Making social links, specifically social sharing links, involves a systematic process to enable users to easily share your content across various social media platforms. These links are crucial for expanding your reach and engaging with a wider audience.
Understanding Social Sharing Links
Social sharing links are embedded functionalities, often represented by iconic buttons, that allow visitors to instantly share specific content (like an article, product page, or video) from your website directly to their social media profiles. They streamline the sharing process, removing the need for manual copying and pasting of URLs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Social Sharing Links
Creating effective social sharing links involves several key stages, from choosing the right tools to strategic placement and meticulous testing.
1. Find a Social Sharing Link Generator
The first step is to utilize a dedicated tool. Social sharing link generators or plugins simplify the process of creating shareable URLs and integrating them into your website. These tools often provide pre-built code snippets or visual builders.
- Online Generators: Websites that generate direct sharing URLs for platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., by simply inputting your content URL and desired text.
- Website Plugins/Extensions: For CMS platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace, there are numerous plugins designed specifically for social sharing buttons.
- API Integration: For more custom solutions, developers can use social media platform APIs to create sharing functionalities.
2. Pick the Social Media Site You Want to Share the Content On
Determine which social media platforms are most relevant to your content and your target audience. Different platforms cater to different types of content and demographics.
| Social Media Platform | Primary Content Type | Typical Audience | Sharing Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles, Videos, Images | Broad Demographics | Community, Personal | |
| Short Text, News, Links | News, Professionals | Real-time, Discussions | |
| Professional Content, News | Professionals | Business, Networking | |
| Images, Infographics, Products | Visual Seekers, Shoppers | Inspiration, Discovery | |
| Direct Messaging, Links | Personal Contacts | Private Sharing |
- Audience Alignment: Choose platforms where your target audience is most active.
- Content Fit: Select platforms that best suit the format of your content (e.g., image-heavy content for Pinterest, professional articles for LinkedIn).
3. Organize the URLs
Once you've selected your platforms and generated the sharing links, it's crucial to organize them. This involves linking the specific content you want to share with the appropriate social media sharing URL.
- Content URL: The permanent link to your blog post, product page, or video.
- Sharing URL: The URL generated by your tool that includes the platform's sharing parameters and your content's URL (e.g.,
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=YOUR_CONTENT_URL&text=YOUR_TEXT). - Categorization: Keep track of which sharing link corresponds to which piece of content and platform.
4. Upload Social Media Icons
Visual representation is key. You'll need to source and upload the corresponding social media icons (e.g., Facebook's 'f' logo, Twitter's bird) to your website or application.
- Icon Sets: Use consistent icon sets for a professional look. Many social sharing plugins provide these automatically.
- SVG vs. PNG: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVGs) are often preferred for icons as they maintain quality at any size.
- Branding: Ensure icons align with your brand's aesthetic.
5. Activate the Icons
This step involves integrating the uploaded icons with their respective organized sharing URLs so they function as clickable buttons.
- Placement: Strategically place the social sharing buttons where they are easily visible and accessible, such as at the top or bottom of articles, alongside product images, or in a sticky sidebar.
- Code Implementation: Embed the generated code snippets (which link the icon to the sharing URL) into your website's HTML or use your CMS's interface to add the social sharing feature.
- Call to Action: Encourage users to share with clear calls to action like "Share this article!" or "Pin it!".
6. Learn About Your Employer's Audience
While not a direct technical step in making the links, understanding your audience is critical for the effectiveness of your social sharing strategy. This insight informs which platforms to prioritize and where to place your sharing buttons for maximum impact.
- Demographics & Psychographics: Who are they? What social media do they use most?
- Sharing Habits: Are they more likely to share professional content on LinkedIn or visual content on Pinterest?
- Content Preferences: What types of content resonate most with them and compel them to share?
7. Double-Check the Links
Before making your social links live, thorough testing is essential to ensure they work correctly.
- Click Test: Click each social sharing icon on different pages/content types to confirm it opens the correct sharing dialog.
- Content Verification: Verify that the pre-populated content (URL, title, image) in the sharing dialog is accurate and appealing.
- Device Testing: Check functionality across various devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) and browsers.
- Broken Links: Address any non-functional or misdirected links immediately.
By following these steps, you can effectively create and implement social links that empower your audience to share your content, thereby amplifying your online presence and reach.
