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
@Cathylistens
Hi Cathy, nice graphic. It really tells a story
@Cathylistensa
A good graphic showing and focusing on giving a review of 7cups simply and powerfully.The white background makes the graphical faces contrasting so the viewer can get the direct message by one glance.👏
Hi @Cathylistens
I liked the way you tried to incorporate the overall glimpse of the question with the answer. As we know our attention span has drastically reduced to a few seconds, so it would be better to create graphics with fewer words without losing the gist of the post.
@Cathylistens
Also, I liked how you tried to use 7 cups brand color and kept it minimalistic.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
@pluckyVillage735
Sorry for the poor quality
@pluckyVillage735 I made it on canva using animation options. The site don't let me to upload it as its file format doesn't comply.here is the link on Google drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-fGp3DiNNRdO_Qd25KLqGSK4TesD_UyT/view?usp=drivesdk
@pluckyVillage735 I really appreciate how you incorporated the 7 Cups logo and color scheme, it gives your graphic a cohesive and professional look. The message is clear and well-structured, which effectively communicates your point. My only suggestion is to consider that the message might come across as a bit sensitive for some viewers. Sometimes, our self-perception doesn’t reflect our true worth. Overall, your design is strong and thoughtful.
@pluckyVillage735
Hi Plucky Village, Nice Graphic. I agree with Mya that you can think about how to rephrase it. Maybe something like... Silence the Inner Critic. Power self-worth through positive thoughts.
@pluckyVillage735
Remember to fill out the trial completion form.
@pluckyVillage735 Wow! This is SO awesome! I just love everything about this, from how you've incorporated the color theme of our 7 Cups in the post to including the logo and the link of our site to the appropriate image for the quote. This is SO inspiring!😍
Here is my graphic!
In creating this design, I chose soft, warm neutral colors to evoke a sense of calm and comfort, aligning with the message of self-love. Wildflowers symbolize resilience and natural beauty, aligning with the theme of self-love and reassurance. I used wildflowers as natural elements to evoke a sense of calm, beauty, and personal growth.
I hope it doesn’t appear too blurry on the forum.
@Mya000
Nice Graphic. Very eye catching
@SoulfullyAButterfly My sample *** post
@raysofmoni OMG! I forgot that the word '***' will be censored. It's actually the link to my sample *** post so I named it accordingly.
Here is the link: My sample post
@raysofmoni
I forgot to mention about how excited I was to share this with you all. I really had fun creating this one. Thank you for the clear instructions. It was so helpful!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to upload the image directly here.🤦♀️
@raysofmoni
Nice Graphic, Rays. Very creative
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Feeling of "not being good enough" shows how much we want to improve and become a better version of ourselves. However, it's important to remember that the concept of "good enough" varies from person to person. Trying to meet everyone's expectations can be unrealistic and overwhelming.
Today, let's accept our imperfections, understand what we need to work on and be kind to ourselves in this journey.
What's one act of kindness you have shown to yourself today? If nothing comes to mind, let's explore how to start!
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Click here to know about how to deal with the feeling of inadequacy.
#selflove #motivation #positivevibes #selfcompassion #healing #positiveselftalk #7cups
@Yougotmyback
Love it. Very encouraging.
@Yougotmyback
You have finished the trial. Remember to fill out the trial completion form.
Hi, thank you so much. I have submitted that already. 🌿
@Yougotmyback
Along with the 7cups logo, this design is both simple and it conveys a deeper message. It’s nice to look at (:
@Yougotmyback
Love the way of using Subtle colours and the way the woman in the picture hugs herself shows a lot of emotions and acceptance of one's own existence in this beautiful world.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
- The first step towards overcoming this is to practice self-love and acknowledge that you are an amazing person, deserving of healthy relationships.
- Communicating openly about your feelings can also strengthen your connections. Remember that everyone has their struggles, and you are not alone in this.
- At the end of the day, focusing on your achievements and embracing your unique qualities can help you become a better person, ready for great things in life.
What have you done today to Show an extra bit of Self love to yourself?
#Self Love #Selfcare #youareenough #youareamazing
@Dorcas00
Dorcas, your image is very low resolution. Can you post it again as a higher resolution. You can link to an external site if that's better.
We all experience self-doubt, especially in relationships. It’s easy to feel “not good enough” when comparing ourselves to others but remember: real connection is built on mutual growth and respect, not perfection. Reflect on your unique strengths, set small goals, and celebrate every step. Support from loved ones or even a therapist can be invaluable as you work through these feelings. Embrace who you are and trust your worth—you bring something unique to every relationship!
#SelfWorth #GrowthJourney #HealthyRelationships
@brightOcean1599
Nice graphic. Very encouraging