Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram can be great avenues to connect with current and prospective renters. But how can you break through the noisy social media landscape to reach these busy people? Read on for a few steps you can take today to start creating better, more shareable social media content.

1. Know your audience

Think about the content you've interacted with on your own personal social media channels lately. Why did you choose to like, retweet, share or pin the content you did? Most likely, because it was relevant to you in some way. For example, as a renter living in Chicago, I’d be interested in a list of Chicago neighborhood festivals (and I might share that content on my own social channels) because it’s relevant to me, but a renter in Phoenix most likely wouldn't be interested in that content. The lesson here? Understand who your audience is. Then, start crafting content that is relevant and valuable to them.  

2. Keep it simple

Most people are checking their social media channels while doing other things like waiting in line for their morning coffee, picking the kids up from school or waiting for the bus. Make sure your content is scannable by keeping it short, simple and focused on one message.

3. Remember that looks matter

A compelling visual can capture your audience’s attention in a way text alone doesn’t do. Take NAA’s Twitter feed below as an example. Which one of these tweets stands out to you? Most likely, the tweet with the image! And there’s science to back it up. According to an infographic from Wyzowl, visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text. Plus, visuals are more memorable than text. According to the same infographic, people only remember 20% of what they read, but they remember 80% of what they see and do. So start incorporating compelling visual content into your social media posts to grab (and keep) your audience’s attention.

4. Start experimenting

Take a close look at your own social media channels. What types of content does your audience engage with most? Start posting more of that type of content. Then, take a look at other companies' social media channels to see what people are sharing and get ideas for your own pages. And don’t limit your research to the multifamily housing industry. You can get inspiration from anywhere! The bottom line? Don’t be afraid to experiment – you might be surprised what works and what doesn’t.

What other tips do you have for creating great social media content?