Ever since I got into social media, a lot of people have been asking me these questions: "How do I get X amount of likes on my picture? How can I get X amount of followers?" I usually start the conversation by throwing the following questions right back at them.
What is your goal?
To be honest, this is the most important questions. If you are unable to answer this one, it will be very hard to make it on social media (unless you are already a big star like Kylie Jenner, Ariana Grande or ChampagnePapi aka Drake and even they have a specific goal). So with this social media thing, are you trying to get people to your website?
Maybe you are trying to have people visit you at your Brick and Mortar location. Or do you simply want to connect with like-minded people?
Other things you might want: increase sales, generate leads, build an email list.
Getting a better idea of your goal will give you a starting point for your strategy, and will help you understand where you need to focus.
Who are you trying to reach?
Basically whose attention are you trying to grab?
Social media cannot be a monologue. It has to be a constant conversation between you and your (potential) followers.
Finding your target market is essential because it will allow you to generate a message that is customized to their liking. It will also be important to understand their behavior and how they use social media to maximize your reach. So where is your niche?
How will you reach them?
This comes hand in hand with the previous questions. Once you know who you are talking to, it will be easier to choose which platform you should prioritize. If your niche is into aesthetic and visuals, go with Instagram. If your potential followers love watching their content, choose Youtube as your main social media. The beauty of things is that you can always combine a few platforms to create your strategy.
PS: don't forget that many platforms have integrated the spontaneous video function, which is a great tool to generate genuine content on the go (think, Snapchat, Instastory, Instagram live, Facebook story and Facebook live.
I promise, once you figure out the answer to those questions, you will find it easier to talk to your audience, interact with them and therefore get them to engage more with your content.
Now go forth and slay your social media game.
