Social Media Engagement: The do’s & don’ts!

Did you know that social media algorithms are programmed to reward AUTHENTIC social interactions?

Social media platforms are designed to foster social relationships; people don’t use social media for a one-sided experience. They’re seeking connections-with people & with brands.

This means that increasing your engagement won’t only improve the relationships you have with your current following, it will also increase your reach, placing your content on the feeds of new people & potential customers.

Here a few Do’s & Don’ts when it comes to authentic engagement: 

DO:

Know your audience

You should have a crystal-clear understanding of who your target audience is: what content they enjoy & respond well to, their interests, their challenges and so on.

This will help you connect with the right people. Make sure every interaction you have with your audience is intentional (and therefore AUTHENTIC!) When you know who you’re speaking to, this is easy!

Start conversations

When you’re responding to comments, start a conversation! 

Try to ask questions & learn more about the people you’re connecting with.

Respond to enquiries, comments & mentions

If people have taken the time to send you a message or engage in your content- you should be doing the same. It’s a two-way street!

Take the time to say thank you and show your followers that you’re grateful for their support.

Post at least 3-4 time/week

Consistency is key when it comes to engagement; not only does this build trust- it also allows your audience to really get to know you & your brand's values.

AND… if you’re up for it, try to post at least one story every day! 

Mix it up & spread them out throughout the day, keep your business at the forefront of customers minds and in the good books with the Instagram algorithm!

Stay active in relevant communities

Posting content is great, but don’t forget to engage with other people’s posts as well!

Find your niche; some other businesses that share your values and interests and take the time to leave a nice comment on their pages too.

The goal is to foster an authentic community that you genuinely enjoy interacting with!

DON’T:

Only show up ‘sometimes’

Trust me; I get it!

Consistency can be hard, but it’s far more beneficial than spamming your followers with replies, shares & comments once in a blue moon.

If you’re struggling to find the balance, start small. Keep it simple.

Spend 5 minutes a day on engagement and work your way up- it doesn’t have to be hard, it just needs to be consistent.

Just post selling content

No one, and I mean no one is going to engage with an account that just sells to them day in & day out.

Throw in some variety, mix it up with some connection & value posts so your audience can get to know the person behind the biz!

Buy into negativity!!!

Okay, so I know I said earlier that you should try to reply to everyone HOWEVER, there is one exception.

If someone’s leaving nasty comments on your page-simply delete them. End of story.

Overdo automation

Automation tools are great when it comes to addressing common questions in your DM’s but be careful not to overdo it.

Surprisingly, people are pretty good at picking up when they're talking to a robot and not another human!

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Check out our Social Butterfly Package below!