Top 4 Ways to Engage Readers on Social Media

What do your readers want to see on social media platforms?

If you have taken it upon yourself to do social media marketing for yourself or another business, it's not uncommon to hit a brick wall when looking for ideas for content that engages your readers. How do you make people on social media platforms want to know more about your business or service?

The simple truth is nobody wants to hear another plug for your business. If all you do is toot your own horn, you will lose your audience

But things are not hopeless! If you can bait an effective hook that draws your readers in each time, they will eagerly devour your posts.

The number one goal of social media marketing is to keep those readers coming back for more, so it's important to write posts for your audience, not your business. The whole purpose of creating content is to keep your readers engaged, because an audience that is engaged will accelerate the growth of your platform

So when you are contemplating that next post, there are three simple questions you should ask yourself before posting on social networks.

Top Three Questions to Ask About Social Media Posts  

When you are writing posts for social media platforms, you need to know what your audience wants to know. so it is crucial to always ask yourself these three critical questions before you post:

•  “Is this content relevant to my readers?”
•  “Will my followers care about this information?”
•  “Will my audience understand how this post can impact their lives?”

If you can always answer "yes" to these three questions every time you post, you will know the basics to engaging your readers. But let's take a deeper look at the best ways to create engaging content on social platforms.

Four Best Ways to Engage Readers on Social Media 

• 1. Write content relevant to your readers

Your readers care about posts that speak to their needs and interests and don't just promote a product or service. Make sure your social media posts always provide your social network with information that they can relate to that will help them and their families in some way.

• 2. Write content your followers will care about

If you want to get the full attention of your social networks, write content for them, not pitches aimed at them. Posts that are the most effective will contain a call to action that will have direct impact on your readers' lives.

One way to do this is to offer practical information and handy tips that social media followers can use to improve their lives.

Another way is to talk about your topic and not just your business. Provide useful information about your field, not just your product. This adds value for your readers.

• 3. Write posts that will directly impact the lives of your social media audience

If you can provide your Facebook and Twitter followers tips and advice that save them money or help them solve a problem, you can provide content that impacts your followers' lives.  This, in turn, keeps your social media networks engaged and coming back for more.

Writing posts that have direct impact on your readers will make those posts of value on even the most professional networks, including LinkedIn.

• 4. Write posts that are humorous or entertaining

Sometimes it is good to mix it up a bit with posts that will make your readers laugh or add interest to their day. Adding in posts that are funny or entertaining will go a long way towards keeping your audience returning.

So tell a joke or a funny story -- even better if you can make the joke relate to your product or industry.

Social media content that adds value to your readers will ensure your audience is engaged by relevant content your followers care about and believe will impact their lives. Posts that speak directly to your readers will connect with your target market and keep your social networking followers coming back for more.

Related: 

• Top 5 Ways to Promote Your Social Media Networks 
• Why You Should Promote Your Social Networks
• Social Media: Top 5 Things Your Audience Wants to Know
• Social Media: The Power of Posting Frequently
• Social Media Marketing by the Numbers for 2019

About Kathryn Darden:
 
Darden was trained by Yahoo and Examiner on effective ways to utilize social media and SEO to promote her articles for their online platforms. Since then she has worked with numerous clients to promote everything from music to video games, from skincare to traditional brick and mortar businesses. She is the author of “How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget.”  Connect with Darden.

Social Media: Top 5 Things Your Audience Wants to Know

What information is she wanting to see on social media posts?

When tackling the world of social media marketing, it is important to know what to post and what not to post in order to engage your readers.

In my last article, I mentioned that no one on social networks wants to read "buy my product." By the same token, readers on Facebook and Twitter don't want to read "retweet this," "share this," or "forward this to all your friends." Posts like this don't address the needs of your readers and will be deleted and perhaps even flagged as annoying spam.

Are the posts in this feed interesting and informative or should I ignore this feed?

So how does a social media marketer craft posts that will get read and, perhaps, shared? How do you use social media to engage your potential customers? Here are the top five things your readers will be asking themselves when they read your feed.

