What Is Social Media Engagement, and How Can You Boost It?
Social media engagement is the foundation of social media marketing. Unfortunately, many brands stick to old strategies and don't know how to improve their engagement. Because algorithms change so frequently and sometimes without warning, they can be challenging to work with.
So, let’s dive into the world of social media engagement so we can make sure the impact is positive!
What is social media engagement?
Users connect with social media profiles and measure content through social media engagement. Although, the term can apply to a wide range of activities on all social media platforms. Engagement, for instance, may consist of:
Likes and Favorites
Comments, Direct Messages, Replies
Shares, Retweets, and Reposts
Saves
Clicks
Mentions
Why does engagement matter?
Engagement is important because more interactions with your brand lead to increased traffic and visibility on social media. Interacting with your audience builds trust and brand loyalty. It shows that you value them and want to have real conversations. An engaged fan base has the potential to grow into your most loyal customers and even brand promoters!
Figuring out what increases engagement and putting strategies in place to boost it should be your focus. However, you can create a social media profile that attracts a devoted following and strong interaction with consistent effort. All you need to do is listen to your audience, strike up interesting discussions, and provide them with content that will pique their interest.
How do you increase engagement?
Fortunately, your social media engagement can always improve. The more your audience interacts with your posts, the more people will see them, helping your social media grow. So, here are a few ways to keep your engagement rate on the rise.
Be authentic and consistent
Understand your platform
Know when to post
Create sharable content
Best practices for driving engagement
To boost social media engagement, you need to work consistently and thoughtfully. Here are some best practices to remember:
Post High-Quality Visuals: Share captivating images, graphics, and quick video clips. Look for eye-catching photos on free stock photo websites. Videos don’t need to be complicated; a quick clip from your phone can work just as well.
Upload Frequently: Post regularly to be at the top of your followers' feeds and minds. To keep things exciting, change up your content by sharing blog posts, pictures, videos, and polls. You can develop a posting habit and gain momentum by publishing frequently.
Use Hashtags: Using hashtags makes it easier for readers to find and interact with your material. Every post should have a few relevant hashtags, particularly on Twitter and Instagram. Check out the hashtags that influencers in the industry and your competitors are using to get ideas. However, you should restrict the number of hashtags you use every post from 3-5.
Encourage User-Generated Content: Social media content provided by users, instead of brands, is the most engaging kind. Organize social media campaigns and competitions to entice followers to share their own images, videos, and stories.
Provide gifts and incentives to participants. Share and repost user-generated content on your profiles. This encourages fans to stay involved with your brand and feel validated.
Ideas for engaging social media posts
You can generate attention and interactions for your social media posts in many ways. While some tactics are longer-term, others are more focused on immediate results. Both should work together to keep your accounts in top shape.
Here are a few of our top social media engagement pieces to get you thinking about your own approach:
Behind-the-scenes Content: Share videos or photos of your daily operations, team members at work, or special events.
Employee Spotlights: Highlight your employees by sharing their roles, achievements, interests, and fun topics related to your industry.
Industry News and Trends: Share any new and relevant industry updates – showcasing your knowledge and reliability in the field.
Challenges: Hold contests that encourage people to like, follow, comment, and tag their friends on your page. This will motivate both your followers and non-followers to participate!
By now, you should now understand the significance of social media engagement and what it entails. Building genuine connections and interacting with your followers on social media is essential for success.
Remember that people should use social media as a social platform. Spend time getting to know your audience by responding to their questions, starting conversations, and leaving comments. Since engagement is a two-way street, be sure to listen just as much as you speak. Over time, growing a devoted, active social media following will increase views, shares, and traffic.
Do you need help with boosting your social media engagement? Luckily, our team of marketing professionals is ready to help you, so contact us today to get started!