Ideas Post
How to Create “Pause-ability”
When it comes down to it, what makes a good social media post?
Is it tons of bells and whistles and flashing lights? Transformative, life-changing copy? Thought-provoking imagery?
It’s the fundamental question separating great content from mediocre – brands who succeed on social and brands who inflict more damage than good to their reputation and bottom line.
In a series of blogs, I’m going to breakdown the key traits all top social media posts share, regardless of platform. Today’s trait – “Pause-ability.”
Weird term, right? “Pause-ability” is my word for how capable posts are at forcing social audiences to “pause” what they’re doing and consume content. A post’s ability to tap the brakes on social users’ million-per-mile scrolls down their newsfeed and command attention.
A number of factors play into generating pause-ability – by far the #1 is eye-grabbing imagery. What exactly does great imagery constitute?
Lots of things. It could mean great design (a Tribu speciality), excellent photography, videos, local recognition (think seeing The Alamo if you’re a San Antonio resident), colorful user generated content, emotion-evoking subject matters (think seeing Martin Luther King giving the “I Have a Dream” speech), interesting/curiosity inducing focuses (a majestic old house), pictures that tell a story of the human condition (happiness, sadness, pain, rejection, etc), or incredible beauty (Big Bend National Park) – it’s all about eye-catching imagery that’s presented well – (eg – cropped correctly, no unnecessary space, fits, etc).
What makes pause-ability so important is its role in not only organic (non-paid posts), but also social ads. Whereas the importance of other post factors (like copy) can vary depending on circumstance, pause-ability is always important.
Here’s a few examples of Tribu-client posts with great pause-ability. Note – these posts have all sorts of different imagery types – professional, raw, graphic-based, curiosity-inducing, etc. The key thing to remember – great pause-ability imagery comes in all shapes and forms.
I hope this piece helps guide you in your efforts to generate quality “pause-ability” content. At Tribu, we pride ourselves in generating tons and tons of it each and everyday.
NEED HELP WITH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN?
Let's build a tribe together
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
Color Psychology in Branding: Why Your Palette Matters
In branding, color isn’t just a visual choice—it’s a strategic move that shapes how people feel about your business from the second they see it.
Short-Form Content: The Strategy Behind Every Scroll
Short-form content is brief, but creating it is anything but basic. This content is one of the most strategic and labor-intensive forms of marketing.
Content Marketing vs. Performance Marketing: Pros & Cons
Strategy brings a unique set of strengths to the marketing game. Two of the most popular (and often pitted against each other) are content marketing and performance marketing.
Featured Work
We don’t just deliver - we make a difference.
Here’s a look at some of our most impactful branding, web, and campaign work. These aren’t just projects - they’re proof of what’s possible when bold ideas meet the right tribe.
.gif)
