So it seems that when I post this type of content on the blog, you guys go CRAZY with excitement to read, which makes me OH SO HAPPY to see that this kind of series was 100% needed right here, right now. In case you missed last week’s first installment of the social media chat [aka the basics], you can click here to catch up so you’ll officially be in the know.
So, now that you’ve decided to start your brand/business and/or blog, you’ve thought about your short-and-long-term plan to get you going, begun working on graphics + branding and now know how to create content AND plan it out, it’s time for us to dive a bit deeper into the nitty gritty details. Ready, set, read:
Now if ever there were a crystal ball for an answer, this is where I would LOVE to have one as well so I could know without a doubt how to do this and how to do it right. But alas, the ever-changing algorithms make it super tricky to master the mess that is engagement + reach, as well as followers and growing your audience organically so all we can do is try to stay on top of current methods and find what works [and what doesn’t].
4.2 billion people… y’all, that is over HALF of the world’s total population [roughly 53%] is active and engaged on social media so YES, there is absolutely a market for you to join in on the fun as well.
I’ve spoken about this many times before, but it begs to be said over and over again. Instead of thinking about the audience you want to attract, first you think to focus on the people who are ALREADY there. Afterall, they are these for a reason. One thing I suggest doing on a frequent basis is doing a deep dive into your audience analytics. I know, the backend stuff isn’t the most thrilling thing to check out, but this will give you more information about who, what, where, why these loyal friends + follows come to pay you a visit AND stick around. Looking for easy websites to check your analytics? Visit MightyScout and SocialBlade for insights + analytics you can actually understand and integrate into your social media strategy.
For instance, here is a brief overview of MY audience as they stand in 2021:
I love digging into the details [shocking I know] but it absolutely helps me prepare what type of content I share, who I am speaking to on a regular basis and what they want from ME. No surprise that 91% of my viewership is from women [afterall girls run the world] and my top two age brackets are 25-34 and then 35-44. I’ve got a little more than 155K total followers over my IG, FB, Pinterest, Twitter and Blog and the average HHI is more than $100K so that speaks to spending power, purchasing decisions, what you’re shopping for pricepoint wise, etc. And yes, most of you hail from the USA but hello to you friends in Canada and the UK!
So, all this to say… look at those demographics, check them out monthly and adjust your content when and if needed to make sure you’re speaking to the right people. Another helpful trick in social media… keep your usernames consistent across all platforms. This way they’ll know if they can find me on IG via @nashvilletash, they can do the same on Pinterest, too. Continue to make it easy for your followers to find you!!
Also, when it comes to the best times/days to post, you’ve got to investigate as these change frequently, depending on seasonaility, schedules, algorithms and more. My ideal times to post are in the AM around 8AM, 2PM in the afternoons and 7PM in the evenings. And my highest reach/viewership are on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Make your social media work for you, not the other way around… and keep in mind those ideal times are for my audience, not necessarily yours!!
Finally, the engagement = it’s one of those things that is SO hard to master, but I have found that the most organic way for me to grow my followers is to actually engage. Don’t post and ghost… communicate with your audience. Respond to their questions and/or comments. Ask them questions, do a Q+A session via IG stories, host giveaways with other like-minded influencers, etc. The game is always changing, so shift your strategy if it’s not working.
And for the love of all that’s good, PLEASE RESPOND TO YOUR DMS + EMAILS. I could get on my soapbox and rant about this for hours because of how strongly I feel about this. If you have your DMs on, take the time to respond to people. It’s common courtesy and it helps to build a solid relationship with those followers. I can’t tell you how often I’m told I’m one of the only people who responds and it’s disappointing to hear because it gives all of us a bad rep… if you don’t want to answer, simply turn off your DM option. And yes, this goes for emails as well. If it’s something you can only say “thank you” to or something simple, it’ll be much appreciated and people remember.
Simply put, create a dialogue with your audience–building that rapport goes a LONG way for a long-lasting relationship that you want to cultivate and grow. Being authentic with your followers is something you can’t buy [even though some out there think it’s OK to buy followers/comments/likes/etc… trust me, we will go into this topic soon!] but I assure you the realness is worth it, just like keeping your integrity.
Another tip worth noting: create an experience your audience looks forward to each week… for instance, I do a Target Thursday every week and it’s one of my highest days for engagement and story views. It’s not some glossy, magazine worthy photoshoot = it’s me sharing the things I bought and purchased that week that I think you’d love to. And it’s something I genuinely LOVE to share with my audience because they are Target obsessed just like me ;).
And one last note, don’t be afraid to try something new… see what works/what doesn’t. My followers LOVE when I show them small businesses on my shop small Saturday features. If you’ve followeed me for any length of time, you know I am passionate about shopping small and local and supporting other entrepreneurs and this is a way I can pay it forward and help them grow! Plus it introduces each of you to different brands and businesses to support so it’s a win-win in my book. I also LOVE to host weekly giveaways with my followers… just a simple way to say thanks for sticking around and spending a bit of their day with me.
I know, text heavy with this installment, but the words matter… I promise!! Thanks for letting me share the good, the bad and the ugly with you today–hope you found a new trick or two to try and I cannot wait to continue this series next week with our next edition… big hugs friends, OXOX.
What do you most about these coffee chats?
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