You’re not new to the social media community; you are already posting compelling content daily, asking to join forums and creating short videos – in short, you’re doing everything you are supposed to do. 

But now you’re determined to maximize your reachability, showcase your brand and gain more followers.  How? 

Here are 5 commonly overlooked ways to make social media work best for you.

Choose the right social platforms:

You may have a Facebook and Twitter account, but you know there are more choices out there.  For example, if you are promoting your photography business, creating an Instagram account would be a great starting point.  Likewise, ConnectPal is worth considering if you or your business is looking to grow an audience.  A ConnectPal profile is like a profile page on any social network, but with a distinction, there is a charge for people to see your profile content. ConnectPal allows people to monetize their audience in a simple way with no startup costs.

Always post images:

Even though your content is compelling, posting without an image is doing you a disservice. Images evoke emotion and can really attract people’s attention to one brand over another.  When you can connect with your followers, you are more likely to gain their trust and in turn, watch your social media ratings rise.

Grab attention:

How?  By writing and adding effective headlines to each of your social media posts.  Ask a question, make an interesting statement, or state your topic in a way that piques interest.

You should also give your followers enough information so that they’ll click on the link and keep reading. For instance, if your headline reads, “5 Best Things,” readers won’t know what you are talking about. Instead, title your headline “5 Best Things to Pack on Your Next Hiking Trip.” This can also improve your website’s search rankings.

Show your personality:

If you want you or your brand to stand out, you’ll need to accurately show your personality.  No matter what products or services you offer, your separation from your competition comes from who you are. Your social media posts need to mirror your ideas and feelings.

Again, feelings evoke emotion and emotion connects you to your audience. 

Be interactive:

Much like having a face-to-face conversation with someone, social media is also very interactive – despite the fact that the discussion is being held online.  So – ask questions, create and engage in conversations and invite your followers to share their thoughts and opinions on certain topics. This interactivity is one of the reasons why  people love using social media so much.

In the end, remember to not boast about or oversell your brand.  Yes, using social media to promote your business is smart, but be sure to incorporate the above overlooked ways to make social media work for you.