Social media platforms are fantastic tools, but they can also become outdated very quickly. If you’re not proactive in keeping on top of your profiles; then their efficacy as marketing tools is very quickly negated. At the same time, however, it’s not as easy as simply ‘doing it better’. Getting creative with your social media can prove a real head-scratcher, particularly if they’re not second nature to you. The team here at VerriBerri, a leading Essex marketing agency; wanted to look at some easy ways in which you can recharge your social presence!
To Look Forwards, Look Back
If you’re running low on ideas, then it’s worth looking at what content has previously been successful for your various social media accounts. Then, once you’ve done that, ask yourself the question whether you’ve moved away from that template – if so, why? If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! Of course, that’s not to say that there isn’t always room for innovative new ideas and abstract thinking, but at the same time that needn’t necessarily mean you veer completely away from what has served you well in the past, in terms of engagement.
Mining old content and repurposing it for now – perhaps taking a separate quote from an old blog you’ve previously referenced, for instance – is an easy (but still effective way) to conjure up engaging content. You might also find that something from that old content holds some different relevance in a new social/political/industry light.
An Opportune Time For An Audit
Now, you might find that there isn’t a great deal which you can use to refashion, but you’ve got nothing to lose from a quick trawl of your posts from the past to see if there is! Our Essex marketing agency recommends that whilst you’re doing this, you can use it as an opportunity to carry out a quick audit, so to speak.
Are any of your old posts problematic? Does it still serve your business well to have them visible? Is it professional enough for your business as it stands today? You’d be amazed at how many people fail to audit their online past. It’s especially important if you’ve converted your personal account into your business one. (Many people who themselves are the brand encounter this – personal trainers, freelance beauty therapists, dog walkers, etc.). In this way, looking to the past enables you to kill two Twitter-coloured birds with one stone.
Get A Bit More Personal!
When we first talk to a lot of our clients, here at our Essex marketing agency, the word we’re met with time and again, upon asking them what they see their main social media issue as, is that their presence is stale. Bland, lacklustre, by the numbers, however you want to term it, the recurring theme is that it lacks any real kind of personality. Many people confuse personality with the idea of zany absurdity, that to show personality you have to sacrifice professionalism. This couldn’t be further from the case, however.
When we reference personality, we’re as much talking about effort as we are any kind of vivacity. To show personality as an account is to show that you care, and the importance of that cannot be overstated. Showcasing behind-the-scenes content, a greater number of stories (or other kinds of ephemeral content) and a greater diversity of viewpoints (if you’re a big company, get thoughts from people throughout the corporation) helps convey a more likable, personable and, most importantly, trustworthy brand.
Use Human Nature To Your Advantage…
Don’t worry, though the ellipsis may have suggested it, what we’re suggesting is entirely above board! If you’re struggling to drum up content – or at least, content that’s driving meaningful engagement – then you can use humankind’s insatiable desire for bargains and prizes to your advantage. Nothing quite draws someone’s eye whilst there scrolling on Instagram or Facebook like an inviting competition draw.
It doesn’t even matter particularly what you’re offering, you don’t need to have to have a luxury 5* spa weekend on offer to pique people’s interest! The other benefit of competition draws on social media is that it’s one of the easiest ways of boosting engagement. The reason? You can frame the competition to do exactly that – to enter you have to share the post or tag a friend, for instance. These competitive formats also showcase your brand as more likeable; you want to be known as the brand that gave away that cool prize for no price, whatsoever!
Improve Your Aesthetics
One of the main issues with many social media profiles is their relative lack of consistency, visually speaking. There are countless templates online now, however, which you can use to instil some kind of aesthetically pleasing consistency into your content. That way, new users coming across your platform are far more likely to stick around for longer than just a split second, and they’re certainly more likely to follow you. You have to make it worthwhile for the user, and increasingly, good visuals are an absolute minimum within that.
Use An Agency!
The ultimate cheat if all of this sounds like a lot of hard work is to have an Essex marketing agency take care of things for you! That way, you can sit back, relax and watch your social presence grow without having to put in the hard yards yourself! We’re experienced in growing followings, creating, scheduling and posting content, engaging with users and strategy ideation. Several of our team members are influencers, themselves, so they truly know what it takes to keep putting out engaging and innovative content.
Contact VerriBerri
If managing your social media is turning into a bit of a chore, then that’s usually a sign that something needs changing in some way. Whether that’s a revamp of your platforms or making use of an agency, you’ve got plenty of options. So, if you’d like to find out more about our Essex marketing agency, then click here to get in touch! Contact VerriBerri today on 01376 386 850. We’d love to hear what you and your business has to offer, and how we might help you moving forward!