One of the most interesting questions people consistently ask is, “What kind of social media content do people share the most?” It’s a great question that a recent study attempts to answer. Experts across the social space weighed in, and most felt that pictures and links are shared the most.
This is what I was told when I joined Twitter and Facebook back in January of 2009. Pictures and links. But, while this might be the reality for those in the study, and for many others, I feel that it isn't that black and white overall.
Below are the findings of a recent study. Interesting numbers to say the least.
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| Chart Courtesy of MarketingChart.com |
I get my share of Likes for pictures, but I find that on Facebook when great pictures are combined with great quotes or great links, that content goes farther for me than just quotes, links or pictures by themselves. Visual social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram have certainly influenced this shift.
And on Twitter, my inspirational posts go much farther than anything. Why? There is not one factor that can probably explain this. However, I have switched up my quotes. I appreciate the timeless words of Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, Booker T. Washington and other historical luminaries, and I still share those quotes. But, I also look exhaustively on the Twitter feeds of ordinary people for their own words on life, love, and happiness. Don’t be afraid to test new content – slightly different from your usual, but still consistent with the spirit of what you like.
When you cultivate a quality following, and foster a sense of authenticity and consistency, you’ll see your content being shared more and more. Give it time, and keep engaging no matter what. Your content will find a captive audience.