9 Ways to Increase Social Media Engagement

The social media landscape is constantly changing. From the ever-changing algorithms to new platforms that emerge and then slowly disappear, keeping track of it all is challenging. If you’re like most business owners, you probably have way too much on your plate to be able to keep up with it all. Or, worse, you might not know the best way to use social media for your business or don’t have a comprehensive plan for your social media presence.

Yet, there is no denying it that an active social media presence can connect you with potential clients and customers and build awareness for your brand. However, merely posting on social media is not enough. You need to increase your social media engagement and get your followers to engage with your content.

9 Ways to Increase Your Social Media Engagement

In this post, we’ll share different ways to increase engagement on your social media accounts.

1. Be Consistent

The first step towards increasing engagement is to develop a regular posting schedule and be consistent. It means showing up every day and engaging with your followers by replying to their comments and questions and engaging with their content as well.

Consistency will help you get noticed by your followers and they will be more likely to engage with your posts. The social media algorithms will also reward your consistency by showing it to more people.

2. Research and Use Relevant Hashtags

Researching relevant hashtags allows you to see what type of content your audience engages with. You can then start using those relevant hashtags and make it easier for your followers and other social media users to find your content.

This strategy works particularly well on Instagram but recently, other social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest have started adopting hashtags so spending a few hours on hashtag research will be well worth your time and effort.

3. Be Personal

In an era where consumers trust other consumers more than they trust brands, it’s important that your business shows its human side. While motivational content or results you’ve gotten for your clients and customers are a great way to establish your expertise, you also need to show you understand your audience.

What better way to do that than by sharing funny moments, personal stories, and your company history?

4. Embrace Video

According to research, the usage, spend, and consumption of video marketing is set to increase in 2019 so if you haven’t yet taken advantage of this booming marketing trend, now is a perfect time.

From Youtube and Facebook to Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, more and more brands are turning to video content on almost every social media platform. You can use video to showcase your product in use, exclusive behind-the-scenes content or share customer testimonials.

5. Go Live

According to statistics from LiveStream, “[…]80% of consumers would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog and 82% prefer live video from a brand to social posts”. When you consider the statistic above, it’s easy to understand why live video should be a vital part of your social media strategy.

Live video makes it easy for your followers to tune and engage with you and it gives you the perfect opportunity to build a relationship with them and show them you’re listening to their feedback. You can use live video to share in-the-moment happenings or a weekly Q&A session.

6. Run Contests and Giveaways

Another way to boost your social media engagement is to run a contest or a giveaway. For example, you could ask your followers to caption a photo or share how they are using your product for a chance to win a discount or a free upgrade.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit the prize to your products or services solely but do make sure they are relevant to your business to make sure followers who enter the giveaway are indeed interested in what you offer and can turn into paying customers down the road.

7. Boost & Promote Posts

Facebook (and even Instagram to a lesser degree) are moving to a pay to play model for businesses. If you want your social media posts seen by your followers, you have to boost your social posts. Paying only $10-25 per post will go a long way to increasing your engagement and your number of followers.

8. Embrace Influencers

Considering organic reach is steadily declining, getting your content in front of your audience is not easy. That’s where micro influencers come in. According to NetBase’s 2019 State of the Social Report, micro influencers will play a crucial role in helping your content be seen by more people.

Micro influencers usually have between 1,000 and 1,000,000 and are known for being able to connect with their fans and followers in a more meaningful way and generate greater engagement. As such, a partnership with a micro influencer can be a great alternative to paid advertising or celebrity endorsements, especially for small businesses.

9. Review Your Analytics

Lastly, be sure to review your social media analytics on a regular basis. This will allow you to see what is and isn’t working. Your analytics will be able to tell you which posts are driving the most engagement as well as which social media platforms have the most engaged followers and which ones are the best at driving traffic back to your site.

You can then adjust your social media strategy by focusing on social media platforms that perform the best and spend less time on platforms that aren’t yielding results.

Next Steps

Intimated by social media? Don’t have time? Not getting traction? Contact us about our social media marketing packages and learn how we can streamline your social media with a comprehensive strategy that improve your engagement and lighten your load.