A common mistake many businesses make when it comes to social media engagement is placing a primary focus on increasing audience size alone. While audience size is an important factor, many businesses fail to prioritize their ​social media engagement as well which is just as important or even more important in some cases.

Social media engagement helps you strengthen your customer relationships. When customers engage with your posts online your business is presented with an opportunity to get to know customers and build a relationship with them. By helping customers when they’re in need, building a relationship with them, and offering them a one of a kind customer experience, businesses are able to increase customer loyalty.

Being active on social media through responding to customer posts, customers will feel confident when making monetary transactions with your business. Responding positively to negative comments and resolving any issues, will further help your business grow sales. To increase your business’ social media engagement consider our six key tips below.

1. Post Engaging Content

In order to increase social media engagement, your business must create content that really makes your audience feel engaged​. Aim to post content that generates a positive response from your audience. You want to drive an emotional response from your audience so look at posting funny, inspiring, or relatable content. Engaging material such as videos or graphics that users can relate to and laugh about are great examples.

2. Share Relevant Content to Your Audience

Before your business starts posting any content, consider who your customers are, what their interests are, and what types of posts do they prefer. Take the time to consider where your audience hangs out most and how they consume information. To get a sense of what your audience engages with most you’ll likely need to experiment with different types of content. If you’re posting video content that receives minimal engagement it’s evident you should consider other types of content.

3. Add Visuals to Every Post

We are always on the lookout for visuals because they generate emotions, and emotions create a deep connection. When you post on social, always aim to accompany your posts with a visual. Unlike plain text, visuals capture greater attention in users’ news feeds. Don’t just post any old image though. Your business should add relevant images to posts in order to encourage stronger social media engagement.

4. Post Frequently

In addition to posting content that’s worth engaging with, aim to post regularly across all relevant platforms. On average, depending on the type of business, aim to post 2-3 posts per platform per day to help build an engaged audience. Posting anymore then this may annoy your target audience and lead to lost followers so keep it constant but relevant.

5. Ask Questions

A simple yet effective way to engage your audience online is by asking questions. Aim to ask your audience relevant yet somewhat fun questions. This is a great way for your business to create engaging content that prompts customers to leave comments. Posts that compare products allow businesses to incorporate their own products into the question while still remaining playful with their audience.

6. Respond to All Comments

You can’t increase social media engagement without being social. Each time your audience leaves a comment on your post or sends your business a message directly, they’re ​giving you the opportunity to talk with them​. Regardless of either positive or negative communications, your business should always respond to each and every customer. Responding to positive messages shows appreciation and responding to negative ones provides resolution.

Ultimately the more time your business invests in building relationships with your audience the greater your engagement will become. An audience that is more actively engaged will lead to a higher number of sales, an increase in customer loyalty, and higher positive reviews.