The Simplest of Social Media Tips

 

Social media can feel like a time-consuming and complex process. But don’t be discouraged! There are simple things that you can do to help boost your social media strategy.

1. Visuals & Videos: Catch your follower’s attention by incorporating graphics, photos and videos into your posts. Your eye will naturally be drawn to imagery rather than text alone. Because it’s an interactive, sensory experience, you can use them as tools to improve engagement. Plus, it helps to shape your identity. Tip:  Create your own images and incorporate your logo and website into the design.
2. Share and Share Again: Users log in at all times of the day—morning, noon and night—whenever it’s convenient for them. In order for your message to reach more of your followers, you can post the same content more than once. For example, on Twitter, tweets have a relatively short life of just a few hours. Post once in the morning to reach early risers and then schedule it to repeat in the afternoon. Tip:  You can always use the acronym ICYMI (in case you missed it) when you re-post content. 
3. Harness The Power of the #HashTag: Posts that include a hashtag are more likely to be re-shared. You can follow trending topics, holidays and events or create your own. Tip:  Use key words to find new content to share and connect with individuals or organizations relevant to your industry. 
4. Create Community: Don’t take your followers for granted. You can deliver value by offering special promos exclusively to your Facebook fans, for example. Make it a friends and family offer to attract new customers. Try hosting a contest, which is a fun way to generate buzz and attract new followers. Tip:  Foster your community by continually offering education and entertainment. Remember you don’t want to sell all the time. A good ratio is one sales post for every eight non-sales posts. 
5. Once You Start, You Can’t Stop: To optimize engagement, you have to be consistent. This is your brand’s voice and you must stay active in the conversation. Just like any good relationship, it requires regular communication.  Tip:  Make it part of your routine by scheduling a time that you devote to social media, whether it’s daily or weekly, and stick to it.