2023 Social Media Engagement Guide For Beginners: Helping You Show Up Well!

Social media engagement is a free and powerful tool that can entirely change the way you do business. It is the key to quality brand growth, lead generation, customer relationship management and loyalty in 2023.

And it all happens within a small, hand-held device!

So how do you leverage this technology for your business?

This article explores the ins and outs of social media engagement - from theory to execution! If you’re new to social media, you’ll want to keep this article within reach.

Keep reading to learn how to,

a) Catch your audience's attention,

b) Keep them interested and committed to your content, and

c) Create an engaged community within your niche.

Ready to get started?

 

First Up, What Is Social Media Engagement?

If you’ve ever responded to a Direct Message on Facebook or replied to a comment on an Instagram post, you’ve engaged on social media.

But there’s more to it than that!

RESPONDING to your audience is one thing. But REACHING OUT to your audience is another. And continually showing up, even after that initial interaction, is yet another!

Social media engagement is a two-way street. And, when done effectively, it can also present a domino effect. 

Have we lost you? Hold up! Let’s put this into perspective.

Picture this:

You meet up with a friend over coffee. Chances are, during your meeting, you and your friend will have some back-and-forth dialogue. You ask a question, your friend answers, they say something funny, and you laugh.

That’s the first form of engagement.

But then…

The person standing in line heard the joke and laughed. The barista then asks what was so funny, and they tell her. She repeats the joke to her coworkers. And her coworker then tells the lady at the drive-thru window.

Then the lady continues to tell that joke to her friends, family and coworkers throughout the rest of the day.

Now your simple act of engagement has spread like wildfire!

And while this may look a little different on social media, the concept remains the same.

In the world of social media, you can measure engagement with:

• Likes (or reactions)
• Shares
• Comments
• Views
• Mentions
• Subscriptions…etc.

In a nutshell, social media engagement is how your audience reacts, connects and interacts with your content.

 

How Does Social Media Engagement Benefit Your Business?

Here’s the thing…

A big following means nothing if your followers are not engaging with you.

That’s like hosting a big party where everyone shows up, but nobody does anything when they get there. Nobody drinks the punch. Nobody dances. Nobody even talks to you!

A big group of silent, bored people is the opposite of what you had planned for the party.

And the same is true for social media.

An active social media audience is crucial in 2023.

Especially if you’re in the market for brand growth.

However, we’ll let you in on a little life hack:

With the constantly changing algorithms, it can be hard to stay TOP-OF-PAGE. But if you engage consistently and effectively with valuable content, you can work towards an even higher goal:

Staying TOP-OF-MIND!

 

4 Benefits of Good Social Media Engagement

Brand Awareness and Recognition

One of the great benefits of social media engagement is brand awareness and recognition.

Once you’ve created your brand identity and have a solid strategy, the next step is to start showing up for your audience.

In this initial step, you’re finding your niche and showing up where your audience is already hanging out. You’re joining the party, introducing yourself and essentially handing out your business card.

As you continue to show up and engage, this audience will begin to not only know you but also recognize you - even from afar!

 

Brand Affiliation

To be honest, we’ve found some of our best friends in business on social media.

How cool is that?

Once we found our niche and started interacting, it was easy!

We found many people with similar passions, goals and interests as us. That’s how our podcast, Shop Talk Quinte, began!

We found so many people in our community with a heart for the meaningful work they did. And we admired that in them. So we invited them to have a conversation with us!

We asked them questions. We answered the questions they asked us. We listened to their responses. And them ours.

We began to understand, inspire and learn from one another.

And voila! To this day, we have grown to call them friends.

We are proud to be brand affiliates of their companies. And they are proud to be brand affiliates of ours!

 

Lead Generation

There are many types of lead generation:

• SEO (search engine optimization),
• Paid ads,
• In-person networking events,
• Online networking events,
• Referrals,
• Email marketing…etc.

But one of the most valuable forms of lead generation in 2023 is social media.

Your social media business account holds limitless market potential!

As you continue to build relationships and become a trusted thought leader in your industry, you begin the first stage in the lead conversion funnel: awareness!

In this stage, the client is getting to know you. The value you bring. The problem you solve.

They’ll begin to trust you!

 

Customer Relationship Management

Keeping in touch with your current and potential customers has never been easier with social media engagement!

With a quick post, you can keep everyone updated on the minute-by-minute happenings of your business. Whether that be new products, unexpected announcements, upcoming holiday closures, new ventures…etc.

They can also ask you questions any time - day or night -  in an easy-to-use medium.

By opening that line of communication on social media, you’re inviting MORE interactivity, connection and interest. And all you had to do was show up well!

So, how do you do that? How do you effectively show up on social media in 2023 to achieve these benefits?

