How to Drive Engagement on Social Media-Featured.jpg

How to Drive Engagement on Social Media

Social media management is something every small business could benefit from.

Not only is social media management a largely free way to grow your business, but it's also an effective tool for connecting with your audience, growing your local presence, building trust and so much more.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide valuable opportunities to reach out to potential customers, but only if you know how to use them correctly.

One thing that every small business should prioritize on social media is engagement.

Social media engagements are any interactions between a user and a brand on social media. These can include likes, comments, shares, retweets and more.

Engagements are important because they show that people are interested in what you're posting and that they're willing to interact with your brand. The more engagements you have, the more likely you are to reach new potential customers.

Here are a few key things you can do to increase social media engagement for your small business:

#1. Create compelling social media content

If you want people to interact with your posts, you need to give them something worth interacting with. This means creating content that is interesting, informative and visually appealing.

Your content should be relevant to your audience and offer something that they can't find anywhere else. It should also be well-written and free of errors.

If you're not sure what kind of content to post, take a look at what other businesses in your industry are doing. See what's working well for them and try to come up with something similar. Just make sure not to copy their ideas too closely.

Pro tip - Use social media management software

Save time and stay active on social media by scheduling out your social media posts for the week or month ahead of time with social media management software, like the Marketing 360® Social app.

#2. Use relevant hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to reach new people and get more eyes on your content. But only if you're using them correctly.

Using too many hashtags can make you look spammy, so stick to one or two per post. And make sure they're relevant to what you're posting about. There's no point in using a hashtag that no one is searching for.

Do some research to find the most popular hashtags in your industry and make sure to use them often. You can also create your own branded hashtag to help promote your business.

#3. Make sure your social media content is engaging

As we've already mentioned, the key to social media engagement is creating content that people will want to interact with.

In addition to making sure your content is interesting, informative and visually appealing, it needs to be engaging.

Here are a few tips for creating social media content to get more likes, shares and comments:

  • Ask questions - Asking questions in your posts is a great way to encourage people to comment and start a conversation.
  • Run a contest - Social media contests are a great way to increase engagement. They give people an incentive to interact with your brand and tell their friends about your business.
  • Take a survey or a poll - Surveys and polls are a fun way to get people to interact with your brand. They're also a great way to gather valuable information about your audience.

These are just a few ways you can start the conversation and encourage your followers to engage with you on social media.

#4. Respond to comments and messages

If someone takes the time to leave a comment or send you a message, make sure to respond as quickly as possible. This shows that you're active and engaged with your audience, which can encourage more people to interact with you.

Of course, you may not be able to feasibly respond to every single comment and message. But try to reply to as many as you can.

Here are a few tips for responding to social media comments and messages:

  • Say thank you - A simple thank you goes a long way. Whenever someone leaves a positive comment or sends you a positive message, make sure to say thank you.
  • Answer questions promptly - If someone asks you a question, make sure to answer it as quickly as possible. This shows that you're responsive and willing to help.
  • Be polite - Even if someone leaves a negative comment or sends you a negative message, it's important to be polite. This can help diffuse the situation and prevent it from getting worse.

Keep the conversation going by always making it a point to respond to your comments and messages.

#5. Share user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) is a great way to show your audience that you're listening and that you care about what they have to say. It's also a great way to get free content for your social media accounts.

Whenever someone mentions your brand or leaves a positive review, make sure to share it on social media. This is a great way to show your audience that you're active and engaged, and it can help promote your business.

Here are a few tips for sharing user-generated content:

  • Give credit - Whenever you share someone else's content, make sure to give them credit. This is the polite thing to do and it can help promote their brand as well.
  • Share often - The more user-generated content you share, the more engaged your audience will be. Try to share a mix of content, including images, videos and quotes.
  • Create branded hashtags - You can encourage people to share their own content by creating branded hashtags. This makes it easy for you to find and curate content, and it helps promote your brand.

Make sure to take advantage of user-generated content by sharing it on your social media accounts.

#6. Use social media ads

Social media advertising is a great way to boost your engagement and reach a larger audience. These ads are targeted to specific demographics and interests, which makes them more effective than traditional advertising.

Here are a few tips for using social media ads:

  • Choose your target audience carefully - Make sure to target your ads to the right people. The more specific you can be, the better.
  • Select the right type of ad - There are a variety of social media ad types, including image ads, video ads and carousel ads. Choose the type of ad that will best suit your goals.
  • Set a budget - Social media advertising can get expensive quickly. Make sure to set a budget and stick to it.

In addition to launching a targeted ad campaign on social media, consider boosting some of your best social media posts to reach a larger audience.

#7. Monitor your social media management performance

It's important to regularly monitor your social media management performance to see what's working and what isn't. This can help you make necessary adjustments to improve your results and get more engagement.

Keep track of which posts are getting the most likes, shares and comments. Also, take note of any negative comments or messages. This can help you identify any problems that need to be addressed.

In addition to monitoring your social media performance, make sure to keep an eye on your competitors. See what they're doing and see if you can learn from their success.

When you regularly monitor your social media performance, you can make necessary changes to improve your results.

By following these social media management tips, you can drive more engagement and get better results from your social media management strategy.

Start generating social media engagement for your business today!