The Do’s and Don’ts of Increasing your Organic Following
By: Alexis Stark
No matter which social media platform you are scrolling through, there will always be accounts with a crazy high number of followers. Businesses gain followers through advertising and offering a service or product; influencers share their expertise in fitness, cooking, interior design, and the list keeps going.
You might find yourself wondering how they did it; how did this account gain their following? Is it because they are beautiful, smart, and sit with the popular kids in the cafeteria? Social media isn’t high school, and a large social following does not equate to a quality personality or business in real life.
If you are trying to increase your social following for your business or personal gain, you do not have time to chase popularity and followers aimlessly. You need a solid strategy and tactics to market yourself across social platforms.
Don’t: Stay up all night posting random things, then forget to post for the next week
Do: Post content consistently throughout the day
Social content is all about quantity AND quality. Create a plan for what and when you will post on your social media platforms based on your audiences. The more information and content your social media has, the better it will inform and intrigue potential followers. Consistently sharing content holds the interest of your followers and build rapport.
Don’t: Use empty promises, or a bull horn to scare people into following you
Do: Go live to connect with your current following and encourage new ones
Post real-time photos, status updates, or live videos to keep your content fresh and inviting. Answer questions on a live stream, or post a recorded Monday morning greeting, motivating your followers to achieve a specific goal. Host contests to engage your followers in a fun way. Examples include completing a scavenger hunt or hosting a “like/follow/share/tag a friend” for your audience to enter to win a prize. Inspire people to be a part of something and gain attention for your platform.
Don’t: Use platforms to bash or exploit others for personal gain
Do: Be genuine and kind with your content
Show appreciation for your followers, whether it is a written post, verbal video, or special discount code to use and share. Celebrate milestones, like achieving personal goals or reaching 100, 1000, or 1 million followers, with giveaways or a personal thank you video. You could even share a funny video of you doing something in honor of achieving a certain number of followers. Strengthen your community of followers through shared victories.
Don’t: Exist as a copycat of another account
Do: Find creative ways to participate in trends
To avoid getting lost in the sea of social media accounts, find ways to make your voice and brand stand out. If something is trending, try recreating a popular video with your own spin or challenging yourself to achieve a goal or follow a “30-day” health journey. Have fun and remember to stay true to the values of your brand, including your morals and ethics.
Don’t: Disconnect from the real world or lose real friends over digital friends
Do: Commit to your brand while enjoying life offline
Social and digital media platforms are effective tools to grow your personal brand or business and reach diverse audiences. The more you share, the better chance you have to reach a broader scope of people. This being said, allowing social media to consume your attention and obsessing over gaining likes and followers is unhealthy. Work hard to achieve your goals, but do not lose sight of your individuality or forget to engage with real people in the real world.