Social media is a powerful tool for any business. It allows you to reach out to your customers and potential new ones in a cost-effective way without having to spend money on advertising. But one of the most important aspects of social media marketing is engaging with your fans. There are many ways that you can do this, but here are some tips that will help you get started building an audience of engaged fans on social media.
Determine the right social media platform for you and your business
There are many platforms to choose from, but you generally recommend that you focus on two or three.
Damon Becnel says that by focusing on these key social media channels (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter), you’ll be able to better engage with your fans because they will receive updates more often than if you were active across multiple platforms.
Posting too frequently can make some people feel like they’re being spammed; however, not posting enough could lead them to unfollow or unlike your page altogether. If someone doesn’t follow back within a certain timeframe (seven days is common practice), then don’t take it personally – this person probably just isn’t engaged in your content at the moment. Many businesses have different types of followers who want to be engaged in different ways. For example, a very visual brand might find Instagram to be a better fit for them than Facebook or Twitter because of the highly visual nature of the platform.
In addition to determining which social media platforms are right for you and your business, determine when they’re best used. Most businesses post at least once per day on each channel, as this allows their followers/fans to see updates from other pages that they follow and yours later in the day. However, what works for one person may not work for another, so test out posting times and determine what gets your fans most excited!
Create a catchy username that will stand out from other users
When you set up your social media channels, make sure that your username is unique and catchy. This will help to ensure that people can find you easily when they search for certain keywords related to your business (e.g., “best dog groomers in New York” or “top accountants in London”).
Use a combination of upper case letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols – the more creative, the better! If possible, choose something associated with either your company name or brand, so it’s easier for fans to remember (e.g., @the_artful_dog instead of @artful_dog).
Craft a profile description to tell potential followers who you are, what your business is about, and why they should follow you
Ensure that you include the basics in your profile description (e.g., company name, website link) and try to let customers know what they can expect from following/liking your page and where their information will go when they sign up for updates.
You could say something like: “We are a dog grooming business located in New York City offering full-service grooming at affordable prices with no hidden fees” or “Follow us if you love dogs!”
Fill in as much information as possible so people can find you easily on search engines
Another way that people find businesses on social media is by searching. If they’re looking for something specific, your business will likely come up in the results if you’ve filled out all of the relevant fields – but only if you fill them out!
For example, let’s say someone was searching for “dog grooming in New York City.” They would probably choose to follow/any pages returned from this search because they are located in the area and offer services that may be beneficial to them. In addition, these pages could then show up higher in future searches as their follower numbers increase.
Your profile should include:
• Company name
• Location (city & state) – including general geographic terms such as the country in the U.S.
• Website link (if there is one)
• Other links you would like to include such as Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter accounts
Ensure that all of your information can be found on your website, so it’s easy for people interested in finding out more about you and your business! Also, updating this information when necessary will help search engines find new pages/posts with ease – which means more fans!
Create an attractive avatar or logo to represent yourself online
A great way to brand your social media channels is by using an avatar or logo that fans will easily recognize.
Your image should be:
• Unique and creative (don’t just use a photo of yourself!)
• Clean and crisp (make sure the colors work well together)
• Appropriate for all ages
A great example of a logo that you could use for your business is the Facebook “f” icon. It’s simple but suits most types of businesses, and it’s easy to recognize!
You can also choose a background color scheme to match or complement your avatar. People know what they’re clicking on while scrolling through their newsfeeds. Just make sure not to overdo it by choosing too many colors as this will only confuse fans/potential customers.
Add content regularly and interact with others to build relationships and trustworthiness
Everyone knows that it’s the content on social media – not the number of followers you have – that will keep people coming back for more. So make sure to add interesting, relevant, and engaging posts daily (or at least weekly) so customers know they’re in the right place!
You don’t have to write full blog posts, but you can share links that will direct fans/customers to your latest and greatest news or product releases. You could also post images of events in the community, links to articles about industry trends, and even fan testimonials.
Remember: it’s not just what you say – how you say it is equally as important! Make sure all content is up-to-date and includes correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Hence, readers know you care about providing a quality experience for them (and they’ll be more likely to reciprocate by following through with any requests such as sharing your information!).