5 Ways to Make Your Social Media More Social

In a world consumed by social media, it seems we've become less social overall. And after spending over a year going through a pandemic, it's made things even worse. So how do we become more social on social media? 

Humans are social creatures by design, and we crave interaction. If we're not getting that interaction in real life, we will search for it in other ways. That's where social media comes in. Designed to connect users all across the world, social media makes catching up with friends and family a readily available service whenever you want to interact. But, as most things go, we've traded true connection for shallow experiences, and as a business owner, it can be hard to genuinely connect with an audience. 

Here are a few ways to step up your social game:

1. Meet your audience where they are.

One of the most common questions we get asked is what platforms are right for my business? It's a common misconception that you need to be on every social platform that exists. Unless you have a team that manages your social media for you, it's almost impossible to keep up with every platform, and guess what? It's not necessary.

Do a little research and find out where your target audience is. You'll usually discover that they're using 1-2 platforms, and that's where you'll need to focus your efforts. Think of it this way, if you're looking to meet up with friends in the real world, you won't go all over town to hang out with them. You'll find out where they already are and join them in that same location. Same with social media. Find your audience and meet them there.

2. Join the conversations already happening.

There's no new ideas under the sun, only different perspectives on them. When you're first starting to build your audience on social media, you probably won't get very many people joining your conversations since you're new, you're just like everyone else upon first glance, and there's already someone else doing things similar to what you are. To build street cred, you'll need to get your name out there.

Target and follow hashtags and other accounts that most represent your brand. If you're on Instagram, this will help your future posts be more visible as Instagram will recognize you as an actual person, not just a bot trying to gain followers and be spammy. Like and interact with posts to build conversations. If people like what you say, they'll come check you out!

3. Don't let the conversation become one-sided.

When someone starts a conversation with you, even if it's just a simple comment on your post, be sure to respond back to them. This lets your audience know you're a real person and that you care about your followers. So many accounts post content (even great content!) but won't interact with users. This is a sure way to have your audience lose interest.

If someone talks to you at a party, you normally wouldn't brush them off without saying a word. You'll respond even if you choose not to continue the conversation after that first interaction. Same with online. Respond back and who knows? You may make a new connection in the process.

4. Be genuine. Fake friends = no friends.

There's nothing worse than the social media star who "does it for the likes" and nothing else. The perfectly poised, perfectly curated people and posts of the Instagram world can be extremely offsetting to the majority of users. If you want to stand out, BE YOURSELF. All bumbling fool of yourself who may not know a SnapChat from a TikTok.

People want real. They value authentic content that shows personality. There's a fine line between wanting to look and be professional and coming off as fake. It's better to just put yourself out there, flaws and all, and let the audience see you for who you truly are. And the even smarter social media stars have found a way to use this to their advantage. They'll create imperfect content as a way to start a conversation online since we know that everyone has an opinion and wants to share it. So be yourself and post away!

5. Invite other thought starters to become part of your network.

You've done the work of creating your accounts, joining the conversations, and building your own audience. Now how do you keep those numbers rising? Network with others just like you. Collaboration is a huge piece of social media, and there are plenty of other self-starters out there looking to build their network too.

Find someone with a following about the same as you and reach out to them. Ask them if they'd like to collaborate on new content which can be beneficial to both parties. You can do a Story takeover, a special collaboration post series where you tag one another, or even a cross-promoting event to drive interest. Whatever you decide, it's always great to lift others up, and you'll grow your audience by including them in your world too.

Looking for help with your social media? Schedule a chat with us, and we'll help you find a solution that works for your small business!