11 ways to amplify social media engagement

The goal of any social media pro is to increase online engagement—which, in turn, can boost your bottom line.

However, persuading consumers to interact with your social media posts—much less follow your calls to action—isn’t always easy.

An infographic from Red Website Design shares several takeaways to get started:

1. Know your target audience. Understand who your customers or clients are and what drives them. Otherwise, your content won’t appeal to their needs—and they’ll be less likely to share with friends and family. Twenty-six percent of people say they follow brands on social media that align with their interests.

2. Customize your content. Though nearly half of marketers (47 percent) say Twitter gives them the highest customer engagement, choose your platform(s) wisely, and tailor each piece of content to the platform. What works on Facebook won’t necessarily work on Instagram.

3. Surprise people. Don’t get into a content-creation rut; constantly think of ways to surprise consumers. Remember that readers love facts and statistics—especially if they’re about the latest trends.

[RELATED: Join us at Walt Disney World for the Social Media Conference for PR, Marketing and Corporate Communications.]

4. Create engaging content. Many communicators struggle to get their content seen in a sea of online chatter, especially when social platforms’ algorithms don’t favor branded content. To expand your reach, create excellent content that consumers must share with others.

5. Partner with influential social media users. Social media influencers can boost your campaign—and your brand. Most marketers (95 percent) say that influencer marketing is effective, so consider partnering with one to expand your reach.

6. Don’t forget a call to action. More than 90 percent of consumers who read your post’s headline will also read your call to action. Take advantage of their attention and tell them exactly what you’d like them to do.

7. Remember, timing is everything. Social media posts published from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. garner the highest click-through rates. If you’re looking to make a splash on Facebook, post your content on Wednesday afternoons.

8. Embrace video. With Facebook users watching roughly 8 billion videos each day, brand managers who don’t create video content are missing out. It can also boost your engagement, as four times as many consumers would watch a video about your product instead of reading about it.

9. Get insights from industry communities. Join groups across online platforms that are relevant to your organization or client, and interact with members there. Your next comment might just open the door to a new contract or opportunity.

10. Share outstanding content. The more outstanding your content, the more probable it is that consumers will share it far and wide.

11. Ask for feedback. Don’t forget to ask your customers to write about their experiences online. The majority of consumers (88 percent) read customer reviews when deciding to frequent an organization, so take advantage of the power that word of mouth can have.

For more on these insights, check out the infographic below:

from PR Daily News Feed http://ift.tt/2FpwrB1