As a business on Instagram, it can be daunting to casually interact with potential customers. What if they think it’s just another robot, spam, or a scam? The reality is, if you communicate on social like a robot, you’ll come across as one; but, if you approach social media as a human, you’re more likely to grab the attention of other people connecting within the online world.
After all, what would social media be if not a platform on which brands communicate their core beliefs, values, and business goals? With 3.2 billion users logging in to check their feeds, it’s important to understand how fundamental organic conversation is to success on social media.
Here are three of the best ways to generate organic conversation in order to increase engagement and build a stronger community on social media.
1. ASK QUESTIONS
It may seem super obvious, but that’s because it is. What better way to start a conversation with someone than by asking them a question? The worst thing that could happen: they don’t respond. And my guess is that if you’re running a business, you’ve got bigger things to worry about. 😉
Want to know how your audience feels about a new product or project? Use a poll in an Instagram Story, or ask what your followers think in the caption of a feed post. As Impact points out, “the attention, engagement, and virality of a playful post like this can generate more followers and help you reach a broader audience with your content in the future.” Plus, the answers you get can be used as feedback to shape the creation of future content, appealing directly to what your followers want to see or read.
2. HIT UP THOSE DMs
Another great way to show genuine interest in your existing or potential followers, industry peers, or collaborators is by private messaging them. Instead of just commenting on a post, DMs serve as a more personal way for businesses and brands to connect with people, without coming across as a troll or spam. Private messages allow for longer organic conversation than a few comments back and forth.
Plus, when you initiate a direct message with someone, they’re more likely to respond than they would to a comment. Even if it’s to say they’re not interested, that raw engagement only strengthens the health of your account and “you will see an increase in brand awareness” from your online efforts.
3. ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE’S CONTENT
Finally, being approachable is key for brands making their marks on social media. Actions speak louder than words, meaning that how your brand conducts itself on social media can influence how an audience will perceive the people running the show behind it.
Since social media offers an opportunity to reach out more directly to your target audience, interacting with your followers’ content shows genuine interest in them beyond buying your products or services. When you return the same favourable attention (via likes, comments, and/or shares) to those high-engaging followers, you can build a closer relationship with them and their community.
So, as Impact perfectly sums it up: “Businesses can’t ignore the power of social media and how much it can help you understand your current and potential customers.” In other words, the chattier you are on social media, the better acquainted you will get with your target audience. Reaching out to existing or potential followers in any way – whether it be reacting to their content or hitting them up in a private message – makes your brand come across as that much more human. So don’t be afraid to put yourself, and your brand, out there – the results usually pay off. 😌
Thanks for reading! Remember to #KEEPSOCIAL. 📲
Riley🌻
@riley_mckeown
@serotinamedia
#KEEPSOCIAL
