5 Social Media Tips
Social media is a polarizing medium. It can summon feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty like: What do I post? How often? Just when I’ve gotten the hang of this tool, it changes.
On the other hand, social media may have you feeling incredibly empowered and energized, because it provides a platform to get the word out, to find your audience, and to build community.
Do either of these scenarios resonate with you?
Maybe you relate to both things. You understand the opportunities social media presents, but feel unsure as to the best way to go about leveraging the tool in the most impactful way?
Today I’m here to provide you with some clarity. Here are 5 surefire tips for cultivating an impact on social media.
1. Be Emotional
Social is the most important word in social media. They are platforms designed for connecting, so anything that feels heavily promotional or stiff falls flat. Tailor content around your values, your why, and the story you are telling. Content that evokes an emotional response drives engagement on social media. This is especially true for posts that are inspiring, informative and funny. Think about how you can breathe life and personality into your posts. Be it a personal brand or business, people respond to things that feel personal.
While this drives engagement online it also drives brand loyalty offline. “According to IBM research, 40% of consumers seek out companies that align with their values, such as sustainability or racial equality. Influencers also want to show support for causes they believe in” (BigCommerce).
2. Hit Record
It’s no secret that short-form video is the most consumed medium on social media, as evident by the success of TikTok and Instagram’s latest push for Reels. Even on LinkedIn, video outperforms other posts including text and photo content. If you seriously want to
drive engagement, think about how you can create inspiring, informative and humorous video content. This includes livestreams, giphs and more.
3. Friends + Family Count
Along with video content, Word-of-Mouth marketing reigns supreme when it comes to building awareness and growth on social media. Leveraging influencers in your community to support your mission or raise awareness has indisputable impact.
Research shows “90% of people are much more likely to trust a recommended brand (even from strangers). 88% of people had the highest level of trust in a brand when a friend or family member recommended it” (SEMRush).
4. Talk Back
Another friendly reminder that social media is designed for conversing. When users comment, DM, tag you in a post, etc., acknowledge this outreach with a reply. Interacting with each post is crucial for building your community as it creates a personal experience for the user on the other end, and builds trust and loyalty. These exchanges may feel small but they go farther than you may think.
5. Give Them Something To Talk About
Once you’ve started building an engaged community around your social channel, think of ways you can create opportunities for the community to advocate on your behalf. What’s special about the product, experience, or customer service you provide? “Brands that offer positive experiences receive 3X more word-of-mouth than brands that offer dull experiences” (SEMRush). Think of how you can create moments that inspire others to share something incredible, unexpected, or thoughtful that you are doing.
There you have it! Start incorporating these five tips into that social media strategy and see how things start changing for you.
Still have questions or need support to put a strategy into place? Gillian Jean Creative offers consulting sessions and digital marketing services to support your next phase of growth. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out here.