3) Social Media Graphics: Promoting Site Content
Graphics can be created to support as well as summarize site content on social media platforms that link back to the original content through shares links alongside them. For example, we can create graphics to present our optimized Question and Answer Page or a summary of an expert article.
Through this discussion, we will discuss the process of designing graphics, using image captions and hashtags, as well as posting best practices
(i) Designing Graphics:
To aid the graphic designing process, you can consider using sites that allow you to not only create your own graphics but provide a wide range of templates that you can edit.
Some tips to consider include:
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Know which design size you require beforehand - this may vary based on the social media platform. For example, Instagram offers a maximum resolution of 1080 x 1080 px.
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Use only 2 font designs to avoid going overboard.
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Use contrasting fonts or different text sizes to grab attention and to ensure the main message is conveyed.
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Less is sometimes more: if your design does not require extra backgrounds, images, or design layers, consider going with white space as that helps avoid your content being avoided due to noise.
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Use icons to help graphically summarize your content.
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Consider combining consistency with creativity: ask yourself what your major content can creatively look like as consistency is a core principle of content creation. Consistency also applies to your design (font, colors, etc). For example, an analysis of 7 Cups Instagram can help identify that most of the posts are quotes, affirmations, etc. Note that more foundational blocks can always be introduced into the flow with time.
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Consider adding your logo or site information on your graphic to help strengthen your brand.
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Think of ways to stand out: Research and observe current trends, international events, and other possible content inspirations, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box to trial new creative ideas. For example, 7 Cups hosted a very successful and engaging Mental Health Trick or Treat
Sites that have free editable templates include:
(ii) Image Captions and Hashtags
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Remember that your image caption not only represents the content you are posting about but the brand you represent.
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Consider the length of your caption based on your social media platform. For instance, Twitter limits characters, Instagram can be used for a medium length caption, while Facebook could host longer article-style captions too!
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Some ideas of captions include: summarizing the content, mentioning the main motto of the post, etc.
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Add emojis to connect with your audience.
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Don’t forget to ensure readability by breaking up your longer captions with headings or spaces.
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Questions help engage the audience: never forget to look for opportunities for reflection such as one-word answers to yes/no questions, or other quick icebreakers such as what everyone plans to do at the weekend.
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A call to action is important to ensure further practical engagement. You can remind users about more details about supporting content present in the link in your bio or directly share your relevant link (depending on the social media platform)
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Structure your caption with important information at the beginning, followed by any additional information of interest (such as goals, facts), questions for engagement, call to action, etc - you can style your structure based on your content type.
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Include relevant hashtags and consider using mentions and tagging other users. Researching relevant hashtags involves keeping an eye on the hashtags used by influencers and leading figures and profiles within the industry, looking for trends and patterns, finding related hashtags just like related keywords, as well as trialing different groups of hashtags for certain content types. Last but not least, your brand can aim to start a new hashtag of its own as well! Some websites have tools that can help you target and research hashtags - some examples are included in this external link.
(iii) Posting Time
Many people often wonder when to post their content, and this curiosity is definitely important because posting time does influence engagement and value of the content posted - however, there are no correct rules of guidance.
Rather, posting times should be based on insights on when your audience is most likely to be active - most social media platforms offer these insights for business or creator accounts, alongside insights in regards to other engagement factors.
One excellent feature to utilize to ensure posting time, as well as a smooth flow of content, is to plan content in advance and schedule posts - scheduling is possible through the Twitter platform as well as the Facebook Business Suite for both Instagram and Facebook
Activity
Using your answer to the question in Discussion 2’s activity, create a social media graphic presenting the content and share your graphic as a reply to this post. Creativity is welcome for this task, and you can create any form of content. Feel welcome to use the 7 Cups social media content for inspiration if needed. Reply to at least one student’s graphic as well.
Tip: You can discuss ideas or ask for help in the student discussion and support thread!
