Starting a Facebook page or Instagram account for your business is ready. But attracting followers and keeping them engaged is another story.

In case you do not know, 43% of worldwide social media users research products via social networks. And when they see that you have an engaged audience (i.e., lots of likes and comments), it can increase the chance they will buy from you.

This explains why you should not ignore social media engagement. And if you want to boost engagement, here are eight social media marketing tips that you can do:

Create Original and Engaging Visuals

In a data by Wishpond, average Facebook posts get around 120% less engagement than those posts that include images. 

If you want to increase your engagement on social media, you need to publish more images. It can be memes, GIFs, illustrations, and photos. 

With social media, there are so many possibilities with visuals. 

Moreover, if you want to promote some exciting facts or your latest findings, you can quickly turn these valuable points into an infographic. 

You can then share it on different social media networks and a link to the complete study or publish it in your blog. 

Ask Questions Creatively

A straightforward way to strike up a conversation with your audience is to ask them questions. But you need to be creative about it. 

The secret to asking questions is not in the question itself but in how you will deliver it to your audience. 

Let’s say your niche is all about food. A great place to start is to ask your audience, “what is your favorite dish?” 

Reply to Your Audience

Replying to your audience is also one of the best ways to boost social media engagement, although many companies overlook this. 

Many brands will post content and leave it like that. But the thing is, you’ll have to comment and engage your audience in a conversation. 

Moreover, it takes two people to make a conversation, so you might want to spend time making a conversation with your audience. When people comment on your content, take the time to comment back. Engage a conversation with them, and start a dialogue. 

If someone took the time to say, “This is excellent!” you can take the time to reply somewhere in the lines of, “Thanks, we’re glad you love it!”

Starting these conversations is one of the most effective social media strategies out there. That’s because it encourages others to keep on engaging with your brand. 

You’re also giving them that motivation to interact with your content, now and in the future. 

Create Live Videos

Another way you can boost social media engagement is by creating live videos. 

That’s because live videos allow you to make real-time interactions with your audience. It’s one of the best ways to engage them with your brand and get to know your business. 

Your live videos can be about a new product launch, a small tour around your company, or a live Q&A.

Doing so allows your audience to connect with you directly as they learn more about your business. You’re also creating a dialogue between you and your audience, which will encourage them to engage with your brand further. 

To get the most out of these live videos, advertise as soon as you go live. Advertise your live video first on your social media platforms. That way, your audience will know when they can expect it. 

Eventually, this will generate excitement and encourage more people to engage with you as soon as you go live. 

Post Consistently

Similarly, posting consistently on social media keeps your engagement strong. Meaning, you need to set a consistent posting schedule. 

Being consistent lets you stay on top of your followers’ minds. That’s because various social networks reward content that will make people stay on the platform. As a result, more people can see your posts. 

In addition, you can use images and graphics to catch the attention of your followers. And it’s a good thing that there are affordable social media designs for small businesses.

To get rid of all the hassle of posting on social media, you can use automation tools. This allows you to take time to schedule a bunch of posts at the start of the week or month. 

You’ll also have more free time to engage with your audience regularly. 

Add Relevant Hashtags to Your Posts

Another way you can make posts a lot attractive to users is through hashtags.

Not only do they make your posts stand out, but they are also excellent in tracking discussions around a specific topic. This can help you figure out the market sentiment, which you can leverage for your business’s advantage. 

But be wary of using hashtags as well. Use it only if it relates to your target audience. Sometimes, using too many hashtags can cause more damage to your social media feed and brand reputation. So, do not go mad about using it!

Use Emojis

According to data by OPUSFidelis, using emoticons can increase social media engagement. 

In fact, those using emoticons in their social media posts have seen an increase in likes, comments, and shares. It is undeniable that how we communicate has drastically changed through the decades. 

Emojis breathe life into your captions. They can also catch your audience’s attention as they scroll through their feed. 

Have an Authentic Brand Voice

Buffer says that creating an authentic brand voice on social media is vital. That’s because it humanizes your brand, encouraging more people to talk about you positively. 

Establishing an authentic brand voice is also crucial if several people are managing your social media accounts. Doing so ensures consistency. 

By staying consistent and being your authentic self, your social media presence will surely grow. 

Over to You

Boosting social media engagement is more important than increasing your number of followers. That’s because people who engage with your brand are your warm leads.

Meaning, they are likely to buy your products. Imagine what it can do to your bottom line?