Seven Little Tricks To Achieve The Best Results In Social Media Posts

Author: Lisa Wozniak

Are you frustrated by the lack of activity on your social media platforms? Or, worse yet, are you frustrated by the lack of business you’re seeing from your social media platforms? This incredibly useful marketing tool can become very frustrating if you don’t know how to get the most out of it. If done correctly, you can increase your post reach and get your content in front of the eyes that matter most to your bottom line. So, I’ve put together Seven Little Tricks To Achieve The Best Results In Social Media Posts.

Don’t Oversell

Have you ever been at a cocktail party with someone who monopolizes the conversation by talking about themselves, their business or some product they’re trying to see you? Five minutes in to that conversation you’re looking for the nearest exit sign, aren’t you? Because social media is just that…social, it’s important to create a space where people feel comfortable. Yes, you’re running a business and you need sales, and your goal is to market to people for the express purpose of growing that business, but you’ll get a much better reaction if you mix up your posts a bit and sprinkle in some fun and personal information as well. The standard rule here is an 80/20 ratio. Your posts should entertain and inform your audience 80% of the time and sell to them 20% of the time. Once your audience can relax and enjoy your content, they’ll be more receptive to you when you plug your business.

Frequency/Consistency

How many times have you been to a business’s social media profile and noticed that the last time they posted anything was several weeks/months ago? What were you thinking when you saw this? You’re probably wondering if they’re still in business and then started to wonder about the success or quality of the business. After all, if they’re not taking the time to update their social media account and pay attention to detail, how likely are they to take care of you as a customer? The key here is consistency. For your social media platform to be successful, you’ll want to post a few times a day and post every day. Don’t have the time? It will be well worth your while to have a staff member help you with this or if this is not an option, you can use scheduling software to post several days in a row.  Most have free versions to help get you started. Some that I like include, Buffer, Hootsuite , SproutSocial and MeetEdgar.

Appealing Graphic/Video

Let’s face it, getting your posts into the live newsfeed is pretty competitive business these days and it’s not going to change anytime soon. So the more you can do to make your posts visually appealing, the more likely you are to have those posts shared and commented on. And, the more their shared the better your chances of having your content viewed by a larger group of people. Sharp looking graphics and video are the best ways to make that happen. Video has become so strong lately that it is now getting 10 times more reach than those with a standard post. Even GIF files are getting pulled into the newsfeeds now. Just make sure you load it directly into the post. Using links from YouTube videos just don’t get the traction that you want from your social media posts.

Humor

No matter what changes in social media, one thing will always remain constant. Humor is among the highest shared by far. Think about your own experiences. The last time you saw something funny on social media, what was the first thing you did? You thought of a friend or relative that resembled the content that made you laugh and you wanted to share it with them, right? While you are running a business, don’t be afraid to lighten the mood a little and share something that makes you giggle.

Be Personable

As people begin to follow you, they’ll want to know the person behind the brand. This is a great opportunity for you to post pictures and comments about your dog, your kids, vacations, etc. It’s also a good idea to visit the pages and sites of those who follow you. Don’t sit and wait for your followers to fill up your page with comments, like and share. Reciprocate with a visit to their page or site to show them that you care. People buy from those who they like and trust. One of the best quotes I’ve heard is, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Ask  Questions

If you think of your own experiences on social media, you’ll no doubt resonate with some of those posts that asked your opinion, or required that you fill in the blank or answer yes or no. People like to be engaged in social media. By asking questions in your posts you are drawing in your audience bringing them in closer. Doing this will go a long way to bringing them back for a second visit and a closer look.

Call To Action

These types of posts can be so helpful in boosting your engagement and they do so for the same reason that asking questions works. By giving clear direction on what you want your audience to do, you’ll see better results. At the end of the day people can like your posts all day long but if it isn’t leading them to a clear directive, then it’s pointless, right? If you’re wanting to increase the number of likes on your page, ask people to like if they agree, if you want them to share a post, then ask them to share to help you spread a specific message. If you want them to go to your website and sign up, create a post that accomplishes that goal. Just be clear in your request and you’ll see great results.

You now have Seven Little Tricks to Achieve the Best Results in Social Media Posts. Your strategies are limited only by your imagination. We’d love to hear what strategies you use to engage your audience on social media.