If you’re like most business owners, you probably manage various social media accounts for your brand. If you’re doing a great job, you will probably receive messages, comments and even have your content shared by some of your followers – kudos to you!
You see, if people are interacting with your posts, that means they like what you’re dishing out and there is every reason to believe they will be back for more. But it’s not enough simply to post your awesome content – it’s important to respond to comments and interactions to reinforce their idea of why you’re so great.
I know what you’re thinking: who’s got time for that? if you’re solely responsible for all of your business activities, you likely have “higher value” tasks to spend your time on. But, as important as engaging with your social media following is, it’s also important to be authentic and not come across like you’re just cutting and pasting an automated response.
Here are some quick and easy tips to make your social media commenting more authentic:
1. Personalize your response
Mentioning the poster’s name and tagging them in is always a good idea. Reacting specifically to their question or comment makes it more powerful. Ask them their opinions, too. If they continue to respond, it’s a good sign for relationship building.
2. Use images
Images are great for getting a point across, and since Twitter recently dispensed with the character grab for images, you can post an image and write a message. People respond to and remember visual content longer than text or audio, so whenever possible, say it with a picture!
3. Use videos
Videos are the way most people prefer to consume content. Try making a short video – the extra effort involved will not be lost on your audience, especially the person the video is intended for. It may take a few extra seconds of your time but it will make a lot of difference where engagement is concerned.
4. Use GIFs
Animated GIFs are a great way to convey a simple message, such as thank you, a shout-out, or congratulations. They are short, eye-catching and easy to find: Twitter and Facebook have added GIF buttons so that you can browse thousands of GIFs to find the exact sentiment you want to express. Of course, you could always make your own, too.
5. Save time posting with common responses
You may notice that you get asked the same or similar questions all the time. While you don’t want to come across as a mindless bot, you can make a list of your most common responses and keep them handy so you don’t have to think too much about it. If you’re working on your desktop or laptop, you can keep a document open with links to articles you can cut and paste for expediency.
Work smarter, not harder!
These are just a few great tips on how to engage with your social media followers without having it hijack your whole day.
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