So what exactly is social media engagement, and why is it on everyone’s to-do list these days? A brief working definition of the term is the act of interacting with your audience both interactively and with a certain degree of helpfulness.
It’s just not enough these days to get hundreds or thousands of followers or fans if you’re completely disconnected from them. The entire point of a social web is to make these connections, so we thought we would think of a few tips to help our readers get the job done. (And as always, comments and suggestions are appreciated!)
6 Methods for engaging your followers and fans better in 2014
Use graphics and videos – If you haven’t observed this by now, we are a herd that likes to look and watch. Videos and images are a great deal more apt to be looked at and acted upon. In some cases, actions are 4X those of posts that offer no visual element.
Brand evangelists – Having your clients rave about you, especially on video can make a huge difference with regard to social proof. Even better if you don’t need to solicit it. (Make sure you thank them and snag it for your use as well!)
Contests – Often a small token of appreciation goes a very long way. Rewarding readers with branded merchandise, or something that’s not, is an outstanding way to build brand loyalty.
Get mobilized! – Since over 60 percent of mobile time is spent on social media, it’s only wise to meet your peeps where they are!
Shout-outs to customers – Who doesn’t like to feel appreciated? An easy way to build a raving fan base is to promote your Facebook shout-outs on all your social media outlets, and watch the reach grow!
Ask questions – Ask relevant questions, encourage interaction, and get people thinking about your products and services in new ways. How do you use our lovely blue widget?
If you’ll begin 2014 using at least some of these methods of engagement, we think you’ll be very pleased with the results!