Post Written by Trever Ackerman, Chief Marketing Officer of WellBiz Brands, Manager of Amazing Lash Studio, Elements Massage & Fitness Together national franchises.
Do you remember the television ads of yesteryear, where the volume was slightly higher and “Big Al” shouted out the best deals on his used cars in an attempt to get your attention? Well, thumb-stopping ads on social media are today’s equivalent tactic.
It’s no secret that a social media presence is essential for connecting with consumers and spreading brand awareness. However, brands need to go beyond simply having an account if they want to leverage social media platforms in a meaningful way that makes a difference to their bottom line.
Social media advertising has proven to be one of the most versatile and cost-effective strategies that businesses can use to reach their target audience and boost sales. It is the most relevant advertising channel for 50% of Gen Zers and 42% of millennials, and social media networks are the biggest source of inspiration for consumer purchases.
The statistics are compelling, and brands are taking notice. If you’ve scrolled through your social media platform of choice lately, you’ve probably noticed a huge increase in advertisements today compared to even just a couple of years ago. So, how can your business stand out and create scroll-stopping ads in a social media landscape that’s already inundated with constant algorithm updates, tweets, photos, news stories and other brands all vying for users’ attention?
Here are four actionable tips for businesses to start creating thumb-stopping social media ads that stand out and capture an audience’s attention:
1. Your headlines matter.
As a marketer, you have only seconds to grab your audience’s attention and create an opportunity for meaningful engagement. If you ask me, this makes headlines the single most important factor when creating thumb-stopping video content because it’s your brand’s opportunity to make a lasting impression, and it can entice a viewer to pause long enough to engage with your ad and consider becoming a potential customer.
When thinking about headlines for your ads, I recommend using titles that reflect lists, such as “The Top Seven Beaches In America,” over a more generic “Best Beaches In America” title. The number (five, seven or 10, in particular) tells the viewer they are clicking on a video or short piece of content that can be easily consumed.
2. Leverage Instagram carousels.
The old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words” definitely wasn’t coined by a marketer. A single image isn’t nearly enough to create a deeply engaging experience with your brand. Where many businesses tend to get stuck is that they either aren’t communicating the full story, or they are annoying their audience by oversaturating their feed with too much promotional content.
A great solution? Instagram carousels. The carousel feature allows you to share up to 10 photos in a single post, so you can share all the photos that are relevant to your promotion without cluttering your followers’ timelines with multiple ads. This also provides a great way to share your exceptionally well-produced brand content with more authentic user-generated content in a cohesive way.
To read the rest of the article featured in Forbes by Trever Ackerman, Chief Marketing Officer of WellBiz Brands, Manager of Amazing Lash Studio, Elements Massage & Fitness Together national franchises, CLICK HERE.