10 Tips to Boost Brand Advocacy on Social Media

Have you ever tried to reach out to your customers on social media? It’s not as easy as it looks, especially if you don’t have any prior experience with social media marketing. There are plenty of things that can go wrong, from lacking the proper knowledge to how to create content that will actually be interesting for your followers, and knowing how to measure the success of your efforts so you know if what you are doing is working or not. If you want help making sense of social media marketing, read below and learn more about some of the best practices you can use to boost brand advocacy on social media.

1. Post Consistently

Posting one or two times a week is not enough. You need to post on your social media channels at least once per day, if not more. The best time of day to post is at lunchtime and in the evening when people are online and checking their phones. Share videos and articles that you’ve found that can help others do their jobs better, but also share your own content so followers know what you’re up to! Ask questions that allow for thoughtful responses from customers. Engage with followers by asking them how they are doing, what they think about something you posted previously, or simply acknowledging that they have been following you for a while.

2. Stand Out With Visual Content

Visual content is always more engaging than text, and if you want your posts to be seen by most people, try incorporating visuals into your updates. Whether it’s a new product or event, try taking a photo of what you’re talking about and posting it with an informative caption. If you’re promoting a blog post or contest entry, put up an image that sums up what you’re about, and make sure to include a link for others to find more information! Stand out with visual content. On social media, standing out means using creative images to catch people’s attention – so get snapping!

3. Encourage Sharing Among Followers

Encourage sharing among followers. You want your followers to spread the word about your brand, so make it easy for them. Add a share button that lets people quickly and easily share content with their followers across different social media platforms. Make it easy for them by putting the buttons in prominent locations where they can find them. Share buttons are commonly found at the top or bottom of blog posts and pages. Consider adding these buttons to your profile as well, allowing you to link back to recent posts without needing additional text.

4. Invest in Video Content

Investing in video content is one of the best ways to engage customers and drive brand advocacy. Video content can be used as a way of reinforcing your social media messages, or it can be used as a standalone marketing campaign. Videos allow you to use visuals, different scenes, and sound effects which will help drive the message home. The more videos you post, the more likely you are to be seen by your target audience. You also have the opportunity to experiment with new types of videos (live streaming, vlogs) that may resonate well with your customer base.

5. Look Into Local Influencers

Local influencers are the best way to reach your target audience. These people are close enough in proximity that they’re able to be involved with your brand and can share it with their friends and followers, who may not know about you yet.

Be sure you find influencers who fit your brand. For example, if you’re an animal-friendly vegan restaurant, don’t try partnering with a fishing line company. Make sure there is an exchange of value for both parties. Make sure they have a following large enough for you to be worth their time. Give them something in return–whether that’s exclusive content or a discount or just some free product–to make them feel like they have something of value from the partnership.

6. Leverage Giveaways and Contests

A contest or giveaway is a great way to not only generate more engagement and followers but also encourage them to share with their friends. You can offer prizes for social shares or even just for following your page. Contests are a great way to get people involved and interested in what you have to offer. They’re also a great way to help build your community and show off what you have! That being said, it’s important to be transparent about the rules and requirements of your contests or giveaways before announcing them.

7. Link Your Blog Content to Social Media Posts

Blogging allows you to reach a larger audience than your social media posts alone. Share your blog content with your social media followers by posting links to your articles, uploading pictures of you in action (while wearing the latest fashion), and using quotes from your blog posts to inspire others. The better the engagement with your posts, the more brand advocacy will follow!

8. Get Customers Involved Through Polls

In order to create a strong connection with customers and make them feel invested in your brand, it’s important to involve them through polls. Polls can help you ask questions that are relevant to your customers and generate content that resonates with their interests. It also gives you an opportunity to learn more about your customer base while they become more interested in the company. When planning a poll, think of the type of questions that would elicit meaningful responses from your target audience. For example, if you’re creating a polling campaign for an athletic shoe store, you might want to ask which sport is most popular among shoppers or what colors people prefer.

9. Manage Your Email List Effectively

Manage your email list effectively. Ask subscribers for their opinions, and offer them a way to give feedback. Make email a two-way street by adding polls, quizzes, or surveys to your newsletter. If you do this in the first few emails you send, your subscribers will be more likely to respond as they’ll know you’re listening. Use tools to personalize subject lines for subscribers who haven’t opened any of your emails recently, but are still subscribed. Remember that most people only open their email when they’re checking it so it’s important not to annoy them with too many messages.

10. Don’t Forget About Your Employees

Your employees are your best brand advocates. Make sure they’re invested in the success of your company and know how their personal actions can affect it. For example, did you know that most customers form an opinion about a company within 60 seconds of landing on a website? So by just logging into their email or social media account, an employee can have an immediate impact on a customer’s perception of your brand.

Conclusion

These ten tips will help you boost brand advocacy across social media channels. Be sure to share your own tips, and remember that it doesn’t take a large budget or an in-depth understanding of marketing techniques for your small business to get the word out there!