How can you use social media to tell a captivating story?

The best way to get to know your audience is to talk to them! Ask them about their challenges and aspirations and capture what they tell you word-for-word. Use surveys, chats, Zoom calls and face-to-face chats to gather data. Once you have enough and it’s statistically significant (at least 30 different responses) analyse it and pull out the common themes and most frequently used words. This, combined with your own story, skills and experience will give you all you need to create your social media content.

Engage your audience with your personal or career experience by sharing your story. How did you handle a tough situation you encountered? What were the setbacks & positive outcomes? Share a story through your life's achievements.

Even the best of content shared with the wrong audience will fail to get its message across. Use digital tools to know who shares common interests with you. Streamline your approach. Identify your niche. Connect with them through questions, polls, advice (yes, businesses can do wonders through audience insights and reviews), get to know what they need. Your content distribution problem gets solved right here.

A good place to always start is knowing your audience. Then it’s as easy as focusing on the marketing go to, of sending the right message at the right time. A good example in my current field is student accommodation. I create Instagram carousels that all interlink with each-other to create a clear coherent message of the carousels subject, whether that be mental health or a sales message carousel. Being able to have five pictures worth of content put forward as one is a quick win and still concise. Conciseness is definitely something to focus on, as attention spans are even shortening.

"An image is worth a thousand words"...and storytelling can't ignore this principle, if aims to be captivating and ensure the retention of its target group. Choosing the right visuals for each story is as important as the content itself. More than a complement, will help enhance the message, trigger the identification of the reader with the experience we invite to dive into. Make the story a formula, a mix of elements that address various learning preferences and create a "real life" context for those willing to engage in it.

There are many ways to tell your story & all are good, but there is ONE that is leading the way. With the rise of AI coming in many forms & styles on each platform -- my belief is live streaming is the best way for people to know you are human. Tell your story with authenticity in a live streaming format & the trust factor with others just may happen more quickly for you.

Visionary Leader: Erickharlein Pierre Haiti-born Erickharlein Pierre embodies resilience and commitment. He graduated in 2010 and pursued education in the U.S., earning an associate degree in IT Management and Cyber Security in 2020. Now close to completing his Bachelor's at UMGC. He serves in the U.S. Navy and soon as Warfare Operation Specialist. Beyond, Erickharlein leads TECHKLEIN LLC towards innovative SaaS solutions. He founded PED - Parlons D'education et Developement, aiming to empower Haitian youth. His values of transformation, integrity, diversity, excellence, and equality drive his actions. His latest endeavor is "Haitian Nationalist Alliance (HNA)" on Discord, uniting Haitians for a better Haiti.

In choosing your format, start with strategy and customer profiling. Market with a purpose, not to just market. Some questions to consider: What messaging are you trying to get across to the market? What relevant characteristics and habits do your customers exhibit? Originality and relevance will get you far. Pose a solution to your customers' problems. Ask yourself "how can my company market different and better than the competition?" Once research is performed, your strategy is solid, and the 'why' in purpose for marketing is established, you will be able to determine the correct format for your brand. Also, think future forward. Technology is always advancing.

Videos and Images! YES. Share quality videos and images which should be highly relevant to your business audience. Address problems in them, share solutions, tell the world how you played a role in uplifting common members of the society by sharing their stories. Content which 'connects' with the audience and their lives will win you mileage your paid ads couldn't possibly get.

Crafting your narrative is one of the largest influencers of brand positioning and power. Your narrative will tell your audience the style and essence in which your company represents itself. Think of your favorite brands. Ask yourself why you like those brands. Is it for prestige or humility? Now think of one of your least favorite brands. What is the reason for not liking the brand? Did they align themselves with a promotion to which you do not agree? Influencers and story tellers are key. People are influenced positively by people they like. Stories tell people the company is reliable and worthy. People have feelings. Cater to your customers' feelings and needs. I always found customer testimonials and case studies to be powerful.

"In Haiti, I began my educational journey, culminating at College Les Normaliens Reunis in 2010. In 2015, I moved to the U.S., earning an associate degree in IT Management and Cyber Security in 2020. Currently pursuing my Bachelor's, I also serve in the U.S. Navy, with a new role as a Warfare Operation Specialist in Japan from January 2024. I'm an entrepreneur leading TECHKLEIN LLC and founded PED - Parlons D'education et Developement, a non-profit aimed at empowering Haitian youth and reducing inequalities."

Be collaborative! Open yourself up to feedback, have a team to provide notes or create your own group of like-minded freelancers to support each other. It's not always perfect on the first try. The key is patience, persistence, and learning from our past work to improve.

Video alone has so many variations for different platforms, sometimes based on actual limitations, other times dictated by algorithms and best practices. Pay attention. Commit it to memory. Strategize how to start with the base of the video in your main platoform, then change the aspect ratio, then perfect captions, embed directly where best (IG) and export as SRT where not (FB, X, YT). The more strategic we are, the more efficient and cost-effective this process will be.

In my journey, I've learned that optimizing content is key. Tailoring content for each platform's best practices, like concise Instagram videos, detailed YouTube descriptions, engaging Twitter hashtags, and professional LinkedIn titles, increases visibility and engagement. Tools like Canva, Lumen5, and BuzzSumo are invaluable for creating and optimizing content.

Remember that social media is a community, just behind screens. Ask: how can we connect on a people to people level? If I were watching this content, how could I add to the conversation? Then think of the best way to engage from there.

Not every social media post will be a triumph. Excepting and learning from our trials and failures helps us to better understand how we can provide more value to our audiences. -To learn from the risks you take, you have to make them first.

People connect through stories that resonate, for example for brands, being personal and authentic by showcasing real employees and real stories not just faceless posts connects better with followers. Identify Your Narrative: Find your unique story. It could be your personal journey, experiences, passions, or expertise. Be Authentic: Share the real you. Authenticity builds trust and connects with your audience. Embrace visual storytelling with photos, videos, and engaging graphics across platforms. Take your followers along with you. Document your growth, challenges, and achievements. For brands - boost engagement with contests, quizzes, and free giveaways. Lastly, analyze engagement data to refine your storytelling approach.

Remember, you don't need to be on every social media platform to succeed. Pick one or two that you enjoy and where you know your audience hang out, and focus on really connecting with them and being consistent. Additionally, don't be afraid to buck the trends. Be the exception, not the rule. People buy from people and people want to see authenticity and uniqueness. Be yourself. There's only one of you, make your audience buy into that.

Mastering the art of creative storytelling is our superpower when it comes to using social media for captivating narratives. It's not just posting; it's weaving tales. Through relatable characters, compelling plots, and emotive twists, we captivate our audience. Social media becomes our stage, and each post a story waiting to be told. With this skill, we forge deep connections, evoke emotions, and make our brand an unforgettable part of our audience's journey. 📖✨📱