Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. Sorry not sorry, but it’s the truth. We all use it to connect in one way or another with our family and friends, share our thoughts and experiences, and even do business. Social media provides businesses with a unique opportunity to engage with their followers and build meaningful relationships. Think of engagement on social media as the “traditional” way of dating. You’re having a coffee at your favorite coffee shop or enjoying a drink with a friend, and you spark a conversation with someone you’ve never met. To form any kind of connection, you’re not just going to let them do all the talking while you just sit and listen, right? At least we hope not. A back and forth conversation is necessary to learn about one another and create a relationship (whatever that may look like), and in order to form a bond with your followers, you need to do the same.

First and foremost, engagement is essential for building trust (the most important, in our opinion) and credibility with your followers. By responding to comments and messages, you demonstrate that you value your followers and their opinions. Even so, if the person is not a follower, it shows you care and appreciate the time they took to engage. Most likely, they’ll become a follower because you replied back. Building trust and loyalty from your followers can translate into increased engagement, brand loyalty, and sales.

Engagement provides a valuable source of feedback and insights. As hard as feedback can be at times, who would we be without feedback, right? By actively listening to your followers, you can better understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. Oh, the pain points. They’re like sore muscles that need to be foam rolled after a hard workout. The sore muscles are the pain points, the feedback. The foam roller is the action taken after receiving said feedback. At first, it may hurt, but receiving this kind of information can help you refine your marketing strategy, create more targeted content, and ultimately improve the overall customer experience (i.e., better performing muscles for future workouts).

So you may be asking yourself, “Hey, Limelight Team, how can I increase my social media engagement with my followers?” We’re glad you asked.

1. Respond to comments and messages promptly. This shows your followers that you are actively engaged and value their feedback.

2. Host Q&A sessions. This is a great way to provide value to your followers while building relationships and generating engagement.

3. Post UGC content. By encouraging your followers to share their experiences and tag your brand, you can create a sense of community and (again) increase engagement.

4. Participate in social media trends and challenges. This will show your followers that you are on top of the latest trends and are willing to have fun and be creative.

Does this sound like a lot of extra work? Sure, but it’s the other half of having a social media platform. Too often, we see companies posting and expecting the rest to happen on its own. Having a “set it and forget it” mentality does not get you maximum results. So what’s the beauty of it all? A team like ours can step in and do the engagement on your behalf. It’s what we do best (and many other cool marketing things). With a Limelight star behind the scenes engaging with your audience, you’ll reap the benefits of building strong relationships with your followers. Let us take the time to listen, respond, and engage with those who are reaching out to you. It always pays off in the long run.