Tech Bytes: Tips To Engage Your Audience On Social Media Platforms

Taylor-Made Social Media Tips By Taylor Lanoie

Your 2020 resolution was to put more effort into your business’ social media presence.

But, now it’s March and you’ve either given up or haven’t noticed any improvement from last year.

It’s not because your audience isn’t online. And it’s not because no one cares about your product.

What you’ve figured out by now is that connecting with your audience isn’t as easy as just posting a photo.

Here are the top five things to do on social media to make sure you’re spending your valuable time on things that work!

#1 Focus on relatable content.

Relatable content, in its purest form, shouldn’t feel intrusive.

If we look at a standard sales post — on its own, it can’t connect.

But, if we shift our angle to focus on humour, how it saves time, tastes better, solves a problem, etc., you’ve just placed your business into the lives of your audience in a thoughtful way. Now that’s some relatable and memorable content!

Remember “if you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one” so be purposeful with your content.

#2 Look at your followers as fans and not customers.

When you wake up in the morning, do you ask yourself, “I wonder what (insert brand name) is up to today?”

Probably not. That means your content needs to be so engaging that people can’t help but comment, like and share what you’ve posted.

If no one interacts with your post, it can’t leave your timeline, and because no one is explicitly typing your name into their search bar, you’ve instantly become invisible online. The rule is; if it doesn’t leave your timeline, no one is going to see it. Think, “Is this shareable?” every time that you craft a post.

#3 Harness the power of community. Social Media is all about “Brand Fans”! These are the people who are always the first to like, comment and share — they are your cheerleaders! Harness the voice of the people who already believe in what you do, to amplify your message.

Try things like creating an exclusive group to try new products, include them in your brand photo shoots, and you can share their content on your page.

#4 Create an experience on social media that extends to the real world. What experience do you create in the real world that complements your digital strategy?

If someone subscribed to your subscription service online — did you mail them a thank you? Did you tell them to upload a picture of their subscription box and hashtag to be featured or to win a free month?

How do we take the digital experience of your brand and bring it to life? What you do is more than a product or a service — it’s a “lifestyle.”

Remember there are real people on the other side of that screen! Think about human behaviour and apply it to your brand.

#5 Use the power of the stories.

Ignore the “recommended number of daily posts” and forget about the “best times of the day.”

It’s less critical for you to post every day than it is for you to post quality content and engage with your audience — stories are a huge part of that!

While everyone expects your Instagram feed to be cohesive and styled, you can be way more lenient with the aesthetics of stories.

Sharing the behind the scenes of your business will help people to connect with you authentically and stay top of mind along the top of the app.

Try “Unfold” (a free app) to help you look like a pro in your next Insta story.

Taylor Lanoie is a Content Strategist with a focus on experiential marketing, helping business owners humanize their brands to better connect with their audience online. Today she works and consults with clients in Canada, the U.S. and Europe (see: TaylorLanoie.com). “Tech Bytes” is powered by WEtech Alliance (WEtech-Alliance.com).