By Bria Hutchinson

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your social media, you’re not alone.

There are so many aspects to consider that it can be easy to throw your hands in the air and give up. Especially if you’re a DIY solopreneur.

But finding your social media voice shouldn’t be just another thing on your to-do list. It should be one of the funnest parts!

So here’s an easy-to-follow guide on developing your own social media voice with your copy.

Step 1 – Find Inspiration

When you’re not sure where to start, look for inspiration! Find 3-5 social media profiles that you like or that are major names in your industry.

Look at the posts that got the most comments, shares, likes, etc. and try to find similarities and patterns. Then ask yourself some questions:

1. Why did these posts get this much engagement?
2. What’s their overall feeling – happy, sad, angry, funny, authentic?
3. What’s the purpose – to connect, to educate, to get a laugh?
4. Do you like the copy? Why or why not?

Once you’ve looked at a few profiles, start to list specific things you liked and disliked about the copy you read.

Step 2 – Speak Your Audience’s Language

Now that you’ve gotten some inspiration, it’s time to think about who you’re talking to. Find out who your followers are and how they’re talking about your business.

For example, if your followers are beginners or completely outside your industry, you’ll need to define any acronyms or specific terms.

If they’re experts, there’s no need to waste time with definitions. So you can dive into some industry-specific jargon!

Step 3 – Set Your Goals

Time to focus on you and your business goals. Start by asking yourself what the purpose of your social media presence is.

Are you here to be entertaining, educational, engaging, relational, or something completely different?

Each one has its own tone, but you can definitely still mix and match. If you want to be educational and entertaining, your voice could be a mix of professional and humorous. For relational copy, your voice may be compassionate, honest, and warm.

Don’t be afraid to combine a few things to truly find your voice.

Step 4 – Be Authentically You

Finding your voice in your social media copy can take time. So try a few different things and think outside the box a little. 

But above everything else, make sure you are comfortable with your copy. If it doesn’t align with you and your values, it won’t resonate with your followers.

We can all tell when someone isn’t being real with us. So whether it’s a video script, a caption, or the words on an image post, the best thing you can do when writing your social media copy is to be true to yourself.

Step 5 – Don’t Forget Your Call to Action!

The last essential part to your copy is, of course, your call to action. You need to tell your followers what to do next. Otherwise, they’ll just be stuck in the process and decide to move on with their day.

Some ideas for your calls to action:

1. Comment or share your post
2. Sign up for an email list or newsletter
3. Visit your website to learn more about a specific item or service
4. Tag a friend for a chance to win a prize
5. Make a purchase now to get a limited-time discount

And remember – clear over clever. People need to clearly understand what the next step is, how to take it, and it needs to be fairly easy to do.

Final Thoughts – Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

It can be hard to follow every piece of advice you find when writing your social media copy. So just do the best you can and don’t be afraid to experiment a little.

With each new post, you’ll be able to see what voice type is resonating with your followers and yourself. Finding and refining your voice takes time, so remember to be patient with yourself and your progress.

Success is a long game and we know you’ll find it. And once you’re ready to scale up your social media game, CCox Social is here to support you.