Social media has changed the way the world works.
That might sound a bit dramatic, but think about it: Now instead of calling a business to ask a question, people can send a message on Facebook or Instagram. If someone has a great (or not-so-great) customer experience, they can write a review on Google or Yelp and share it with friends.
Staying on top of social media is especially important for businesses and tourism destinations, which rely on customers or visitors in order to exist. But, as with any new technology, it can be hard to track the constantly changing trends.
Here are Verdin’s top five tips for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) looking to engage with audiences on social media:
- Be responsive. This might sound obvious, but it’s worth discussing. It’s simply not enough to just set up a social media account for your business or destination—you need to have a presence. Post relevant content on a regular basis, like and share content from other accounts, and respond to people’s comments and questions. You also want to make sure that important information, such as hours of operation or a phone number, are up to to date.
- Use video. Video is the best way to catch people’s attention while they’re scrolling through posts. This format is the most similar to real life, capturing movement and emotions in real time. Videos should be short and sweet (no more than a minute long) on most platforms, unless you’re posting an interview or instructional video that requires more time. Bonus tip: These days many people have the sound turned off while on social, so consider inserting captions with easy-to-read text.
- Collaborate with your partners. In addition to liking and sharing content, work with other businesses or influencers in your industry to make unique branded content. Let a partner take over your social media channel for the day with images or videos from a different location or a contest for special prizes. You can even plan to go live at special events, such as ribbon cuttings or farmers markets to entice people to stop by. The live post will run on your page after you’re done recording to reach more people throughout the day. And always make sure to tag partners with their handles and relevant hashtags.
- Give a little to get a lot. No matter how much technology changes, one thing will always stay the same: People love free stuff. Giveaways are a great way to incentivize your audience to do something. This could be as simple as liking and sharing your page or more involved, like writing a review or generating content for you to use.
- Have fun! This is last on the list, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Social media is supposed to be fun so don’t be afraid to have a good time. On-brand humor, memes, and lighthearted hashtags make your business or destination more relatable and attractive to people. Just make sure it’s done appropriately. For more tips on using humor in marketing and advertising, check out this month’s other blog.
Need help boosting your social media content and stats? Contact us at www.verdinmarketing.com or check us out on Facebook and Instagram.