We’ll teach you!

 

Your 2023 Social Media Engagement Guide:

Know Yourself

Step #1 to showing up on social media is to get to know yourself.

AKA your brand.

In our brand discovery meetings, we ask all sorts of questions to get to know you, your brand, your vision for the brand, goals, ambitions, values…etc.

We ask,

• WHO your brand is,
• WHAT your brand is,
• WHAT it is you offer,
• WHERE your brand is,
• WHY your brand exists,
• WHO your brand is targeting, and
• HOW you add value.

Before you start engaging on social media, ask yourself these questions. They’ll help guide your content strategy and messaging!

 

Know Your Audience

And, of course, once you know yourself, you will then have to discover your target audience.

After all, how do you expect to find someone if you don’t know who you’re looking for?

Start with the basics, like age, gender, location and interest.

Then, move on to language, visual content and tone!

How does your target audience talk?

What tone of voice do they relate to?

What types of visual content speak best to them?

Once you know who you're targeting and how to best communicate and relate to them, you can start creating content directly for them!

 

Create Content That Counts

And that brings us to content!

Want to succeed on social media?

Then you need to create meaningful and valuable content.

You need intriguing content that relates to your people and encourages engagement!

Start by creating original content that is authentic to you and your brand.

Then use that valuable content to start conversations or encourage people to talk about you on their profiles.

It can be as simple as sharing an interesting fact about yourself and then asking whether your audience can relate.

 

Be Human

This is where the original, authentic content comes in.

Advertising has been around for a very long time. And people usually know how to spot a salesperson from a mile away.

So if you plan to only talk about your business or products, you might as well just not go on social media. Because that’s not what people want. 

And it’s especially not what they want on social media!

Social media should be a place to gather, connect, relate, share and exchange.

Not sell.

Now that doesn’t mean you can’t sell on social media. Because you absolutely can! It’s just not the goal.

The main goal is to build and nurture personal relationships. Even relationships between clients, potential customers and other business owners!

So, as you begin showing up online, try to veer away from all the sales pitches you’ve memorized. Instead, be human! Interact authentically with your audience and focus on being a genuine presence online.

 

Get Involved

And lastly, be brave!

To engage online, you have to put yourself out there.

So, involve yourself in those conversations.

Reach out to new people and brands.

Interact with content from other accounts.

Share your thoughts.

And don’t forget to also be an active listener!

You’ll be surprised at how many incredible relationships you will build!

 

Keep Us Posted!

Was this information helpful? Inspiring? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Follow along with the OSM team on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or LinkedIn. Or stay in touch with us by signing up for our newsletters!

How To Effectively Engage With Your Niche Audience On Social Media

Social media engagement is not about the amount of time you spend online. It’s about the authentic relationships you are consistently creating within your niche community - sharing ideas, inspiring and learning from one another, encouraging each other etc. 

Without RELATIONSHIP, engagement is simply an impossible marketing tactic that leaves most individuals feeling less than successful. 

Why is that?

Because social media engagement is not a formula. And it’s also not something you can simply fake as your audience can easily decipher between an authentic, personal conversation and one that is rushed, unthoughtful and unreachable - causing you to come off as uninterested or uncaring. 

According to a study done by Sprout Social, 91% of people believe that social media has the incredible power to connect individuals and 64% want brands to start using this power to connect with them personally. 

This personal connection is what makes a consumer feel heard, seen and listened to -  the key to brand loyalty! 

 

But Why Is Social Media Engagement So Important in 2022?

If there is one thing that is standing out in the marketplace more than anything else in 2021-2022, it would be this…the importance of cultivating genuineness within your brand, messaging and relationships. 

Today, your audience is looking for deeper connection, meaning and authenticity when purchasing a product - not just the product itself.

And with so many options at their fingertips, the competition for captivating attention is seemingly worth even more than the almighty dollar! 

For what is a dollar when compared to brand affinity? If you ask us, connection has become the newest form of currency in today’s marketplace. 

Here Is What Today’s Consumers Are Looking For: 

• Trust
• Relatability 
• Experience 
• Connection 
• Moral 
• Dependability 
• Understanding 
• Unity 

And the number one channel for giving brands the most opportunity to connect with their audience and reach these ideals? You guessed it - social media! 

When a consumer feels connected to a brand they are more likely to: 

1. Purchase from that brand over that of a competitor. 
2. Spend time engaging with that brand. 
3. Recommend that brand to others in their personal circles. 
4. Remain loyal to that brand over time.
5. Continue supporting that brand regardless of a negative experience in the past.

But how does a brand achieve this personal connection? By utilizing an effective social media engagement strategy.

