For many, social media feels like a race for likes, reach and overall engagement. What started as a way to stay connected, find your tribe and build a community has become a numbers game. Or is it?
Here’s a secret, the brands that are best succeeding on social media aren’t playing the numbers game, they’re allowing social media to do what it was designed for… building community.
If you’re ready to find meaning in your brand’s social again, you’re in luck. We’re sharing some of the top ways you can build a community and in turn create brand loyalty below.
1. Engage with your followers. People want their voices to be heard. Whether it’s by a brand or their favorite blogger, if your followers are putting in the effort to engage, engage back. Don’t let comments go unanswered, DMs go unresponded to or tagged content go unliked. Your followers will notice whether you’re actually interested in them as customers or whether your brand’s only desire is to make a quick sale. Make people feel heard.
2. Post with purpose. People don’t want to follow brands that only post about their products. Consider the benefits you can provide to your followers on social aside from product promotions and mix that in. Engaging content that your followers will find relatable and helpful to their daily lives is much more meaningful in building a loyal community than daily promotional posts.
3. Hold Q & A sessions in your stories. Whether these Q & As are hosted by the founder or the marketing manager, giving followers the opportunity to have their questions answered in real time can go a long way in building brand loyalty. Not only will it help your community feel more connected to your brand, but it can also give you a chance to respond to your most frequently asked questions, publicly.
4. Engage with similar or like-minded brands. Meaningful engagement goes far beyond simply responding to the interactions that you receive on your profile. Sharing the love and hyping up other similar or like-minded brands whose values align with yours can help to expand your community even further. Once you’ve forged relationships with said brands, the opportunities to team up and support one another will only grow.
5. Recognize recurring fans. If you’ve got a follower or followers who continuously take the time to comment on your posts, respond to your stories or message your brand, take the time to recognize them. Thank them for being such a loyal fan; it’ll go a long way.
6. Host meaningful giveaways. There’s no easier way to show your followers that you appreciate them than by adding meaningful giveaways into your social media calendar. Whether it’s after a successful product launch, during the holidays or just on a random weekday, hosting a giveaway is a simple way to give back to those that continue to support your brand.
7. Reshare user-generated content. Everyone loves a little free publicity. If your followers are taking the time to create beautiful content and tagging you in it, reshare it to your stories or even your static feed. Doing so gives your brand the chance to share additional content that you didn’t pay to create and also allows followers to feel seen.
Have you used any of these strategies to build a close-knit community on your social media? Do tell!
Or, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of creating a loyal brand following, contact us for a quick chat about how we can help you take your social to the next level.
