ashutoshsrivastava17/skill-library/social-media-post

Social Media Post

Create platform-optimized social media content with engagement hooks, hashtag strategy, visual direction, and scheduling recommendations. Supports single posts, threads, carousels, and cross-platform adaptations.

Process

Step 1 — Clarify Platform, Goal, and Context

Gather the inputs needed to write effective platform-native content.

Step 2 — Apply Platform-Specific Formatting

Each platform has its own constraints, norms, and best practices.

Step 3 — Write the Hook

The first line determines whether someone stops scrolling. It must appear before the "...see more" truncation.

Truncation points (characters visible before "...see more"):

• LinkedIn: ~210 characters on mobile
• Instagram: ~125 characters
• Facebook: ~80 characters on mobile feed
• Twitter/X: Full tweet visible (no truncation at 280)

Step 4 — Write the Body

Follow the appropriate structure for the platform and format.

Text post structure (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook):

[Hook — 1-2 lines]
 
[Space]
 
[Value / Story / Insight — 3-8 lines]
- Use line breaks for readability
- One idea per line
- Short sentences
 
[Space]
 
[CTA or engagement prompt]
 
[Hashtags (if applicable)]

Carousel / Document post structure (LinkedIn, Instagram):

Design guidelines for carousels:

• 1080x1350px (4:5 ratio) for maximum feed real estate
• Consistent brand colors and fonts across all slides
• Large, readable text (minimum 24pt equivalent)
• One idea per slide — do not overcrowd

Thread structure (Twitter/X, Threads):

Step 5 — Add Hashtag Strategy

Hashtag selection framework:

1. Branded: Your company/campaign hashtag (e.g., #YourBrandName)
2. Industry: Broad category (e.g., #DigitalMarketing, #SaaS)
3. Niche: Specific community (e.g., #ContentOps, #B2BSEO)
4. Trending: Currently popular and relevant (check platform trends)
5. Descriptive: What the post is about (e.g., #MarketingTips, #CaseStudy)

Step 6 — Provide Visual Direction

If the user does not have a ready-made visual, provide direction for creating one.

Provide a brief for each visual:

• Subject / scene description
• Text overlay (if any)
• Brand elements to include (logo, colors, fonts)
• Mood / style (e.g., clean and modern, bold and playful)

Step 7 — Recommend Posting Schedule

Optimal posting times (general guidelines — actual best times vary by audience):

Always recommend the user check their own analytics for audience-specific insights.

Output Format

Deliver the social media content as follows:

PLATFORM: [Platform name]
GOAL: [Awareness / Engagement / Traffic / Leads]
FORMAT: [Text / Image / Carousel / Video / Thread]
 
---
 
POST COPY:
[Full post text, formatted for the platform]
 
---
 
HASHTAGS: [hashtag list]
 
VISUAL DIRECTION:
- Type: [Image / Carousel / Video]
- Description: [What the visual should show]
- Specs: [Dimensions]
- Text overlay: [If any]
 
SCHEDULING:
- Recommended day: [Day]
- Recommended time: [Time + timezone note]
 
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY:
- [How to respond to comments]
- [Where to cross-promote]
 
---
 
CROSS-PLATFORM ADAPTATION:
[Shortened/adapted version for 1-2 other platforms]

Quality Checklist

• [ ] Hook appears before the platform's truncation point
• [ ] Post length is appropriate for the platform
• [ ] Formatting uses line breaks and whitespace for readability
• [ ] Hashtags follow platform-specific best practices (count and relevance)
• [ ] CTA is clear and appropriate for the goal
• [ ] Visual direction includes dimensions and a clear brief
• [ ] Tone matches the stated brand voice
• [ ] No links in Instagram captions (not clickable)
• [ ] Thread tweets can each stand alone if viewed individually
• [ ] Cross-platform adaptation is not just a copy-paste — it is reformatted for each platform
• [ ] Post does not read like an ad unless it is explicitly a promoted post
• [ ] Accessibility: image alt text described, captions for video noted

Edge Cases

• Cross-platform request ("post this everywhere"): Do NOT copy-paste the same text. Rewrite for each platform's format, norms, and audience. Provide platform-specific versions.
• Controversial or sensitive topic: Flag the risk. Recommend internal review before posting. Suggest neutral framing and disabling comments if needed.
• Product launch with embargo: Note the scheduled publish time clearly. Recommend drafting and scheduling in the platform's native scheduler or a tool like Buffer/Hootsuite.
• No visual assets and no design capability: Recommend free tools (Canva, Figma) with specific template suggestions. Alternatively, suggest text-only formats that perform well on the platform.
• Personal brand vs. company brand: Adjust tone accordingly. Personal brand posts are more narrative and first-person. Company posts are more polished and "we"-oriented.
• Newsjacking / trending topic: Speed matters — recommend publishing within 2-4 hours of the trend. Keep the post shorter and more reactive. Tie it clearly to the brand's expertise.
• Negative comments expected: Include a comment response framework — acknowledge, redirect, and escalate guidelines.
• Long-form content to summarize: Extract the 3-5 most shareable insights. Each insight should work as a standalone post. Link to the full piece in bio or comments.
• User wants engagement but has a small following (< 1,000): Recommend engagement-first tactics — comment on others' posts, join conversations, use niche hashtags, and tag relevant people (with permission). Organic reach is built through participation, not just posting.