 

Practical Ways To Effectively Engage On Social Media 

Many people step into the world of engagement thinking they must always be online, accessible and “social”. The problem being that they simply do not have the time to be that consistently present in their online circles. 

But don’t worry! You actually don’t have to schedule out your entire day on social media in order to effectively engage with your audience. All you have to do is find a consistent schedule that works for you - even if it’s only 10 minutes/day!

During that chunk of time, reply to your post comments, DM’s and story replies. Share interesting stories on your own account and remember to leave positive feedback on another account’s posts/stories too. 

Share aspects of your business that are intriguing, informational and/or entertaining via simple posts and stories, and always remember to ask questions and share ideas in order to encourage more responses from your audience.

Pro Posting Tip: Don’t revolve all of your posts around your services and products - be creative! Post  business updates, behind-the-scenes, general questions, personal updates etc. These kinds of posts are all about engagement - encouraging your audience to not only view your content, but to also ENGAGE with it on a personal level.

Practical Ways For Brands To Engage On Socials: 

• Invite your audience to contribute to your content (ie. user-generated content).
• Like and/or respond to a consumer within 48 hours.
• Demonstrate your brand’s personality in a creative way.
• Create online communities that unite people, ideas and passions.
• Participate in conversations that are relevant to you, your brand, your interests and your values. 

Our Top 6 Social Media Engagement Tips 

1. Post quality content and engage with your community consistently.

Use your social media platform(s) to share the story of your brand in creative and authentic ways.

2. Engage with other accounts on a regular basis - growing your relationships and building new ones as you go!

3. Share content from other accounts that you relate to or that speak to your brand values/interests.

4. Encourage your viewers to engage with your content by:

• Responding to comments.
• Mentioning a viewer’s name or account within your content. 
• Visiting other business pages and speaking to their comments and captions personally, remembering to not copy/paste your comments from one account to the next.
• Initiating conversations with new accounts daily.

5. Create catchy captions and utilize quality photos/videos.

Use your content writing skills to create memorable captions and ensure that your photo and video content is eye catching.

6. Ask for feedback!

Listen to what your audience is asking from you and do your best to deliver. 

Learn more about Building Your Brand On Social Here!

Start Building Your Online Community Today With An Engagement Strategy That Works!

Now that you know how to engage meaningfully on your own accounts, and why it’s important to do so, it’s time to put this knowledge into action. Start building your own social media engagement strategy today and building into your brand’s online community!

At OSM, we’re dedicated to providing you with the practical tools necessary in reaching your goals. We also understand, however, that as entrepreneurs, you can end up wearing quite a few hats as you begin to take on more and more roles within your company. If social media management simply does not fit within your schedule - we have a solution!

We partner with companies every day in creating social media strategies that work for them - saving them time and helping them effectively reach their ideal client. 
If you’d like to learn more about our Social Media Management Packages, call our team at (613) 969-0626 or connect with us online!

NEW Instagram Updates: Designed To Support Entrepreneurs and Creators

The pandemic was hard on everyone, and if you’re an entrepreneur with a big heart for your business, you might have experienced more discomfort, confusion and chaos than you could have ever expected. 

But all that to say, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. And Instagram is doing its best to get us there!

 

5 NEW Instagram Features To Propel Your Brand Forward

#1. Twitter Card Previews ARE BACK! 

After being discontinued in 2012, this feature has now returned to the stage! Allowing instagram links on Twitter to be displayed as a preview of the post - enticing your audience to want to see more of the content on your Instagram page!

This feature is great for interconnecting your platforms and gaining more reach across your posts.  

#2. Story Links (regardless of follower count)

This one is life changing! What used to be offered only to the “elite” Instagram users (ie. high-reach influencers or mega-brands) is now offered to EVERYONE! 

If you were looking for an easy way to gain more traction on your website without spending a dime, this organic form of brand awareness and reach-generating content is definitely something you are going to want to encourage in your followers/product users. 

Pro Tip: Ask your loyal customers, friends and family to publish stories on their Instagram of your product(s), including the new Link Sticker! As their audience begins to interact with their content, you will immediately be gaining FREE traffic to your site! 

#3. 60-Second Stories

Currently in the testing-stages, this upcoming feature is something that all story-enthusiasts are going to LOVE! 

More space for awesome content? Yes please!

#4. Desktop Publishing 

As an entrepreneurial content creator, having the ability to post directly from your desktop computer is HUGE! 

Not only does this save space on your phone’s storage, but it also saves you time transferring files from one device to the next. 

#5. Collabs (co-author posts and reels)

Supporting local is more than just a trend. Since the pandemic took a major toll on the small business community, supporting local has become more of a lifestyle - one that Instagram is in full support of. 

