Last week, I published a post explaining that as brands and businesses, we need to shift our focus from numbers to influence and engagement. This week, I want to piggy back off that topic and discuss how to build an engaged community on your social media channels.
To build this circle of followers, it's important to create value for them. Value, in terms of marketing, is the "extent to which a good or service is perceived by its customer to meet his or her needs or wants." Valuable forms of content come by way of entertainment, education or even inspiration. The first step in determining how to create value for your audience is to know who your audience is. Ask yourself, what type of people are following me? This question can be answered in many ways from surveying your current audience to reviewing analytics. Take time to analyze their demographics, needs and wants. Taking the time to do this research will allow you to craft your social media plan, including the type of content to put out. I challenge everyone to start posting to social media with intention. Focus on posts that align with your audience and provide some sort of value for them. It's all about telling, engaging and helping... not so much selling. Keeping this principle at the forefront of your strategy will contribute to the growth of your engagement and following.
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The word "engagement" is thrown around very loosely in the marketing world these days. Many will push around this term, without really knowing what it refers to. The importance of understanding what it means for your personal and businesses' Instagram pages is crucial. I want to share with you, what doesn't really matter on Instagram, and what exactly you should be looking for when trying to grow your following and influence.
What is Instagram Engagement? Engagement is made up of the likes and comments you receive on your posts. Simply Measured says that "total engagement gives you insight into how active your audience is and how well your Instagram strategy is working." Instagram's algorithm will actually reward you for real engagement by actually making your posts show up. Do you find yourself getting caught up on how many followers you have or how many likes you're getting on a photo? We've all been there. Trust me. I have news for you though, those numbers don't matter. They do not contribute to the overall, long-term growth and quality of your accounts. And just because they're following, does't mean they're listening. Numbers only matter if they reflect real consumption. Think about it. How many times have you liked a post without really paying much attention to the photo? That brand or person is having no real influence on you. And don't get me started on the #FFF and #LikeForLike Comments... Start shifting your focus to authentic engagement. Pay attention to acquiring followers who care about your content and who gain value from what you're sharing. Create captions that add value and ask questions that are engaging. When you start pushing out content that is true to yourself and isn't just posted to gain a like, you'll see your influence online flourish. Find the people that align with your personal or business target audience. One way to do this is by utilizing Gary Vee's $1.80 Strategy. Start challenging yourself to focus on providing value, obtaining authentic engagement and reaching people that care about your Instagram content. xoxo Cassie Staying motivated and remaining positive through the craziness of life can be really hard. Bad things happen, even to the best people, and that can totally kill your vibe.
With a solid understanding that life has its ups and downs, I've resulted to a single approach to living that can get me through just about everything. gratitude. I live by the philosophy that everything happens for a reason. So, even if you wake up and you're out of coffee or you're headed to work and your tire blows out, there's still a reason to be thankful. Think about it... You're breathing. You actually woke up this morning. You have a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in. You have clothes on your back. That's a lot, compared to some people in the world. gratitude=fuel Living with an outlook of gratitude is also a reminder not to dwell on the past. What happened to you a few days, weeks, months or years ago does not define you, but it has helped to shape who you are today. Being thankful for what you've been through will help you look forward to what's ahead. It will help give you fuel and keep you motivated. Start living with more gratitude and you'll be motivated to push through any circumstance. You'll also lift everyone up around you with your positivity. I'm so pumped to see what adventures lie ahead of me, cause I know no matter what happens, there's always something to be grateful for. I hope YOU can do the same. As humans, we are so blessed. Let that be your fuel moving forward. What keeps you motivated? Let me know in the comments below! xoxo Cassie |
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