Let’s face it – with so many businesses using social media to advertise their products and services, standing out is not easy. The average person is bombarded with advertising messages every day and as a result, most people are very good at ignoring them. Keeping your target audience engaged on social media isn’t easy. How can you make sure they don’t just glance at your posts but actually pay attention? Let’s take a look at some useful tips and tricks on how to stand out on social media.
Be human, not corporate
Companies use social media to promote their products and services all the time, but your posts will have much more impact if they come from a real person. You can write posts from a commercial perspective if you wish, but there’s no need for your feed to come across as bland and emotionless. Let your personality shine through in your posts and you’ll find it much easier to connect with your audience. You can still provide useful content, but with a human touch. For example, if you sell sporting equipment, you may choose to write a post about your favourite sport. A post like this will resonate with sports fans and you might even pick up some new customers.
Show your audience you’re trustworthy
When you first start using social media, the last thing you want is to come across as a spammer. Here are a few tips to avoid this: – Think carefully about the images you use. If you’re not using a stock photo, try to use an image of yourself or your staff. – When writing a blog post, try to keep it short and to the point. Long, rambling posts are difficult to read and aren’t likely to keep people’s attention. – Don’t use clickbait headlines. These are the ones that promise something amazing but fail to deliver. People will get annoyed and if you do this too often, you’ll risk getting banned from social media or having your posts deleted.
Use high-quality visuals
People will be much more likely to engage with your posts if they look good. While you don’t need to hire a photographer to take stunning photos, you do need to use high-quality graphics. If you want to create images, use an image editing program like Photoshop or GIMP to create professional-looking images. You can also use free stock photos to spice up your posts and make them more appealing. Remember that visuals don’t have to be photos. You can also use video or GIFs if you have the skills or have hired someone to create engaging content for you. You can even repurpose articles you’ve written or taken from other blogs. Just make sure that you have permission to use them. You can also repurpose your old posts; just make sure that you’ve edited them for new audiences.
Be useful and offer exclusive content
Having a variety of interesting posts is a great way to keep your audience engaged. People are more likely to comment and share your posts if they’re interesting and relevant to their interests. Start each post with a question or an intriguing statement. For example, “You know how people always say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Well, that’s not true. In this article, we’ll discover some amazing ways to keep your dog well-trained even as he grows older.” You can also offer exclusive content through your posts. If you’re a clothing shop, you may want to offer a discount on your latest range. If you have a blog or web show, you can do an interview with someone in your industry. If you have a podcast, you can do an episode about a relevant topic.
Try video marketing
Videos are an excellent way to engage your audience on social media. You can create videos about your products, talk about industry-relevant topics, or anything else that’s relevant to your field. You can also produce videos on topics such as how your business operates or what you’re hoping to achieve in the future. This humanizes your business and will help to make your posts more engaging. If you’re creating a video, make sure you keep it short. Most people will have no interest in watching a 20-minute video. If you want to create a longer video, split it into a series and post it over several days. That way, people can come back to your feed and click on the next episode.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with ads
Many businesses are afraid to try paid advertising on Facebook and other social media sites. This is a mistake, as most ads are highly targeted and will increase your fan base. While you may be reluctant to try paid ads, remember that you’re paying for these ads with your own money. If you don’t succeed, you’ve lost nothing. If you don’t try, though, you’re guaranteed to fail. The best way to approach paid ads is to try a few different types and use the one that works best for you. You may want to invest in a video ad, or maybe a carousel ad is more effective for you. Try out a few different ads, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of ad and different amounts.
Conclusion
Social media provides many businesses with an easy and cost-effective way to reach new customers. However, standing out against the competition isn’t easy. Follow the tips above, and you’ll find it much easier to engage with your audience and grow your following.