Not sure how to add images directly into this forum discussion? Find instructions here
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This post is brought to you by the Content Development and Marketing Program, find out more information about the program here
@SoulfullyAButterfly
"When was the last time you stood out? #BeProud #YouMatter #7Cups"
I took this picture when I was on a walk, and I felt so calm and at peace. I wanted to reflect that for the audience but also with a powerful manta, you ARE allowed to take up space.
○ Quality Mentor ○ Forum Supporter ○ Listener Coach ○ Peer Support ○ Project Agent
Tagging my internship twin: @CosmicMiracle <3
@FrenchMarbles
Impressive, Marbles! ⭐️😊👍 what social media post's size did you use?
Constructive feedback for future (no need to revise): as this is a CDM exercise, you may want to add a marketing element. For instance FrenchMarbles - 7 Cups or 7cups logo, etc.
Hope you're enjoying the program 💙
@ouiCherie
Hello! I used the flyer option so it was.... the flyer size? :P
And yes I knooooooow, I realised that when I sent it over, like darn it. buuuut thank you regardless, I'll keep that in mind!
@FrenchMarbles
Awesome!
Well, I've to say, you're the first trainee I met on CDM with energetic reply 😂👍 love the vibe! Keep going, I'm rooting for you!
@FrenchMarbles awesome job frenchie, I love the inspiration behind the photo and knowing that you took it yourself makes it extra special.
I also love the message, this image is great!
@SoulfullyAButterfly
"Don't let you invalidate you."
@CosmicMiracle
I really liked this, especially that you added the logo when I forgot mine!
It is a nice picture and a good choice of font!
@FrenchMarbles 😂 omg Marbles...
@CosmicMiracle
Excellent! ⭐️😊👍 lucky me to come across great works today!
Keep going and let me know if there's anything I can assist you during the program.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
@PhoenixTears5972
Wow! I personally love it. This is great for mental health awareness post. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much ❤️
@SoulfullyAButterfly
I made this design on my laptop since my phone got destroyed last minute.
@frenchmarbles
It's nice especially the nice parts is quite nice. Keep up with the nice stuff.
@FrenchMarbles
thanks for being so nice, that's nice that you're nice
@MyNameIsNicole shocking I can be nice I know.
@MyNameIsNicole
Really love the idea that a nice idea is enclosed under "reminder". Also the background is cute. Kinda soothing to read text over it.
@MyNameIsNicole
The pastel tone is so soothing, simple yet powerful and comforting message 😌 Everything is well incorporated, you did great!
Based on my answer to the previous question I have made this poster. Nothing special tho.
Caption: Every human being is unique. A product of their experiences and the way they responded to those experiences. It’s perfectly normal, in fact noble, to desire to be good enough for someone. However, one need to realise that nothing is in black or white. We’re all in shades of gray. Thus, we can’t always be good enough for our loved ones. The feeling that you want to be good enough already makes you an amazing person.
@FerineMusings
I loved the captioning of the poster. Simple yet meaningful. You did a great job with it.
@FerineMusings
Very heart felt caption 💙 the poster feels very welcoming and inviting to come unwind at 7 cups! I think it gives office magazine aesthetic which to me is even more welcoming to explore 7 cups for support 🌷🖼🎨 Fabulous job!
@FerineMusings
Can't forget the creative "you-nique" perfectly tying in with the caption 💙
@SoulfullyAButterfly
@blissfulForest7074
I love the hand drawn logo so much! very elegant style.
@blissfulForest7074
Extremely elegant and artistic 😍😍 You did EVERYTHING without doing too much, very beautiful work 💙
@blissfulForest7074
I love this image so much! It's very straightforward and simple. I love the hand-drawn quality of it.
@blissfulForest7074
Very creative and different. It caught my eye because it was so simple and not overdone.
Sorry Guys, use below link -
@NotFound20
Hi Found, could you please help set the share link to anyone can view? 🤍🙏🏻
@ouiCherie - I have shared the picture which I have designed . I am unable to change the settings for the picture in canvas so sharing as below -
@NotFound20
Powerful and empathetic message there 😊👍 I saw you are using the logo and you put your username in there. Well done.
