One of the most common questions I'm asked as a Social Media manager, is "How do I grow a large following on social media?" The sad truth is that, the only REAL way to build a huge following is by creating good quality "value" content, and being relentlessly consistent with your posting. However, there are some extra things you can do to help speed things up a bit... Try and include as many of these options as you can in your content schedule and you'll grow much more quickly...

1. HASHTAGS #️⃣ Hashtags are little bits of text that we add to the end of captions on posts. They start with a "#" sign and tell the platform what the post is about and who it's for. Users can also search for specific hashtags to help them find content on a given subject. When creating hashtags make them relevant to your content, but also try and think about what your target audience might search for. Hashtags are most effective on Instagram and TikTok. They can also be useful on sites like YouTube and Pinterest. The jury is still out on how useful they are on Facebook but I always say it can't hurt to include them.

2. GEOTAGS 📍 What is a Geotag? Not to be confused with hashtags, Geo tags are "location" tags. This allows you to show your location on your post e.g. New York, London, Tokyo etc... or smaller locations such as a specific restaurant or venue. Not all platforms have these but if you're ever given an option to add your geographic location to a post, use it! Other people that search those location tags will see you content. This is particularly useful if you have a "local" business that operates in a specific geographic area.

3. USE VIDEO! 📹 Pretty much ALL platforms now prioritise VIDEO content over text or photographs. This means that your video content will get shown in more of your followers feeds organically than if you post an image or text. Creating short form video in the form of IG Reels/TikToks/YouTube Shorts etc... is a great way to get seen by new people as they are shown to everyone not just people who are already following you - it can be a great way to attract new followers to your profile. 4. GO LIVE WITH ANOTHER ACCOUNT 👬 This allows you to leverage what I like to call OPA (Other People's Audiences!). Find a collaborator who has the same target audience as you but is not a competitor, and go live with them. E.g if you are a hairdresser, you could go live with a local beautician about "hair and beauty tips" for example. If you are a plumber, you could go live with a local electrician about "What to look for when searching for a good tradesperson". This allows you to access THEIR audiences and vice versa. It's a great way to get a chunk of new followers in one quick hit. Not to mention position yourself as the "Go-To" expert. 5. DO A COLLABORATION POST 👭 This works in the same way as going live with a collaborator, in that it allows you to access that all important OPA! But it is done in the form of a post instead. So come up with a joint post that you can both share, that is relevant to both your audiences, and tag each other. Remember to include a CTA in the caption asking your audience to follow your collaborators profile. 6. CREATE SHAREABLE CONTENT 🔃 This is a tricky one to try and pre-empt as sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to what people will share!! "Going viral" is the holy grail of social media marketing! But try and think about what sort of content you might share. Maybe a funny meme or an inspiring quote? Or a value post that other people might useful? Creating content that people will share on their own profiles will help you to get in front of more people. 7. OUTBOUND ENGAGEMENT 📣 This is the one that most people DON'T do. But it is SO worth it and will help you grow much more quickly. Take 5-10 minutes each day to follow the accounts of your ideal target audience, comment on their posts and photos, and connect with the people on THEIR follower lists. Taking the time to engage with other users about THEIR content is a great way to build relationships with people and encourage them to check out your profile. You can also post value posts in sites like LinkedIn or Facebook groups where your target audience hang out, and answer/ask questions. Remember Social Media is meant to be SOCIAL!

It's easy to fall into the trap of only posting about your product/service on social media all of the time but your audience will be bored by this. They want VALUE in the form of education, entertainment or inspiration so make your posts useful and relevant. Try and think of social media as a giant networking event rather than a giant billboard. 🤝😁 It's time consuming but worth doing as the more eyes you have on your profile, the more business you'll generate. 😁 And don't forget, if you're time poor, well that's why WE exist! We offer a range of price options and can do some or all of your social media marketing so contact us and let's see if we can help. 😎