How to get more followers on social media

how to get more followers on social mediaYou’ve set up your Twitter and Facebook accounts but nothing much is happening.

Perhaps you’re sending out some updates but getting little interaction. Maybe you’ve given up with updates altogether because you’re not getting the results you want. Perhaps you never started in the first place because you didn’t have a strategy.

Social media can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing, so here are six tips which will show you how to get more followers on your social media channels.

Instead of talking, listen

Check out what your competitors are talking about, read about your customer’s pain, keep up with the latest trends and conversations. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason – do twice as much listening as you do talking!

Like any conversation social media is about a two-way conversation. Have you ever been with someone who talks about themselves ALL the time? Boring isn’t it? And what about the person in the networking meeting who does nothing but try and hard sell? If you consistently talk about yourself you’ll turn people off so cultivate the art of listening

Be yourself

The days of faceless corporations full of people in stuffy suits using formalities is over for most businesses. People deal with people, NOT businesses. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. If you’re a solopreneur you ARE your brand, so use it! The USP of your small business is YOU.

Are you quirky, into music, an avid coffee drinker, do you love scuba diving? Let your personal interests shine through in your social media dialogue – this helps your customers to know you, like you and trust you.

GOAL!

What is your goal from participating in social media? Many companies jump in without a strategy then wonder why they are not getting the results they want. Do you want to generate leads, increase customer base or increase your followers so you can interact with more of them?

Once you know WHY you are on social media you can start implementing a strategy to help you achieve your goals such as creating lots of free content in exchange for email addresses.

Where are you?

How can you gather more fans if they don’t know you are out there? Make sure it’s easy for people to follow your social media streams from your website, blog and add it to your email signature line. Use it on your business cards, stationery and put it on your v-card.

Add a Facebook Connect box to your blog which will show continual engagement from your fans and show new readers where to find you in one click. Have a live twitter stream on your website showing who is talking about you and what they are saying.

How to get more followers on social media

If you’re a solopreneur or small business without a separate PR and marketing team you need to fit social media into your busy schedule. Don’t jump in and try everything; pick one channel such as Facebook or Twitter and learn how to use it well. You don’t need to do everything but make sure you are getting positive results before you add another social media string to your bow.

Be a go-giver not a go-getter

Social media is all about sharing. Apply the 80/20 rule to your updates; 80% sharing other people’s content and 20% your own. Find authorities in your niche and promote their content, comment on it, ask your fans for their reactions or to share their experiences.

What about you – if someone asked you how to get more followers on social media, what would you suggest?

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Rachelle Strauss

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