It is no surprise social media is one of the top ways to connect with your current and potential clients. And the best part? It’s free. What we have learned from doing this since, well, since social media started, is that the number of followers doesn’t really matter if those people are not engaging. This is from both a monetary perspective and an algorithm stand point. So here are a few quick ways to boost that engagement, starting today!
1. Be the first to engage
We have all been that awkward person at a dinner party who doesn’t know anyone and tries to hide in the corning hoping someone will talk to us first. Social media can feel like this too. So take the first step and reach out to a new follower and say thank you for the follow. Take time to acknowledge the person always liking and sharing your posts. Follow other like minded individuals and organizations. The collective good is always a positive thing, plus it helps your algorithm. So take the first step, remove the awkwardness, and start building relationships!
2. Be Consistent
Consistency is the name of the game. Mainly because it boosts your algorithm but also because it helps your audience know what they can expect from you. It is hard to look trustworthy when your last post was two months ago. Posting regularly can feel overwhelming, but we swear by the very helpful scheduling apps like Later and Hootsuite. Take one day per week, spend 2 hours creating all your posts (what is called batching content) and then kick your feet up, relax, and rest assured your posts will go up automatically. We promise it saves you all the headaches in the world. We recommend posting 1 per day per social media platform, but if that feels like too much, try every other day. You will see it pay off soon.
3. Serve Your Audience
We all go to social media to escape from the world, to avoid cleaning our house, or to take a break from our current tasks. Your clients are not any different. A mistake many companies and organizations make is to forget that they need to first build a relationship before they can make the sale or ask for the donation. Social media is the perfect place to do this. It is less about a direct call to action (although this should always be an option) and more about providing value for your audience.
Tangible Examples:
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- Run a jewelry company? Show your audience how to style their pieces
- Have a photography business? Share tips and tricks of the trade
- Lead a nonprofit? Show some behind the scenes shots of what a day in the life is like, or give advice to young activists wanting to change the world
