Think small
When creating content for social media, design it for the small screen and for people on-the-go.

The term “thumb-stopping” was used often throughout the event. A thumb-stopping post is one that cuts through the noise of a person’s social media feed and makes them stop scrolling to get a better look at a post. Visuals—photos or videos—are the best tools for creating thumb-stopping content for mobile users.

Why target mobile users?
90% of Facebook use is mobile. For Instagram, it is nearly 100%. Many users visit during short increments throughout their day, quickly scrolling through their feed. A striking photo or video is one of the best ways to grab their attention. Video gets a far better response from audiences than still photos.

Think fast
If you use video, the first three seconds of the video are critical. Your post is surrounded by a lot of other competing content. You need to pull the user to your content, and you need to do it quickly.

When people browse social media and ads, they notice elements in this order:

1. Images
2. Logo
3. Copy (text)

Keep that in mind when creating posts. Grab their attention with an image or video, and keep the copy to a minimum. Remember that they are only visiting the app in short windows of time, so get to the point quickly. 

But how I do create thumb-stopping video in addition to running my business?
Stay tuned to the next Colorado Green NOW for tips on free tools to help you create great content on a budget—or on no budget.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Denver green roof task force makes final recommendations
Landscape Career Pathways update [infographic]
OSHA outlines enforcement of silica standard
Top performers from CSU offer more plant diversity