Social media is an important virtual space. Over 53% of the world’s population is active on different social platforms. In fact, there were 4.48 billion social media users across the world as of July 2021, which is 58% of the global population, according to an article by DataReportal. This offers an incredible marketing opportunity.
In addition, social media marketing is affordable, increases brand awareness, and lets you tell a story. To be successful, you need to tap into this huge audience and build a substantive “following.” But there also are certain red flags to look out for that indicate that your strategy needs a makeover. Identifying them early can help you realign your efforts.
1. Stagnant Engagement
Rethink your content if the same old core fans are interacting with your page. You should be able to reach a greater number of people through videos, images and infographics. Post during peak hours, establish a rapport with your followers and ensure visually appealing content, according to AMA New Jersey. This holds true for Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Success is measured via “likes,” “comments,” and “shares.”
2. No New Followers
A fresh set of consumers on board is the definition of success for business. For social media too, your presence should grow as a result of your efforts. Ideal content is 90% educational and 10% promotional. Brainstorm new ways to present information. Take time to craft an effective strategy to engage larger number of people across all target demographics.
3. Not Driving Sales
You are missing out on powerful benefits that come from true engagement if you are only broadcasting, that is, sending thoughts into the digital space in a one-way fashion, according to an article by Entrepreneur. Social media must be able to boost value and revenue. If your services are not selling, the content might not be engaging, entertaining, and informative enough. Try to create digestible details to start a conversation.
4. Minimum Website Traffic
Social media must boost organic traffic to your site. This is measured by metrics like number of people reading your articles, subscribing to your newsletters, average time spent on the page and new vs. returning visitors. If your business does not have this in place, start sharing links on various platforms. It can help enhance brand exposure. Post consistently, create viral content like memes, and optimize profiles regularly.
5. Improper Time Management
Do not spend beyond six hours per week on social media. There might be time management issues if you find yourself investing less or more time. This could be because the content is not realistic enough. Or, you might be taking too long to respond to customers. Try to create a strategy that helps you be successful within a certain time frame. Otherwise, you will end up neglecting other marketing responsibilities.
Social media is used daily for socialization, entertainment, and news consumption, according to an article by HubSpot. Make the most of this for your business. Keep the above telltale signs in mind to improve engagement.