Getting your followers’ attention and having them engage in your posts has to be one of the most satisfying moments in every online marketer’s life. You may find that statement strange, especially if you’ve never experienced such moments once as a digital marketer. But not to worry, you will after reading this.
I once worked in a company where the engagement we got on all our social media platforms was almost nothing. As a matter of fact, the social media manager at the time had to encourage the staff members to always comment, like, and share whenever he made a post. The staff members weren’t enough, and as a result, the desired result was not achieved.
However, the situation changed immediately after we hired a new social media manager to take up the task as the lead manager in that department and ensure we got the desired result. When asked how she did it, she said “The key is in creativity and interaction”
She went further to take us up weekly in what she termed “SMClass”, which lasted for 3 months. I will be sharing from the notes I made in all of her classes, the 7 interactive posts for getting engagement on your social media platforms. Come with me.
Key Points
- Social media engagement is an umbrella term for actions that reflect and measure how much your audience interacts with your content and posts on your social media platforms.
- The number of shares and likes on a specific content or post indicates its popularity. However, followers suggest a higher degree of commitment, implying that users want to see more of your work more often.
- Better social media engagement means your clients are more connected to your brand. This gives you more opportunities to establish brand loyalty, generate word-of-mouth recommendations, and boost sales.
- Interactive posts are a series of content that are specifically made to encourage engagement between the creators of the content and the viewers.
- While engagement is a popular metric for assessing social media performance, it doesn’t always equate to sales. But it does mean you’re a few steps from making sales.
What Is Social Media Engagement?
This is simply the way users interact with social media accounts, posts, and information on a given social media platform. This interaction involves a wide range of activities such as Likes, Direct Messages, Saves, Clicks, Retweets, Reposts, Comments, Replies, Shares, Mentions, and so on.
Check out The Top 10 Best Social Media Tools for Business 2024 (Paid & Free)
Engagement gauges how well your content and posts are received by your audience. While engagement is a popular metric for assessing social media performance, it doesn’t always equate to sales. But it does mean you’re a few steps from making sales.
You might also like to read: Social Media Marketing Tips: Top 29+ Tips for Small Businesses
As you already know, the most widely used social media platforms nowadays are Instagram, Twitter(X), and Facebook. Each of these platforms has an interface via which users can express feelings of appreciation or dissatisfaction with posts, which are measured differently on each. Likes, comments, and followers are the three types of Instagram interactions. On Twitter (X) it’s Re-tweets and followers, while Facebook counts shares, likes, comments, and follows.
The number of shares and likes on a specific post indicates its popularity; however, followers suggest a higher degree of commitment, implying that users want to see more of your work more often. It is therefore safe to say that follows is the most effective form of engagement any poster will appreciate more.
Why Is Social Media Engagement Important for Businesses?
Isn’t it obvious? I mean in the times that we live in, the fastest way for any business to gain visibility is through social media. In other words, your business will most likely not stand a chance if you neglect social media.
Read: How Does Having a Social Media Policy Benefit a Business (+Free Policy Template)
For example, you can use social media services like Facebook and Instagram to establish a connection with your clients. Customers’ interest in your posts is demonstrated through their engagement with your social media posts. A stronger link between your brand and your clients is shown by consistent social media activity. This gives you additional chances to enhance word-of-mouth recommendations, boost sales, and foster brand loyalty.
Furthermore, social media engagement gives you valuable information about how well your posts and content are received by users. This data can be used to enhance future postings or even better, improve your goods and services. It also provides a concrete metric to monitor your progress over time.
Read: How to gain customer loyalty. [8 easy ways + case study]
To further break down my point, here are 5 benefits of social media engagement
7 Interactive Post Ideas for Getting Engagement on Your Social Media Platforms
In her teachings, I was able to get all the interactive posts that she revealed. See them below:
#1. Polls and Surveys
Collaborate with industry experts to craft questions that engage and provide insights into current trends, enhancing the post’s value and reliability. The more your content identifies with the current trends, the more reliable your brand is to your audience.
For example, if you offer services in the area of HRM, you should be up-to-date with trends including different HR software that’ll help enhance HR activities
#2. Behind-the-Scenes Content
Share detailed insights into the unique processes, technologies, or skilled staff behind your product or service, showcasing your industry expertise and transparency. She added that it is very natural for people to engage in what they understand, and that is what being transparent gets you. This took my mind back to Jackie Chan movies when they always show the making of the movie at the end.
You’ll immediately feel the satisfaction of knowing that most of the things you didn’t understand in the beginning became more clear in the end.
