The Internet is a huge part of our lives and it’s about time that we embrace it. Social media has a lot to offer, especially for you and your brand. Regardless if you are using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat for personal use or for your brand, it isn’t much fun if you don’t have an active audience. By using certain techniques you can boost your social media engagement.
Use Quality Media
Your posts are important and have information that you would like people to know. Unfortunately, so do many others. One great technique to ensure that your content is received is by including media. Including a picture or video with your post can greatly increase the amount of traction it gets.
First off, it’s crucial that your pictures and videos are of good quality. Media posted should always be taken with a DSLR or good quality camera. If you only have access to a cell phone camera, don’t fret. That just means you have to work a little harder to make sure that the picture or video has great lighting and isn’t grainy. As fun as some filters can be, they can reduce the quality of your work. If the photo really needs the help of a filter (don’t worry – we’ve all been there) it can be beneficial if you play around with the filters first. Even changing the brightness and contrast of the picture can help to give it an edge.
Engage With Others
The great thing about social media is that it’s social. Along with posting content for your own brand, you should also engage with other users. When you are engaging with users it’s important to remember that others can see your conversation. You should always use respectful and kind language. If you choose to make a joke, include an emoji or smiley face to keep it light and well perceived.
It’s beneficial to use proper spelling and grammar to the best of your ability. It’s important to your brand to be genuine and friendly with others, but if you are constantly misspelling words and using improper grammar it may hurt your credibility.
You can also use this chance to share others posts as well. Chances are, they might share yours too!
#Hashtag
The hashtag tool is extremely relevant in social media. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a hashtag is, it is putting the # symbol directly in front of a word, term or phrase that is relatable to your post. When you click on a word that has been used as a #hashtag it will bring you to a portal with all other posts that include that same hashtag. This allows social media users to see what others are saying about a certain topic.
This is a great tool if you are looking for inspiration or if you are curious about a certain topic. If you have something you would like to post a picture of, try looking at related hashtags first. You may see some interesting ideas for a photo opportunity that you might not have thought of otherwise.
Timing is Everything
The time and day you post your content to social media surprisingly has an effect on the quality of engagement it will receive. It does vary between different social media platforms, but for the most part during the beginning of the week in the early afternoon and early evening tends to see the most attention. Posting on the weekends or late at night isn’t usually the greatest idea if you are looking for active engagement.
Contests & Giveaways
People love free things. Holding small social media contents and giveaways is a great way to engage other users. Not only do contests get other users involved, but it also holds an opportunity to build your brand and online presence. You have the chance to flourish among other users when contestants have to like, comment on or share your page in order to enter the contest.
You should always keep in mind who your followers are before you post. Are they students? Do they work full time? Are they new parents? These factors play a role in what time they will be checking their social media feeds and how they interact with others.
