In today’s marketing world, it is imperative for your company to be active on social media. However, in order for social media to be effective, you need to do more than merely create an account. To really see social media positively impact your business you need to grow a quality following. Due to the nature of the internet, there are infinite ways to grow your social following, but here are a few steps you can take today to start your growth. From our experience managing several social media accounts, we have created our top three strategies for kickstarting your following.

This simple use of trending words or phrases is the first place you should start when growing your social media followers. A hashtag is a way to identify a certain message on your post so users can find you more easily. Adding these (you can use multiple) to the caption of your posts allows users, who aren’t currently following your profile, to now see what you are posting when they search for that hashtag. For example, we were recently looking for a photographer in Seattle so we searched “#seattlephotographer” and a list of local photographers came up, one of whom we ended up hiring. Without that hashtag, we may not have found her page. Once you start using hashtags it will become second nature with your posts and over time you will hone in on specific hashtags that fit your company best. If you stick to it, hashtags can be an easy way to find followers who are looking for what you are offering.

*Hashtags appear with the “#” preceded by a word or phrase that pertains to your content

Who doesn’t like free stuff? A strategic giveaway positions you to give something away while growing your following and building brand awareness. Keep in mind that in order for the giveaway to work it must align with your brand. First, you must consider your offering. If you sell a retail product this is easy, but if you are a service your giveaway should align with what your company offers. For example, if you are a food blogger you could give away a gift card to a local eatery.  Your giveaway should also require some combination of following and tagging multiple friends in order to be entered. This is where the growth component comes into play. Meaning users entering the giveaway have to follow you and should also have to tag other users or share your post to be entered. This will create a domino effect of engagement and it will ensure more people see your page and in turn, it will grow your following exponentially.

A word to the wise – your company should avoid doing consistent giveaways. If your followers know a giveaway is coming up they might be less likely to purchase your offering. It also makes it less exciting if your entire feed is entirely giveaways. The randomness will create genuine excitement and that is where you will get the most organic growth.

Social media influencers are the new athlete on the cereal box. By building a massive and loyal following, “influencers” sway their followers to do and buy what they do and buy. Instagram has allowed these bloggers to create an aspirational self-image for their followers to attain. This is where your company steps in. By finding an influencer that aligns with your brand, you can effectively have thousands of people see and hear about your product from someone they trust. This endorsement can either be a giveaway you do with the influencer, trading products or services for a feature on their page, or a paid partnership. If done correctly these collaborations could not only get you more business but can also grow your following, creating loyal customers.

Tip: If you have a retail store without an online store, align with influencers in your area. And always pick someone who aligns with your brand. For example, if you are a pet store, you do not want to align with an influencer who is not a pet owner and lover – it won’t seem genuine.

Building a quality following takes time and strategic planning. It does not happen overnight and you may not get it right the first time. We recommend you stick to it and if done correctly, social media can be an effective way to grow your business and create an active online community. If you need help growing a quality following or want to discuss this article feel free to contact us. We would love to chat!