fits every brand. If it feels forced, skip it. No one wants to see a tax firm trying to do the latest TikTok dance.

Engagement Is a Two-Way Street

Posting and ghosting? Rookie mistake. If you want engagement, you gotta engage back.

• Reply to comments (not just with emojis—actual replies).
• Ask questions in your captions.
• DM people (for networking, not weird sales pitches).
• Encourage user-generated content (run challenges, give shoutouts).

Social media is social. Act like a human, not a content robot.

Consistency > Perfection

No, you don’t need every post to go viral. You just need to show up.

Post regularly. Test different formats. Pay attention to what works. And don’t stress about every post being a masterpiece—sometimes, the casual, low-effort ones pop off the hardest. (Still salty about the time I spent hours on a post, only for a random meme to outperform it by 10x.)

Anyway, Here’s the Kicker…

Creating engaging content isn’t about being the loudest or the flashiest. It’s about connecting.

Tell stories. Show personality. Talk with people, not at them. And before you know it? You’ll be the one people stop scrolling for.