8 “Do’s” To Improve Your Social Media

1. Have a Social Media plan

You’ve all heard the saying, “He who aims at nothing is sure to hit it.” If we don’t have a plan to move our social media presence forward, we are sure to flounder. Though it may be tempting to jump right in and start posting right away, generating a plan will not only give you peace of mind but also weave a thread of cohesiveness throughout your posts which will be felt and appreciated by your audience.

The frequency of posts, content, ideal timing, events/holidays, and checking analytics should all be ingredients in your social media plan.

2. Focus on quality, not quantity

Watching the count of followers on Instagram or friends on FB can be all-consuming, can’t it? That hit of dopamine we get as we watch those numbers climb is a bit intoxicating. Don’t be fooled!

It’s easy to think that increasing the number of followers on a social media platform equates to an increase in business. This is only true if we are adding quality followers…those that will reshare our posts and talk about us to their colleagues, friends, and family. We want followers that will stay with us for the long haul.

Court the right kind of followers and you will develop devoted customers who will grow your fanbase for you.

3. Learn about your customer base

We tend to spend time with people we have something in common with. Your customers will not stick around if they don’t feel there is something connecting you.

Who are your customers? What are they interested in? Getting to know who is frequenting your site will give you valuable tools to retain them and build a stronger customer base.

4. Use the 80/20 rule when it comes to content

It’s tempting to focus solely on your business when it comes to posting on social media. Yes, we know you are proud of what you do, but if people are following you on social media, they already have an interest. Now let’s keep it by showing them your other sides.

The 80/20 rule is an easy way to remember to turn the spotlight away from your business and shine the light on content that is relevant, but not directly about your business. This can be anything from a news article to a funny meme. Don’t be afraid to show consumers a bit of who you are as well. If you love to eat Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, find a way to post about it. People love connecting in personal ways to others and are more prone to stick around when they’ve made a connection.

With the other 20%, knock yourself out with posts about new products, blog posts, promotions, etc.

5. Respond quickly to your audience

Nothing says, “We are here for you,” more than a quick response to a potential customer’s comments on social media. We lose credibility when we take more than 12 hours to respond to a post. If you are feeling time-crunched, simply acknowledge a comment and come back to it later to provide a more extensive reply. The quicker the response, the more likely our audience will stick with us and not go looking for answers elsewhere.

Opt-in for notifications to help you stay on top of comments from followers and check in often.

6. Deactivate inactive accounts

An inactive account is actually quite active in communicating a few messages…we don’t care about our customers enough to provide them a social media experience…we are out of business…we don’t know how to use social media. Each of these messages is a loud and clear way to shut down prospective customers as well as lose current ones. If it is too difficult to keep up with one of your social media platforms, deactivate the account. You can always go back and reactivate the account when you are ready.

Don’t make the mistake of believing that lack of communication isn’t actually communicating a clear message.

7. Have a complete and updated social media bio

Potential customers want to know who you are and what your business is all about. If this isn’t clear to them, they will likely move on.

The “About” section on your website is huge and is not a one and done item. Keeping it updated regularly will deepen the connection with your customers and send a message that your site is current and updated regularly.

Don’t overthink it! This is the best place to show your creativity. Have a little fun and give your audience a glimpse into who you are and why you do what you do.

8. Check grammar and spelling

One sure way to lose credibility with your audience is the misuse of language and spelling errors. Consumers are looking for a reason not to use your services, and poor use of grammar gives them a quick reason to check your company off their list, as it relays a message of laziness and unprofessionalism.

Use the many tools available at your fingertips, like Grammarly, to check each post or ask a colleague to proofread. The minimal time required to tidy up a post is well worth maintaining a fickle consumer.

Need some help managing your social media? We can help! Contact us about our Social Media Management services.