Top 5 Things Your Readers Want to Know:

• How will this product/service benefit me? 
• How can this product/service help me better serve my own clients or audience? 
• Is this product/service something my audience or friends would be interested in? 
• Why should I recommend this product/service to my readers and friends over all the other similar products and services out there? 
• Are the posts in this feed interesting and informative or should I ignore this feed?

Your social media posts need to explain the value that you and your product or service provide, and do it in a way that engages your audience. This is providing a benefit statement that addresses the needs of your readers instead being just another social media sales pitch.

Readers on social networks are looking for posts that are interesting, informative and entertaining. Give them value and you will build a reader base for your social platforms that is engaged in your posts and that will want to follow your brand or product.

More in this series:
Social Media Marketing by the Numbers for 2019 


If you need help developing a strong social media platform and effectively engaging your audience, I can help.

Related:

• Social Media Marketing by the Numbers for 2019
• Social Media: The Power of Posting Frequently
• Why You Should Promote Your Social Media Networks 

About Kathryn Darden:
 
Darden was trained by Yahoo and Examiner on effective ways to utilize social media and SEO to promote her articles for their online platforms. Since then she has worked with numerous clients to promote everything from music to video games, from skincare to traditional brick and mortar businesses. She is the author of “How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget.”  Connect with Darden.

Social Media Marketing by the Numbers for 2019

Popular social media icons

Have you wondered what all the buzz is about social media marketing? Utilizing social platforms is necessary in today's marketing world to reach your customers and potential customers on a regular basis. Knowing how to use social networks like Facebook and Twitter effectively to develop a social media marketing strategy can help companies with both brand awareness and engagement. 

Here are some numbers to help establish how important the social media world is when it comes to marketing management in 2019.

63% Percent of Businesses Need Help Converting Contacts to Customers
 
63% percent of businesses interviewed by HubSpot say converting contacts to customers is their top challenge (State of Inbound 2018). Most companies have lead lists and/or customer lists but don't know how to effectively use them without overloading inboxes with unwanted and repetitious email.

The Rule of 7 

You may have heard about “The Rule of Seven” which states that people need to see your marketing message at least seven times before they take action on your product or service. More recent marketing studies indicate this number may actually be much higher--between 12 and 24 touches. Whether a tweet or Facebook post is the first time a potential customer reads about your service, the 7th, or the 24th, social media provides a platform to send your message out repeatedly and provide multiple touches.
 
However, unless a company has their own experienced in-house marketing department, it can be challenging to manage social media while taking care of the business at hand. The idea that social media is fast and free is false. It takes time to develop a presence. A business can't just jump in with "buy my product." A business has to either buy tools or invest in an experienced social media manager to analyze their market, create engaging content and attract the right followers.

97% of Marketers Currently Use Social Media

According to Social Media Examiner, 97% of marketers are currently utilizing social media. These social networks can provide a significant source of company growth by allowing a business to reach a vast number of potential clients while simultaneously engaging with established customers.
 
Businesses can achieve a number of varying goals by using social media, such as building a strong brand, creating interest in a service or products with creative content, following up with current clients through various promotional offers, and attracting potential new customers. Using social platforms is also the perfect way to remind your existing clients to use you again and again.
 
85% of Business Owners Don't Know Which Tools to Use
 
In addition, Social Media Examiner points out that with so many platforms to choose from, 85% of business owners aren’t sure what social media tools to use. It takes experience to understand the different benefits of all the social media channels, and to know which ones are the best fit or various products and services. Some platforms consider any ad to be spam while others are more tolerant. Some social networks are great for links while others utilize photos better. Understanding these nuances is the key to a successful social marketing campaign.

The bottom line is: social media is an important marketing tool in 2019, but the success of a campaign depends on a business's savvy in understanding the nuances of the many social platforms available.

Read the Series 

• Top 5 Ways to Promote Your Social Media Networks 
• Why You Should Promote Your Social Networks
• Social Media: Top 5 Things Your Audience Wants to Know
• Social Media: The Power of Posting Frequently

About Kathryn Darden:
 
Darden was trained by Yahoo and Examiner on effective ways to utilize social media and SEO to promote her articles for their online platforms. Since then she has worked with numerous clients to promote everything from music to video games, from skincare to traditional brick and mortar businesses. She is the author of “How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget.”  Connect with Darden.