There's no 100% foolproof strategy to instantly gaining a thousand followers, nor is there the perfect ‘8-week guide to becoming insta famous’. 

Building an audience on social media is similar to getting fit, it’s about small habits that lead to big change. You’d never expect to wake up one day with a six pack if you hadn’t worked hard for it would you? 

To grow your social media audience we recommend adhering to these three core principles; consistency, value adding and authenticity.

Keep It Consistent

The first thing we always recommend to clients is to plan a consistent posting schedule. 

This is obviously made easier if you have access to a social media manager (AKA us!) to run your socials, but it’s not the only option. 

Some businesses find it easier to have a 1:1 consultation with us to discuss their strategy, get tips and plan for the future. This session works for businesses that don't need the constant help of a social media agency and would rather manage their socials themselves.

The biggest tip we can give any business, is to always schedule your posts ahead of time.

Whether it’s weekly, fortnightly or monthly, figure out what works best for you and your business, find a scheduling program that you find simple and easy to use, and get planning! 

As a business we prefer to use Later but there are loads to choose from - Facebook even has one built in that’s free to use too!

Depending on your business, you may find it beneficial to be posting daily (this is why scheduling is seriously recommended) or every second day. There really is no ‘one size fits all’ tactic for this, you really just have to see how your audience is responding. 

It’s important to ensure that your content is adding value to your audience's feed and you’re not just simply posting to keep up a schedule. Work out realistically how much content you can thoughtfully create for each week, and start with fewer posts to ensure their quality. 

Value Adding (the best kind of maths)

If you were to look at your own socials right now, could you honestly say they add value? 

Go through each post and identify the ones you would classify as value adding - these are what we want to use as examples going forward.

Value adding can be super simple once you identify what you have to offer.

For us, our social media posts focus around sharing tips & tricks to help other businesses improve their own social media. Our whole focus is to connect and engage with individuals and businesses looking to level up their social media game. We implement this by posting expert tips and insights, sharing trends on the rise and creating a motivating presence in our audience’s feeds.

Find your niche and start sharing tricks of the trade, happy clients, insights on the inner workings of the business, or your favourite products.

The goal for your social media strategy should be to become a place your audience comes when they have a question about your industry, or if they’re looking for inspiration.

Be Authentic or Be Gone 

Be authentic to your business values. 

Let’s say that again one more time - be authentic to your business values.

There is no point having a social media presence if you’re not going to be honest about the business or the people behind it. We’re in an age where audience trust and authenticity come hand in hand. 

To build a loyal and engaged audience, you need to be honest in the portrayal of your business. Creating an authentic connection with your followers is what makes any social media strategy successful, and it brings the social back into social media. 

It takes time to build an audience and a community - just like it can take a while to form a solid friendship. 

Be open to giving your audience an inside look into the business, showcasing who is behind the brand and why you’re passionate about what you do.

It’s important to remember that even when following these principles, creating a loyal audience takes time.

Focus your efforts on building a community that engages with your content and has a genuine appreciation for your business.

As always, we’re here to help!