BEING SOCIAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Constantly changing algorithms are causing problems for those who depend on organic reach, which is declining. Here’s how you can continue to use social media organically, and not have to worry about those pesky algorithms.

Engagement is an essential part of any social media algorithm. How users comment on and respond to your posts influences what they see in their feeds. These algorithms are intended to improve the user experience. What you engage with determines in part what you see in the future, which is supposed to be only the things you care about.

Brands, though, have a hard time with these algorithms. Especially small businesses. Many are feeling like they’re in over their heads, trying to find ways to boost their organic reach.

So, how can you ‘beat’ the algorithms to reach your customers and promote your company?

1. Pay.

Or ...

2. Embrace the comment.

Read on for two of our top strategies for driving conversation and comments on social media.

START CONVERSATIONS ON YOUR OWN FEED

However small, you already have an audience. Your audience is where reactive commenting comes into play.

It’s important to be responsive within your own comment section – and not only because of the algorithms. High engagement will boost your post’s reach, yes, but it’s also wonderful for getting to know your audience. Brand, if you will, your brand in your customer’s minds as engaging, helpful, and responsive.

So, you might be asking, “How do I create this amazing content that gets good engagement?

USE CONTESTS AND GIVEAWAYS

Well curated contests and giveaways can expand your reach, and boost follower count within a short period of time. Here are the five best types of that typically generate the most comments and engagement:

Comment-to-win: Easy and effective. The winner is selected from all the users who provided their comments, either randomly or based on creativity, humor, etc.

Caption contest: Let your followers flex their creative muscles by asking them to come up with a hilarious caption to a pic you post. Funny behind-the-scenes pictures from your company are awesome for this kind of post.

Fill-in-the-blank: Users love sharing their imagination and feel compelled to comment. For example, a fill-in-the-blank could be ‘My favorite thing about your real estate agency is _____’ or ‘The best thing about being a homeowner is _____.’

Tag a friend: Encourage your audience to tag a friend in the comments for the chance to win a prize that’s relevant to your business.

Questions: Challenge your followers by posting a question on social media. The question can be about your company or about a topic related to your niche. The first person (or number of people) to answer correctly wins a small prize.

SHARE A LIVE VIDEO

Most social platforms now offer users the ability to host a live stream. Hosting live streams is cost-effective, boosts awareness, and creates real-time engagement. The best type of live video content to generate comments include:

Live Q&As with your audience: Live video makes it simple to connect with your audience. As a business, you can leverage this by organizing Q&As with your audience. Users can comment with their questions and your team will answer them in real-time. This encourages interaction and helps you get to know your audience. Especially if it’s your first time hosting, be sure the topic is clear, and even ask a few friends to get things going with some pre-planned questions.

Interviews with industry leaders: Live or recorded interviews are another great idea for being social on social media. Potential interviewees might include well-known podcasters, award-winning professionals, or even up-and-comers in your niche. Put out a call for questions to use during the interview.

Behind-the-scenes videos: People love getting exclusive insights into what happens behind a project. Offer them a peek at what happens in your company behind-the-scenes. Not only does it show your human side, but it’s also a great way to showcase your company culture.

Now, it’s up to you to test these methods and start growing! Let’s keep the conversation going. Have you heard of the $1.80 method? No? Try it, and then tell us how it helped you generate more comments! It’s one tool that has made a world of difference in the way we help our clients with their engagement strategy.