How to Increase your Social Media Engagement for FREE!
Crafting the perfect social media post takes work. Each account requires something different, and every audience is unique. Your content may be INCREDIBLE, but people are not purchasing your service or viewing your feeds. However, the WHO, WHEN, and HOW are just as important as WHAT you post. Below are some free tips to improve social media engagement and, with time, may turn into improved business.
WHO
First, know your audience. What catches the eyes and ears of people who purchase your product or service? What platform are they using? Where are they from? What are the age groups, gender and interests of your primary audience? Understanding these answers will help focus on what they are looking for and how it should be presented. Instagram offers simple audience analytics to business account holders, so be sure to check it out.
WHEN
Similarly, consider where your audience is from and post content at the right times for the highest engagement. While this differs across social media platforms, weekdays usually see the most traffic twice a day: once in the late morning and again in the mid to late evening. It is important to stay current and consistent when you post, typically once a day for Facebook and Instagram.
HOW
People love feeling included and being noticed. HOW YOU ENGAGE with your audience will impact their engagement. Liking and replying to comments on your posts can encourage more replies and likes.
This exclusivity also relates to HOW you’re pitching your products or service on your posts. Deadlines and exclusive offers encourage people to act. When you specify with a CALL TO ACTION, audience members are more likely to BOOK NOW or BUY TODAY.
WHAT
Using your free Instagram and Facebook analytics and even simply comparing likes and comments between posts, consider which posts perform the best for your audience. Although videos generally perform better on Facebook and Instagram, what does your audience enjoy? Do your viewers prefer videos across all platforms? Do they engage more with landscapes or people? General captions or more personal ones? Determining WHAT your audience likes will determine WHAT to post.
BONUS
Remember that the length of the video is important. People lose interest for videos around the :10 mark on Instagram but are more likely to spend over a minute on a Facebook video.
Hashtags on Instagram can really broaden your exposure, but it is crucial to use them correctly. For more information, read our blog about hashtags!
Share success stories from clients, including testimonials, or employee shout outs where applicable. Seeing the human face behind the curtain or the real results from your service in a way consistent with your brand may improve your image and trust in your brand.
Collaboration with other public figures is key! Share their content, thank them for inspiration, create new projects together and tag them in photos and comments where applicable. Not only will this associate you with another professional but they may even feature you on their page.
Quizzes, polls, contests and questions will encourage sharing and activity! Ask people how they are doing and what they want to see. Get creative. You might even learn more about your audience while increasing engagement!