With the proliferation of content and social media platforms, audiences now have more options than ever for where and how to engage with brands. However, with this increased engagement comes to the need for organizations to stay on top of their game to be heard above the din. And to achieve this, brands need to focus on building and nurturing their online communities – because this is where the true value lies. But how do you go about doing this? What are the different aspects of social media that marketers and brands should be focusing on? With so many platforms to manage, each boasting its own unique set of challenges, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything.
To help you create a cohesive strategy that engages your audience, we’ve compiled a list of the 17 most effective ways to boost engagement on social media. From utilizing #hashtags to being timely and relevant, these tips will help you to create the most engaging content and conversations on social media – all while strengthening your brand’s reputation in the process. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Effective Ideas to Increase Your Social Media Engagement
Social media can be a tremendously effective marketing strategy for promoting brand awareness and driving traffic to your website, but only if used properly. For those who are unsure how to incorporate social media into their marketing strategy, this list of 17 effective ways to increase social media engagement is an excellent place to start.
1. Write Irresistible Headlines
With millions of people on social media at any given time, you have to grab their attention right from the get-go. If you post something that’s of no interest to them, you’re essentially wasting your time. So, start by writing irresistible headlines that will make your post pop up in their feed. Try to include the question “Why?” in your headlines. This will help you draw them in. For example, “Why Swimming Pools Are the New Backyard Hot Spots” is a headline that would get people’s attention because it makes them wonder why swimming pools are becoming such a popular attraction in the neighborhood. Also, focus on using strong verbs and phrases in your headlines so that your posts don’t come across as bland and uninteresting. In essence, your headlines should be the equivalent of a scene-stealer in a movie. People want to know what’s going to happen next, and your headline should do the trick.
2. Initiate Conversation with Your Followers
You have a social media platform for a reason – to interact with your audience and engage them, right? So, start by initiating conversations that they can jump into and respond to. This will open up lines of communication between you and your followers, which is essential in building an online community where everyone feels heard and valued. When you make it easy for your followers to communicate directly with you, you’ll be able to engage them as well as build trust over time. However, make sure that you don’t go overboard when initiating conversations or risk looking desperate or spammy. Also, try not to use automated responses since these will come across as impersonal and fake. If you need help coming up with interesting conversation starters, check out what other brands are doing on their social media platforms so that you can avoid being dull. If all else fails, using memes has become another excellent way of getting people’s attention.
3. Create Engaging Content That Connects with Current Events
Timeliness matters when it comes to social media engagement, especially since people like posting things that connect with what’s happening in their world at any given time. To build an online community where everyone feels heard and valued, you need to share content that’s related to what they’re interested in at any given time of day or night. When there’s a major news event, for example, your followers want to know if you have anything to say about it. This is why brands need to stay up to date with everything that goes on in the world – not just business-related news but also entertainment events. Use Google Alerts to stay informed about trending topics; also follow influencers who are relevant to your brand niche so that you can get more ideas for engaging content.
4. Take Advantage of Your Network to Answer Customer Issues
You want your brand to come across as professional and competent, right? And when you’re in touch with what your audience wants, you can address any concerns or questions they might have promptly. So, make sure that you offer plenty of ways for them to contact you in case they need help or clarification regarding anything related to your product or service. You can even use social media messaging services like Messenger or WhatsApp so that people don’t have to dig through lengthy FAQ pages just to get answers about your product. Also, consider taking things one step further by offering quick customer support options within Facebook’s Help Center feature so that there are no barriers between people and getting help from brands they follow online.
5. Use Your Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags are a great way for people to discover what’s happening in their world at any given time of day or night, which is why brands need to make sure that they’re using them correctly. There are two main things you need to remember when using hashtags within your social media posts. First, don’t make them too hard for others to read, or else no one will bother clicking on them, meaning no engagement opportunities will arise out of thin air. Second, try not to use more than five hashtags per post since overusing them might appear spammy or desperate – even if you have plenty of relevant material that deserves exposure across multiple networks at once.
6. Organize Giveaways
Everyone loves free stuff, right? And when you organize giveaways where your followers have a chance to win something in exchange for their email address or social media username, you’ll have an even better chance of boosting your social media engagement. When you put together giveaways that are fun and interactive, people will feel inclined to share them with their friends so that they can increase their chances of winning. When they’re taking things one step further by sharing these contests with influencers or other brands within your niche, it can help your business reach more people in a shorter amount of time.
7. Engage in Twitter Chats
If you’re using Twitter as your main social media channel, it’s a good idea to host regular chats with other influencers or members of your audience. These conversations can be centered around anything you want, but they’ll help increase brand awareness and engagement if you stick with them long enough – and provide valuable information for people who might not be familiar with all that your brand has to offer just yet. If running a monthly chat isn’t enough, consider hosting two or three weekly ones so that more people can get involved and enjoy topics related to your business niche without having to worry about not having time for them anymore.
