Trying to boost social media engagement can often feel like you’re screaming at a brick wall. However, in this article, we’ll show you that it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, you can boost engagement with as little as one task a day.
Trying to get people to engage on social media can seem impossible if you’re just starting out, however, there are a lot of little things you can do to get people to react.
If you feel like you simply don’t have time to spend on Facebook trying to compel people to act, then don’t worry. This simple social media engagement strategy can be carried out one step at a time.
What Should I Post on Social Media?
Working out what to post is one of the hardest things about social media and it will take a little while to work it out. However, if you analyze the types of posts your audience likes, then with a little care and attention, you’ll eventually understand what makes them click.
One of the first things you should do before you start posting is research who your competitors are and what they are doing. If they have already put a lot of effort into their campaigns then they can be a goldmine of inspiration. However, it’s important not to steal their posts as their audience have already seen them and people will notice.
The types of things you should be looking out for when doing research on your competitors is when they post, how often and what they post. From this, you can get some great insights into what works and what doesn’t.
When it comes to taking inspiration for what to post on social media, first look at the type of content that works. Is it videos, articles, offers, images or plain text posts? It could be a mixture as people also like variety. Once you’ve established that, then you can start to dig a little deeper.
What type of things are being posted, cat videos or informative guides? Are they gaining engagement through serious or humorous polls? Are they constantly advertising their services or are they more focused on talking to their audience to boost brand image?
Often the aim of social media campaigns is to get people to better understand a business. The ultimate aim of this will be to raise awareness and boost sales. However, this might not be the point at which you want to start selling. What you want from social media will determine the type of content you post or promote.
In terms of direct sales, paid posts are usually better, whereas organic posts with good engagement work much better for brand awareness as they highlight a real company staffed by real people, which will ultimately build trust.
You won’t hit the nail on the head on the first day, but if you are proactive and take a look at what is working and what isn’t, then you can save yourself a lot of time, rather than fumbling gin the dark trying to find out what works.
Find the Perfect Time to Post
Time can make or break the success of your posts, so you need to find out when your audience is online. This is important for any social media channel you use.
Audiences view posts in timelines and the most recent posts go to the top. If you’re audience logs in an hour after you post, then your message is likely to get lost under all the posts which came more recently.
You’ll need to do some tests to find out exactly when the best time to post is. Generally, it’s a good idea to set your sights within logical ranges. For example, if you are targeting the UK from the US, then sending a post at 5 pm from New York, would mean that people in the UK get it at 10 pm. This could be a good time, as people check their phones before they go to bed. Then again, posting when they wake up might be even better.
Studies have shown that people are more engaged in the evenings than in the mornings and afternoons. This makes sense as most people relax in the evenings and have more time to interact. However, not all audiences are the same, so be sure to run tests to find the sweet spot. You’ll know you’re getting close when the number of engagements begins to rise.
Check out BuzzSumo’s study on the best time to post on Facebook
Schedule Your Posts
A great way to cut down on the amount of time you spend monitoring social media is to schedule your posts. That way, you can easily test out different posts at different times to see what kind of engagement they get.
Don’t try to schedule too many at once and make sure that you don’t post too often. People hate spam, so it’s important to be selective. Cherry-pick posts that you think will have some real value for your audience and send them at the times you think you will get the most engagement.
Don’t Be Afraid to Take Chances
It can be scary to let your ideas loose on the public, especially if you’re not used to it. There are a lot of stories about how a single post has ruined a life or a company as they become inundated with messages. The truth is, if you pull that kind of attention in then you’ve probably done something right. Obviously, if you’re using your social media platforms for business, then you might want to avoid being overly offensive or political, however, things which cause divides and controversy can really boost engagement. Stick within the confines of the law and social media policy, but don’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers. You’ll never please everyone all the time, and that’s ok.