I hope you enjoyed the exercise and like most hard skills, with continuous practice it will gets easier and eventually you'll master the skill. 🤍
@NotFound20
This is gorgeous! And a very important message to remember, the woman watering herself is perfect visualization for the message
@NotFound20
Also forgot to mention, the incorporation of the 7 cups logo in the background is genuis
@ouiCherie
Added the link with proper privileges -
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFEOSZel9w/q7S444VBsvMFB7xns2K6Ug/edit?utm_content=DAFEOSZel9w&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
@NotFound20
Hi Found, thank you. The graphic above is good for checking purpose 🙏🏻🤍
With the caption: What are your #7CupsofAffirmations?
@ItsRenee
Brilliant idea, cool design! 👏
Team Lightship has a monthly event for community to post together on social media like this one, do you mind if we add this to July graphics? We credit you on the forum post ofcourse 🤍
@ItsRenee
I love the Affirmations, the cups :3 and the caption encourages engagement as well as promotes 7 cups in a very unique and creative way! I can't wait to see more of your content as we go through the course
@ItsRenee
Forgot to mention that I love how you incorporated specifically 7 cups; very original and clever!
@ItsRenee
I love how you incorporated the 7 cups logo into this!
@ItsRenee
Love it. Simple and right to the point! People always ask what 7 cups stands for, and this image is a good example.
@ItsRenee
Ingenious! I love it. Your graphic uses the 7 Cups logo in such a memorable way - so good for brand recognition.
I decided to create a potential Facebook post :D Instagram and Twitter are the most common, but Facebook is quite active as well!
Caption: American actress, singer and dancer Judy Garland once said: "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." 🌷 Being yourself and remaining true to who you are is more than enough; it is the best version of yourself. It is your unique light. It's often that our inner critic falls into a cycle of negative self-talk and self-doubt. When feeling that you are not good enough for someone, this is only the voice of our inner critic attacking our self-confidence. The best way to cope with these emotions is to know that being authentic is more than enough. It may not always be accepted, but it does not mean it is not good enough. At the end of the day, it does not make you any less of an amazing person if someone is not the right match. Great things and the right things will come to you when remaining true to yourself, this is more than enough ✨️
Not only are you more than enough, but you are never alone 💙 Therapy can also provide beneficial methods and the best support possible. 7 Cups is a safe space to explore the options of professional therapy, live Listeners available at any time ready to support you, and various self-help exercises to assist you in keeping your head above water 💙🙏🏽
#selflove #selfconfidence #iamenough #7cups #YouAreEnough #selfesteem #healing #mentalhealth #spirituality #love #help #motivation #empowerment #therapy #support #hope #faith #selfhelp
@SirenOfSerenity
It feels calming and couldn't agree more with the quote 🤍
Technically, you checked all boxes in creating empathetic graphic for mental health support and incorporated branding for content marketing element. Well done!
How do you like creating social media graphics? 😊
@ouiCherie
I really enjoy it! I can see myself exploring the option of Team Lightship after graduating 🥰
@SirenOfSerenity
The photo is perfect - a representation of overwhelm, floating in water, seeking solace. I also love the quote - being a first rate version of yourself - self acceptance. It is optimistic and eye-catching. Lovely.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Sorry, I'm having a bit of trouble adding the image, so hopefully this link works...
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFFe1N6KdA/IS9vp-baBM5aJj5oqj9FVw/view?utm_content=DAFFe1N6KdA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
@YellowButton223
Yes it works and it's a lovely one 💜 May I ask what's the issue in uploading graphic here?
Constructive feedback for future (no need to revise):
For content marketing element, you can add url or logo of the brand. Since it's your creative work, you can also put your name on it when you post it on social media.
How do you like creating social media graphic? 😊
@YellowButton223
I really like the colors and look of your graphic! So pretty! Your post grabs my attention and makes me want to read it 💜