Stop The Scroll
In the fast-paced world of social media, where users endlessly swipe through their feeds, capturing attention is a challenge. As a business, your goal is to make potential customers pause—“stop the scroll”—and engage with your content. With countless posts competing for attention, how can small businesses stand out? The secret lies in your visual content.
Whether it’s an image, graphic or video, your visual is the largest content area displayed on social media platforms and the key to grabbing attention. Here are our top tips to help your content shine and stop the scroll.
Images
Be Eye-Catching and Relevant
Choose images or graphics that are vibrant, high-quality and directly relate to your post. A strong visual that aligns with your message immediately communicates what your post is about.
Add the Human Touch
Including people in your images can make a big difference. Humans are naturally drawn to faces and posts featuring human faces are proven to receive 38% more likes and are 32% more likely to receive comments (study by the Georgia Institute of Technology). For even more impact, use images where the subject makes eye contact with the viewer.
Video
Grab Attention in the First 3 Seconds
Most social media platforms auto-play videos as users scroll, giving you just 3 seconds to capture their attention. Start with dynamic, high-energy content that sets the tone for the rest of the video. A smart approach is to feature a teaser of the best part or highlight the main point of the video right at the start.
Creative Techniques to Stand Out
Familiar but Out of Place
An innovative way to grab attention is to use content that feels familiar yet unexpected. For example, take a screenshot of a positive Twitter comment or thread and post it on Facebook. The format will be recognisable but will stand out due to its uniqueness in the feed.
Minimalism Can Be Powerful
In a sea of bright, busy content, a clean, simple graphic with a plain background and one bold line of text can make an incredible impact. The contrast makes it stand out, prompting users to pause and read.
Optimise for Mobile
While you might design content on a desktop, remember that most users access social media on mobile devices. Avoid cluttered designs or text-heavy images that are difficult to read on smaller screens.
Use Large, Bold Fonts
If you need to add text to your graphic, ensure it’s large, clear, and easy to read. Stick to minimal wording to avoid overwhelming the viewer and make your message instantly digestible.
Branding vs. Variety
Keep It Fresh
Consistency in branding is crucial, but overly similar graphics can blur together in your audience’s mind. If every post looks alike, users might scroll past assuming it’s something they’ve already seen.
Strike a Balance
While maintaining brand elements like logos and colours, vary your designs to keep your feed visually engaging. Use different layouts, styles or colours to ensure each post feels fresh and new.
Follow Through with Quality Content
Stopping the scroll is only the first step—you need to deliver on the promise of your attention-grabbing visual. Ensure your post:
- Has a clear message.
- Includes a call to action (CTA) directing the user to the next step, such as a link to purchase, sign up or read more.
There’s little point in showcasing a gorgeous product if you don’t make it easy for users to act on their interest.
Stop The Scroll
Creating scroll-stopping content doesn’t require a huge budget or advanced design skills—it’s about being intentional and thoughtful with your visuals. From eye-catching imagery to impactful video intros and mobile-friendly designs, the right strategies can make all the difference.
Now it’s time to put these tips into action and make your social media content impossible to ignore. Go stop the scroll!
For more advice or assistance with your social media strategy, contact The Last Hurdle on 01604 654545 or email hello@thelasthurdle.co.uk.
