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By Tonia Ryan Edited by Kara McIntyre

Are you looking to elevate your social media presence to new heights? Here are the tips and tricks I’ve used to grow my own following.

Key Takeaways

f you’ve been wondering how to spice up your social media posts and really start capturing attention, you’re in the right place. I grew my Instagram audience to over 3.8 million followers using the below strategies.

Social media is an incredible tool for small business owners and entrepreneurs — it connects us directly with our audience. But here’s the thing: Standing out in a sea of endless content isn’t easy. Don’t worry, though; I’ve got some tried-and-true tips for you that will make your posts pop and keep your crowd coming back for more.

For me, it all started with consistency — I made sure to post regularly and at optimal times when my audience was most active. Next, I focused on creating high-quality, relatable content that resonated with my niche. Visuals are key, so I paid close attention to aesthetics, like colours, patterns and overall branding. Engaging with my community was another game-changer; I always responded to comments, asked questions in my posts and interacted with similar accounts. Lastly, I leveraged trending topics and hashtags to expand my reach. These steps formed the foundation of my growth, and they can work for you too. Here are eight more tips to help you and your business stand out.

1. Start with a scroll-stopping visual

First impressions matter, and on social media, your visuals are your first impression. I teach my team at Tonia In Vegas that their entire image is their brand and they have to stick to their branding imaging for every post. Use high-quality images, bold colours or even memes (if they align with your brand). Tools or apps that design eye-catching graphics help a lot. Pro tip? Use images or videos that evoke emotion — whether it’s curiosity, joy or even a good laugh.

2. Keep your captions conversational

Talk to your audience the way you’d talk to a friend. Social media loves authenticity, so skip the jargon and keep it real. Use questions, emojis and a fun, conversational tone to draw people in. For example, instead of saying, “We’re launching a new product,” try something like, “Guess what? We’ve been cooking up something exciting, and we can’t wait to show you!” See? That’s way more engaging.

3. Know your audience

This one is key. Before creating your post, ask yourself, “Who am I speaking to?” Tailor your content to what your audience finds valuable or entertaining. Are they foodies? Share recipes! Are they busy parents? Offer quick tips to make their lives easier. When your posts solve problems or bring joy, people will naturally engage.

4. Call-to-actions (CTAs) are your best friends

Never underestimate the power of a good CTA. Want people to comment? Ask them a question! Want shares? Say something like, “Tag a friend who needs this!” Make your call-to-action clear, simple and irresistible. Trust me, you’ll see a big difference when you give people a little nudge.

5. Post at the right time

Timing is everything. You could create the best post in the world, but if you’re sharing it when your audience isn’t online, it might not get the love it deserves. Check your analytics to see when your followers are most active and post during those peak times. Not sure when to post? Experiment! Try mornings one week and evenings the next to see what works best.

6. Use hashtags strategically

Hashtags aren’t just for decoration — they’re your ticket to reaching people outside your current audience. Use a mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags to boost your visibility. But don’t overdo it! Aim for five to 10 relevant hashtags per post. Social media analytics are great for finding the best tags for your industry. For example, If you are promoting real estate try to use more local hashtags instead of broad industry tags that are harder to rank for.

7. Engage, engage, engage!

Social media isn’t a one-way street. If someone comments on your post, reply! If they share your content, thank them! The more you engage with your audience, the more they’ll engage with you. Plus, it shows that you’re not just a business; you’re a person (or a team of people) who genuinely cares about their followers.

8. Use social media stories on Instagram

Instagram Stories are a powerful way to connect with your audience in a more casual and authentic manner. Stories allow you to share behind-the-scenes moments, quick updates or fun, interactive content that disappears after 24 hours. Utilize features like polls, question stickers and countdowns to engage your followers and encourage interaction. Consistently posting Stories keeps your brand at the top of your followers’ feeds and helps reinforce your presence in their minds. Remember to keep your Stories visually appealing and aligned with your brand’s tone and aesthetic.

Bonus tip: Consistency is key

One last thing before we wrap up — you have to stay consistent. Posting once in a blue moon won’t cut it. Create a content calendar and stick to it. Your followers (and the algorithms) will appreciate it.

Alright, it’s your turn now! Start experimenting with these tips and watch your social media game level up. You’ve got this!

By Tonia Ryan 

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor. Take the first step towards brand excellence

For over three decades, Tonia Ryan has made her mark as a highly accomplished entrepreneur, ghost-writer for best-selling authors and a trusted advisor to some of the most prominent celebrities and business owners. She leverages her expertise and experience to guide individuals toward success.

Edited by Kara McIntyre

Sourced from Entrepreneur

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It can be difficult for SMEs to remain competitive today, but AdRoll’s new report ‘The Ultimate Guide to Growth’ provides a detailed step-by-step guide to help small to mid-sized businesses, solopreneurs and entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth. The robust report is split into seven categories with each providing case studies and takeaway lessons.

Identifying audiences

The report stresses the importance of marketers to first determine their ideal customer, knowing this then allows them to accurately target them. It cites various characteristics to look out for when compiling customer profiles and suggests that marketers should also tap into customer geographics and work on understanding their online behavioural habits. Empathising with their customers’ needs will help marketers to capitalise on their audience’s activity.

Understanding competitors

While getting to know your customers is important, the report also urges marketers to understand how their competitors operate, so that they can have a strong understanding of their positioning in the market. Marketers should conduct research and analysis on their competitors to work out where marketplace opportunities and threats lie, as well as keep a close eye on their opponent’s messaging.

Know your USP

Key differentiators set companies apart, so identifying these – no matter how big or small they are – is vital. The guide advises marketers to focus on your key attributes but encourages them to avoid concentrating on replicable differentiators such as new technologies or competitive prices as these can easily be beaten by competitors.

Marketing strategy creation

Marketing strategies should act as a roadmap for growing businesses with clear steps as to how to reach and engage new and existing customers. Working out the company’s value proposition will help. Marketers should consider where their customers are struggling and how they can help relieve their pain through the services they offer. They should then develop messaging to reflect this strategy, set attainable goals and create a realistic marketing budget to ensure that progress can be tracked.

Using marketing tactics

The marketing strategy set out earlier in the guide will provide marketers with clear business goals and budgets. Working out actionable tactics and which marketing channels to push marketing messages out on is essential. The report suggests looking at AdRoll’s digital advertising tactics and offers marketers the opportunity to sync up their e-commerce website with their growth platform to attract new visitors and convert existing prospects.

Creating content assets

Marketers should work out which type of content asset will suit their strategy best; the report provides pros and cons of using visual, written and ad content formats, with advice on how best to combine content assets to save on time and avoid duplication. The guide reminds marketers that ad sizes and formats also vary according to each platform, so messages need to be punchy and to the point for them to be effective.

Implementing and testing

Testing is one of the most important steps in the digital marketing growth journey. The report suggests that ads don’t need to be perfect before going live and encourages marketers to experiment with different renditions of ads to see how audiences respond. Various techniques for testing are listed, ensuring that marketers can get the most out of the experiments they do on ads, so that they know what to look out for.

Measurement

The guide advises marketers to build quantifiable KPIs and metrics that correspond to the business strategy and goals outlined earlier. Marketers should look at various analytics tools and work out which would best suit their business, but the report urges them to continue testing tactics to ensure that processes and information are consistently refined throughout the journey. Attribution models can also help marketers to gain better insight into consumer purchase habits.

Feature Image Credit: The Ultimate Guide to Growth report, with AdRoll

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Sourced from The Drum