You know how important social media content is to the success of your business. And you’ve seen that other companies can produce their own effective video scripts.
But you don’t have a clue how to get started on this yourself.
Creating a social media script is the hardest part of making content — and may be what is holding you back from doing it on your own.
We’re going to teach you how to effortlessly write scripts for your Instagram reels, Facebook stories, or whatever social media you use to promote your business.
Keep reading to find out how to effectively script your social media content using a simple three-part structure that works every time.
A social media script is a written outline of what you want to present to your followers on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. If you’d like to create short-form video content, coming up with a great script is the most important — and the hardest — part of the job.
A great social media script can:
If you’re marketing your product without engaging customers, you could lose out on potential profit. A social media script can help ensure your posts are as valuable as possible by doing everything you want them to do.
Posting compelling videos is the best way to boost your online traffic. Having a great script is one of the ways you can ensure the effectiveness of your social media posts.
If you don’t think you can write your own social media content script — even with our helpful tips — then it’s a great idea to get outside help from a professional video production company.
To write an effective social media content script, you should divide your video into three main sections:
There are other important details, but having a handle on these concepts will give you the foundation you need to produce an attention-grabbing outline.
First comes the hook. You only have three seconds to get viewers’ attention, so make sure you grab them by the throat with a relatable question or polarizing statement.
Why are those first three seconds so important?
Facebook has done extensive studies on video content, and their data shows that 65% of people who watch the first three seconds of a video will keep viewing until at least the ten-second mark. And of those viewers, an additional 45% will watch for 30 seconds.
Having a chunk of followers watch your content for a full 30 seconds is huge, so it’s easy to see how important the hook is to your video’s success.
If a greater number of people watch the first three seconds of your video, that means your content will perform better. So when social media algorithms notice that people are interested in what you’ve produced, they will push your video out to more people with similar interests.
A great hook may include:
Next, we have the hammer. You want to strike your viewers with the value of your video.
You may want to offer:
Give them something that will make them a better, more knowledgeable person after watching your video. This helps customers passively build trust with you.
If you aren’t sure what an effective hammer for your video might be, think of a common problem that you regularly solve. State the pain point and then deliver a solution in a simple and easily-digestible sound bite.
Finally, wrap up your social media content with a handshake. This gives a final bit of direction to the viewer.
Insert your CTA to …
… to get them to complete whatever action you’d like them to do next.
If your videos consistently deliver value, the viewers will have built a strong foundation of trust with you over time and will be compelled to take action.
The social media language you use may vary according to the format in which you’re posting.
Having an understanding of what language most speaks to your target audience is important. You wouldn’t try to communicate your message in exactly the same way across such varied platforms as LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.
Using the right lingo is key to effective communication.
You want to ensure your viewers gain something from your posts. But at the end of the day, many users hop on social media to unwind and zone out a bit.
So make your message fun! Get creative and try to entertain your audience.
Writing social media content scripts from the viewer’s perspective will help ensure that they stick around to find out what’s in it for them.
For example, let’s say you have a product that has just added many new features. Instead of presenting a mundane list of what those are, get viewers engaged by letting them know how their lives will change for the better after using this item.
Since many of your competitors won’t think about writing specifically for the viewer, doing so will help your posts stand out.
If you’re putting all this effort into writing the perfect social media content script, don’t blow it by not also including attention-grabbing graphics.
Having visuals in your posts makes it more likely that your video will grab the viewer and draw them in.
Just make sure you are thoughtful with your choices and only include highly-relevant images.
The driving force behind your video script should be what you want viewers to do when they get to the end. It may be helpful to put this idea at the top of your draft to keep it in the forefront of your mind while you’re writing.
Do you want viewers to sign up for your newsletter? Click through to your site? Leave a comment?
Whatever your purpose, make it clear. But that doesn’t mean you have to hit viewers over the head with it. One brief sentence stating your intent will often do the trick.
Don’t go over people’s heads or use industry jargon. You don’t want to talk down to your viewers, but if you confuse them from the start they’re not going to stay for the whole message.
It helps to use plain language and brief sentences when speaking to your audience. Always aim to communicate with your viewers in a way they will easily understand.
We’ve given you lots of helpful tips, but it can still be tough to produce the perfect social media script.
If you’re stuck on finding the right ideas for your video or would just rather leave the whole process to industry professionals, contact Ridgeline Media Marketing. We know all the proven video strategies to put your business on top, including how to effectively script your social media content.
Contact us today and schedule a strategy session.