The Rules of Engagement: How to Connect on Social Media

Social media sites make it incredibly easy for similar, like-minded people to interact and engage with each other. They’re talking about everything, including things that are important to you and your business. Therefore, it’s time to join the conversation! What are the best ways for your company to engage (and come off as genuine) while boosting brand awareness?

1. BE OPEN, HONEST, AND AUTHENTIC

Never pretend to be someone or something that you’re not, especially on social media. Authenticity is your brand’s greatest social media asset. Develop a consistent brand identity (or voice) that will shape the opinions of people and drive action.

2. DON'T PUSH OUT A SPAMMY MESSAGE

Consumers, especially millennials, are not interested in sales pitches and promotional hype. Rather than pushing information about your own products or services, pull the community in by offering informative material that they will find interesting, fun, or quirky.

3. LOOK, LISTEN, & LEARN

What’s the buzz? Examine what people are saying by looking at reviews, comments and discussions. Find out what people like, what they don’t like, and use that insight to include a ‘buzz’ element into your own content.

4. DRAW ON WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.

While social media engagement will allow you to know your consumers on a deeper level, you’re not going into this blind. Use your wealth of knowledge to apply what you already know about your consumers, your business, and your brand to your social media strategy. Refine as you go.

5. RESPOND TO FEEDBACK

Always remember that social media is not a one-way conversation. Let your consumers know that you are interested in what they have to say by promptly responding to both positive and negative feedback.