September 23, 2026
When I started the social media assignment for COMM 310, I thought this would be one of the easier parts of the project.
I already create content. I already use Facebook and LinkedIn. I had also finished the personal-brand video the posts were supposed to introduce.
So I thought: write a caption, adjust it a little for the second platform, publish, finished.
That assumption did not last very long.
The same video does not need the same introduction
My video was about the way I approach digital-skills training. One of the main ideas was that showing someone where to click is only the beginning. The real test comes later, when that person faces a problem alone.
That message could work on both Facebook and LinkedIn, but I realized the introduction should not necessarily be identical.
On Facebook, somebody may encounter the video while casually scrolling. I need an opening that feels natural enough to make the person stop for a moment.
LinkedIn creates another situation. People are already thinking about work, skills, careers, companies, and professional development. There I can reach the professional point sooner.
It sounds obvious now. I did not think about it enough at the beginning.
I would spend more time on the first sentence
I also noticed one of my writing habits during this assignment.
Sometimes I take too long to arrive at the point.
I know what I want to say, so I begin by adding context. Then I add another sentence because it seems necessary. By the time the important idea appears, I have already asked the reader for too much patience.
Social media does not give me much room for that.
If I could redo the assignment from the beginning, I would probably write the first sentence last. I would finish the post, look at what I actually said, and then ask myself what sentence gives the reader the strongest reason to continue.
I would think about the platform before writing
This is probably the biggest change I would make.
Instead of writing one “master caption” and adapting it afterward, I would begin with the audience on each platform.
What is this person doing when they encounter the post? Why might this subject matter to them? What should they understand before watching the video?
Those questions would probably produce two posts that feel more native to their platforms.
The assignment was useful because the problem was small enough for me to notice. I was not learning how to open Facebook or LinkedIn. I was learning that publishing on a platform and actually writing for that platform are two different things.
