When you’re first getting started with your social media marketing, it can feel impossible to build a following online. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the options and strategies you’ll find on the internet. We’ve found a few strategies that are always successful and will help you start building your following on social media.

Start Small

Many e-commerce sites think they need to be on every social media platform, but find themselves overwhelmed by trying to create content for multiple platforms. Instead of trying to be everywhere, pick one or two

platforms where you’re most likely to find your audience and start optimizing those. If there is a platform you don’t care for, don’t use it!

When you’re ready to hire a social media specialist, you’ll be able to take on more content and platforms without going crazy.

Complete Your Business Profiles

On every social platform you decide to focus your marketing efforts on, you need to make sure you’ve set up and completed your business profile. Your “About” section on Facebook is just as important as your “About Us” page on your website. Use the same keywords in both places for better discoverability online. Remember, your social profiles are another opportunity to practice good SEO.

Provide Consistent, Quality Content

When it comes to building an audience online, consistency and quality are more important than quantity. Creating brand awareness requires putting your business in front of your audience regularly. When your target audience sees you online consistently, you’ll begin to build brand awareness and trust. These are key for building your following online.

Don’t forget: It’s more important to post quality content than to show up multiple times a day. Quality always wins over quantity.

Engage Your Audience

It may seem simple, but responding to your audience goes a long way toward building a lasting brand online. Some ways you can consistently engage your audience include:

• Respond to comments
• Comment on posts you are tagged in
• Answer questions

Social media is supposed to be social! The more you engage with your audience, the more likely they’re to stick around or help you build your following.

Follow, Connect, and Engage Influencers in Your Niche

No matter how big or small your target niche is, there are likely to be influencers and micro-influencers with larger followings. Research your niche and start following influencers in your niche. Ask them questions or leave comments on their posts. You may also want to share their content on your platforms. Many will follow you back.

As you engage your audiences and those of the influencers in your niche, your brand will become more recognizable by your target audience. If you aren’t sure how to find influencers in your niche, you can try a tool like BuzzSumo to research your industry.

Hold a Giveaway

Giveaways are an easy way to engage and grow your following on social media. A giveaway strategy should be part of your social marketing plan. Host a giveaway with one of your popular products, or if you’re just getting started, choose your favorite design and give it away to a lucky winner. Some ideas for entries to your giveaway are:

• Tag a friend who would like your giveaway
• Like your page
• Leave a comment

People love an opportunity to win something online and it’s a wonderful way to grow your following. Encourage your winner to come back and leave a review or comment after they receive the item. It’s a simple way to build trust and brand awareness.

Social media is unavoidable for e-commerce businesses. It’s important for brand awareness and your customers expect to be able to find you online. Don’t forget to share your social media links on your website, in your emails, and even cross-promote your platforms. Social media strategies take time to execute but pay off in the long run!

Need more social media tips? Check out 12 hot social media trends in 2020.

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