If you were to ask me what the top 7 tips for growing your social media profile were, I would say there aren’t necessarily seven concrete answers to your problems. I would, however, say that by implementing these quick tips, you will see some growth and begin to build a content schedule. These can work for both smaller profiles with a minimal following and for well-established accounts that may have 10,000+ followers.
Here is my take on what successful profiles are currently doing to stand out from the crowd.
Seven Social Media tips for growing a social media profile without having many followers.
Find a niche– Look at what’s getting attention and go deeper. Don’t merely tag your Instagram or Twitter posts with #fitness. Find subcategories within your target market and establish your brand as being the leader in that category. An excellent selection might be something like #veganfitness or #stayfitboston. This second level of tagging will depend on what you see as having relatively excellent traction, but the idea is to keep it unique and niche.
Post regularly– If you are aggressive in your social posting, you can update your account 2 or 3 times a day. This approach is better if you have actual news or content to provide your followers. A more reserved approach is posting at the very least three times a week. A good tactic for letting your followers know how a project is progressing is posting every other day and allowing for better engagement.
Be more personal– provide more content with a personal touch or include your face more often. I like it when I see more personality bleed through the digital cloth. I want to know more about the person behind the phone when liking or commenting on a post. It is also true for YouTube, especially, as a video is very intensive on personality and relate-ability.
Add value– Don’t push products or services. Just try to educate people. The most significant reason why some people come across as being a dick is that they are trying to peddle crappy products. Social media’s purpose is to connect friends in a more enticing environment, don’t make it about earning a quick buck. Don’t get me wrong though, if your profile has a good following and you are influencing purchasing decisions, do reimburse yourself for your time. The ratio should be 70% enjoyment and 30% financial stability. I made this up, but it makes sense to me. If you have an opportunity to collaborate with a brand, don’t pass it up, but consider who you are representing and at what cost.
Be creative– Be different and take risks. Most people will tell you to think outside the box, and I will say break the box and think from above it. If you edit your photos in a specific way that is tough to copy, then try doing that. If you have a unique writing style, you should run with it. I can’t teach you creativity; the education system has robbed you of this skill. Regaining your creativity is a topic for another day.
Promote– Pay to have your content promoted and visible to your ideal audience. The cost of a modest lunch may be able to get your content in front of 300 people for a brief exchange. The value you place on growing and gaining exposure is only equal to your willingness to buy. Google PPC works the same way, and every social platform can promote your content to specific sub-genres within its user base.
Network– Online and in-person networking are both very valuable. Try to generate interest through speaking to individuals. One of my favorite things to do is to check Meetup or Eventbrite for things happening near me. I am a reasonably social person, but when confronted with speaking to large groups, I have difficulty. Going out and talking to strangers helps me cope with my fears and to grow on an emotional level. My advice to you would be to look online to see if any of your hobbies may have a local group that meets once a month. I do black-smithing, hiking, and python as a hobby, so I search for these types of groups. You are you, and that is what makes you a great person.
“why don’t you explain this to me like I am five” -Michael Scott, Dunder Mifflin
If you are looking for more tips and tricks, send me a message on a form or post a comment on this article. I am just sitting at my desk after work and would love the attention frankly. :p
