To post or not to post? That is the question. The answer? Post (specifically).
After investing time and effort in your business’ social media strategy, you may get frustrated when your pages are not getting the engagement you hoped for. great products and quality content are not always enough when it comes to using social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If you find your social strategy in need of a boost, consider these tips.
Understand the mechanics.Did you know that you might be excluding some of your followers in your Twitter posts? If your goal when tweeting is to get as many eyeballs as possible, understanding the mechanics of a tweet can go a long way. For example, when addressing a specific user in a tweet, make sure their Twitter handle is not the beginning of that tweet. Starting a tweet with a Twitter handle isolates that particular tweet and prevents all your followers from seeing it. Try inserting a period before the handle if altering the sentence does not work for that tweet.
Hashtag. Hashtagging makes it easier for users to find the content they want. Adding hashtags to your posts can be great for attracting followers who are more likely to be interested in what your business has to offer. This is especially true for an industry as hashtag-trendy as health food and supplements. Find out which hashtags are popular at the moment by checking out the trending topics within each social media platform, as well as using the provided search bar. Keep in mind keywords and twoto four-word phrases that are already receiving traction. Be careful not to overload your posts with hashtags; limit hashtagging to a couple of times per week with only 1-3 hashtags per post.
Be human. It is no secret that most people do not like robotlike responses. Tech advertising company Adroll suggests letting personality come through when posting to social media. Interact with followers using empathy, personalization and humor when appropriate. For example, if a customer goes to Twitter to reach out with a complaint, take a human approach when trying to “make it right” with the customer. Being responsive and showing genuine, mindful attention can improve how you are seen on social media.
Published in WholeFoods Magazine, November 2015
