What Is Engagement and Why Is Everyone Talking About it?
By Bobbi Wharran | bobbi@pancakedigitalsolutions.com
Nope. We’re not talking about that magical moment when the person you love gets down on one knee. Today we’re talking about social media engagement.
What does engagement mean?
Each platform has its own method of engagement but it’s basically the number of times people interact with the content you’re putting out there.
- Facebook – likes, comments, and shares
- Instagram – likes, comments, and follows
- Twitter – re-tweets and followers
Why is engagement so important?
We’ve all heard about the dreaded Facebook algorithm so let’s use that as an example. Like every other platform, Facebook’s ultimate goal is to keep people on their site as long as possible.
When you post content that gets the attention of your audience (through likes, comments, and shares) the algorithm takes notice and starts to show your content to more people.
The more engagement you get, the better your reach gets. And the better your reach gets the more people will see your content and that will increase the chances of selling your products or services.
Engagement is also instrumental in building relationships with your audience. People who feel a connection to you are more likely to buy your product or services.
How do you get more engagement?
- Make sure at least 80% of your posts are entertaining, educational, and/or encourage engagement (run fun polls, ask questions, post ‘this or that’ images). Use the other 20% to promote your product or service.
- Engage with your audience! If someone has taken the time to leave a comment on a post, reply back. Leave a well thought out comment, not just an emoji. People want to be heard so show them that you’re listening.
- Post consistently, a few times a week is ideal. Your audience can’t connect with you if your posts are random and sporadic. Every audience and platform is different so test it out to see what works best for your business. But remember, posting too often can come across as spammy and you don’t want that either.
- Be personable. Don’t be afraid to show your personality. This helps build the all-important ‘know, like, and trust’ factor that’s vital to making sales and/or booking clients.
On the Table
Growing a business online takes time and persistence but once you get the ball rolling it can be so rewarding. Engagement is the key to making that happen.
If you’re looking for more tips, tricks, and advice on how to grow your business on social media check out these posts:
- Social Media For Business: A Breakdown of Each Platform
- How to Pick the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business
- How to Create Content That Converts
Be sure to join our free Facebook group – Marketing 4 Makers – to learn more about marketing and how to grow your business on social media.