Collabs are currently being tested by specific creators/brands for the purpose of helping creators market their product(s) without even leaving the platform - IT’S A GENIUS MOVE!

 

Social Media Management SErvices

You already know the importance of your online presence, but do you have the capacity, resources and materials needed in order to keep up with the heightening demands and innovative features of each platform? 

Reach out to our team today to partner on your social media content creation! 

We’ll tell you:

• WHAT you should be posting. 

• WHEN you should be posting

• WHO you should be targeting. 

• And HOW to target them using tools like the ones we’ve just mentioned above!

 

Stay In Touch...

...with current, online marketing trends and features!

Our team is passionate about keeping you informed and educated. Why? Because we LOVE to see you succeed! 

That’s why we focus on providing both our clients and our community with the knowledge and know-how needed to create, support and propel their brands! 

Contact our team at 613-969-0626 or connect with us online!

Building Brand On Social In 2020

Hey, welcome to the OSM team - Thanks For “Tuning In”! 

2020 has come and almost gone already! Although this year was not what we had expected and a large majority of us had to pivot our business, our mindset and possibly even our talents - we have been able to learn so much! 

As a marketing agency in the Quinte region, we have had the absolute privilege of helping small businesses, entrepreneurs and even larger scale business owners come to terms with the many changes that this year has thrown our way. The marketing industry is constantly changing, constantly developing and constantly moving. What we knew for sure last year is not something guaranteed for this year - and that has been proven!

Our team at OSM in Belleville has learned some crucial lessons this year regarding how to market, who to market to and WHY. 

 

Essential Marketing Tips For 2020

Our most valuable lesson learned though is what has become ESSENTIAL in terms of marketing during 2020. Our answer to that question? 

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING. 

Social media is a valuable tool used to market products and services, build relationships and gain traction in the marketplace. Whether you are a small one-person show or an international, large-scale company with thousands of employees, social media is going to be your best friend. 

The Value Of Social Media:

• Build Relationships 
• Grow Your Community 
• Gain Traction In Your Industry 
• Target Your Ideal Consumer 
• Thrive In Your Niche!

In 2020, people are drawn in by YOU. You become the sales tactic by simply sharing your purpose, your behind-the-scenes moments and the personality you bring to the table! 

A Note From Owner and CEO of OSM:

“We’re definitely in the brand building business. A lot of people get that mixed up with the sales business, which are two separate things. We want to be focusing on building a brand because brand will always outlast sales...let’s make sure you’re around, not just for the short term, but for the long term as well!”

By using social media to market, advertise and ultimately build your brand, you are no longer just investing in your business. You are actually investing in PEOPLE. 

Social media allows you, as a business, to: 

• Reach New People 
• Connect With Your Niche Audience
• Grow An Engaging Community 
• Relate To Your ideal Customer 

So how will you choose to use social media for your business? 

 

How Much Should I Share?

A question that our social media experts at OSM get asked quite a lot is, “how much should I be sharing on my social media accounts?”

This is a great question for two reasons:

1. Quality content is more important than quantity content
2. Creating healthy boundaries between your off-line and on-line life is crucial

Let’s break this down! 

 

You Should Be Sharing Quality Content Over Quantity Content

Are you sharing valuable content or are you just sharing lots of content? What’s the difference?

Knowing what to post is a huge stepping stone for businesses in terms of their social media marketing tactics. At OSM in Belleville, our social media strategists recommend two key strategies:

1. Experiment with different content to find what sticks and what doesn’t.

2. Stay authentic to yourself and your brand.

It’s important to know what your ideal customers want to see so that you can provide them with that valuable content, but it’s also important to stay on-brand and true to yourself. As we mentioned before, you are the sales funnel. You, your story and your purpose. So, let that show!

 

Creating Healthy Boundaries Between Your Off-line And On-line Life Is Crucial

At OSM, we believe in creating healthy boundaries between your off-line and on-line life. It can be so easy to get caught up in posting consistently, being “on” for your audience 24/7 and creating content that documents every moment of your life. We want to provide you with healthy strategies so that you can enforce these healthy boundaries in your own life!

 

Time Management Tips For Social Media:

1. Spend 30min/day engaging on your social media. Use this time wisely to engage with your followers and to reach out to new accounts!
2. Create a social media content calendar so that you don’t have to come up with new ideas every day.
3. Find a social media scheduling app that works best for you!

 

What Type of Content Should You Be Sharing?

• Behind-the scenes 
• Your Purpose 
• Your Values 
• Your Products/Services In Action 
• Your Personality 
• Your WHY

 

Contact OSM For More Social Media Marketing Tips!

Contact OSM online for more digital marketing advice, tips and branding!
You can also call us at 613-969-0626 to speak directly with a member of our marketing team!