Stop the scroll - use more impactful social media messages

We want people to scroll - to find our posts and information.

But then we want them to stop! 

We need visitors to stop scrolling long enough to take in the reasons why our areas and businesses are worth visiting. We need them to stop scrolling so they can choose us.

We need visitors to absorb essential information on our websites, and visitors don't always have the patience to scroll all the way down your pages to find what they're looking for. 

The answer: use really compelling information and inspiration at the top of your website, and on social media posts. 

What does that mean? What can you do?

1. Use a strong headline that grabs attention. Nothing wishy washy. Keep it short. Get to the point immediately. 

2. Include something that shows you understand what visitors need, and differentiates your business/area from others. 

3. Show your strengths quickly, clearly and powerfully. Images help, but get the words right too. 

4. Think of common barriers to visiting/buying or the kind of reassurance visitors might need - and provide it before they've even started thinking about it.

You should be able to do all this in the first section of your website, so visitors don't have to scroll to look for more details. 

Don't assume that all social media posts need to be very short. Longer form can work really well too. 

Don't try to do all these four things at once, just focus on one in each social media post. As you write, ask yourself whether you can move any of the information to the top of the post to grab attention. Read through before you post: how can you shorten sentences to make them more impactful?