#3. Post User-Generated Content
User-generated content features stories or testimonials from verified customers who have seen real benefits from your products or services, boosting trustworthiness through authentic proof. If you were wondering why most apps on your mobile or why the Uber driver always asks that you rate them high, well this is the reason.
The data is being used to get other potential customers to use the same service and that means engagement.
#4. Q&A sessions
Host live Q&A sessions with renowned experts from your company or industry, and announce their credentials to establish authority. Say you are in the health industry, for instance. One of the fastest ways to boost engagement is by hosting a live session featuring a health expert (there can be two or more)
In these sessions, endeavor to answer people’s questions concerning their health and give tips for staying healthy and fit. The Q&A strategy is actually common on social media these days
#5. Organize Challenges and Contests
At this point, it became clear that maximizing social media engagement is as easy as taking a walk in the park—all you have to do is think. After engaging the services of experts in the Q&A session, you might want to take a step further to organize challenges and contests for your followers.
Ensure all contest guidelines are clear, fair, and legally compliant, and highlight how entries will be judged by qualified personnel or public vote to maintain integrity. I suggest you go for a public vote; that is more engagement.
#6. Post Educational Content
Another interactive idea for boosting social media engagement is posting educational content comprising current, evidence-based knowledge and well-researched how-to guides or tutorials from professionals in your industry. Providing helpful information that helps satisfy the curiosities of your followers automatically brings them to the place of engagement, which ultimately translates into sales.
#7. Post “Did You Know?” Content:
What better way to get engagement than this? I always get attracted to such posts because they either: enlighten me more or confirm what I already know. To do this, ensure to use verified and up-to-date statistics or facts from reputable sources within your industry. It further enhances content reliability.
The checklist below will guide you in your journey of boosting your social media engagement
What Are Interactive Posts?
Interactive posts are a series of content that are specifically made to encourage engagement between the creators of the content and the viewers.
How Do I Make My Posts More Interactive?
The fastest way to make posts interactive is by making the posts to be about:
- Polls & Survey
- Sharing behind-the-scene
- Posting user-generated content
- Hosting live Q&A sessions
- Organizing Context and Challenges
- Posting educational content
- Interactive Video Content and infographics
- Virtual Events or Webinars
What is an Example of Interactivity on Facebook?
Facebook creators create content to get engagement, not just for the sake of posting. In other words, each post serves a purpose. This could be conducting an audience analysis, offering a free sample of a new product, or building stronger relationships through an interview, survey, or Q&A.
Below are some effective examples of interactive Facebook posts
- Create a poll
- Design a quiz.
- Create an AMA.
- Post a 360-degree video
- Include product tags in photographs.
- Encourage using emojis
- Ask followers to tag someone they know
- Launch a contest or giveaway
What Is the Best Way to Measure Social Media Performance?
To effectively measure your social media performance, you need to track a variety of metrics that meet your initial aims and objectives. Keeping track of the number of likes, comments, shares, and other forms of engagement rate is an important indicator of how effectively your content interacts with readers.
Follower growth rate, on the other hand, is also as important, since it shows whether your content is attracting new followers. You can also learn more about the impact of your content by looking at metrics like reach (the number of people who view it) and click-through rate (CTR) on links. Lastly, track conversions (such as purchases or sign-ups) to determine whether your content produces noteworthy impacts.
How Often Should I Post on Social Media?
A general norm is to post one to three times every day on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and other platforms. But here’s the thing, the frequency of your posting is determined by three factors:
- The Niche you chose,
- Your audience and
- The platform you use.
The main thing is to carry out research and identify the ideal frequency for your target audience. Should you post too frequently, you might bore them. In the same way, you risk boring them if you don’t maintain a certain level of frequency. To ensure you balance both, use analytics tools to track engagement and adjust accordingly. The video below will help
What Are The Tricks to Increase Social Media Engagement?
In addition to the 7 interactive post ideas to boost social media engagement listed above, the following are tricks you can use to ensure engagement on your platform:
- Respond to All Comments
- Use Memes and GIFs
- Use Hashtags
- Use humor
- Create interesting and emotional content to increase shares and CTR
Conclusion
Getting your followers’ attention and having them engage in your posts has to be one of the most satisfying moments in the life of every poster on any social media platform. It means a greater percentage of your audience is interacting with your brand, responding to your posts, or visiting your website
Make boosting your social media engagement a priority today and enjoy the benefits that come with it, which include but are not limited to better customer return rates, increased customer base, and of course, brand awareness.
Related Posts
How Can You Protect Yourself On a Social Networking Site?
10 BEST SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING TOOLS IN 2024
How Does Having a Social Media Policy Benefit a Business (+Free Policy Template)
Social Media Etiquette: Best Practices
Top 10 Content Marketing Agencies in Nigeria 2024
References
