10 Useful Social Media Hacks

Can you be relevant without a strong social media presence?

So, you want to be a (social media) star! But do you know where to start? Maybe you already have a good idea of where to start but the finer points of Instagram fame elude you. We can’t promise you social media dominance, but we did comb the internet for useful hacks and found some that were good enough to share. So, here goes…

1. Make trending topics work for you

• Personalize trending memes and use them in your posts. Why let all that virality go to waste when you CAN capitalize on it?
• Take advantage of holidays, days of interest, and cultural events to build your social posts.
• Use trending hashtags to join the conversation and help build your brand. The more popular the hashtag, the wider its reach.

2. Don’t forget to Reddit

• Become a member of Reddit first and participate in conversations to build credibility before you begin promoting your business. No credibility = no traction.
• Create unique subreddits (different channels) specific to your business where you can answer questions, provide insights, and just generally flex your expertise.
• Try to post original content and not regurgitate old information. Very few people want to read yesterday’s news.
• Don’t ask your employees to upvote your content. Redditors can spots shills from a mile away.

3. Repetition is not a dirty word

• Tweets have a short shelf life. They disappear fast. Don’t be afraid to repeat your tweet.
• Don't be afraid to reuse and repurpose your content. A blog post can become a quiz or a series of social media posts.

4. Cross-posting is a good idea if you are:

• A small brand with a limited budget.
• A new brand with limited content.
• Pressed for time and resources and want to reach a wider audience. (Once you have determined which platform gets you the most traction, you can then determine if you should continue cross-posting.)

5. The long engagement

• If someone liked your post, invite them to like your page. This will go a long way in helping you gain followers.
• If someone comments on your post use it as an opportunity to interact with them by liking their comment or responding to it. 
• Follow your followers. Not all of them but the most engaged ones.

6. Be emotional

• “A picture is worth a thousand words" — emojis may not be as voluble but they do help to convey emotions more readily than words. So don’t be afraid to use them, they can really help increase conversions. Just don’t overuse them!
• Make your posts more human by using humans in them. It's a proven fact that audiences respond more to human faces than any other image. Plus, faces communicate relatable emotions better than even the best picture.

7. Timing is everything

• When you post is almost as important as what you post.
• Find out when your audience is using a particular platform and time your posts accordingly. No sense posting when they’re not there. (This information can be found directly on the platforms or through management tools such as Hootsuite, Sprout Social, etc.)

8. Consistency is key

• Establish a schedule for posting and stick to it (social media management tools will make this a lot easier to handle).
• Try to post your content at the same time, every time. Not just on the same day.
• Create a social media calendar. It is invaluable for keeping you on track.

9. Optimize your images

• The wrong size image can ruin an otherwise great post. Each platform has its own unique requirement. Make sure the image is sized for the platform.
• Free tools like Canva can quickly and easily help size your images.
• Don't forget to check the appearance of your images on your computer and on your smartphone, as there can be discrepancies — especially for decorative images profile photos, page covers, or events.

Facebook: 1080 x 1080 px

Instagram: 1080 x 1080 px

Twitter: 1200 x 975 px

LinkedIn: 1200 x 627 px

10. Vary your content

• Static, wordy posts are not ideal for social media, picture beats text every time.
• Don’t use the same type of posts over and over try to add some variety.
• Make use of memes, videos, gifs, and infographics to help up your engagement  (bonus points if your use of images is on-brand).
• Don’t be afraid to show your sense of humour.  If you can entertain while you educate and inform, all the better. A well-placed and harmless bit of snark can really help you stand out from the crowd. 

We hope we were able to help you build a stronger social presence with these tips. We certainly will be using some of them to up our own social game. But the best way we can help your business is with our game-changing solutions. Click here to find out how, and don't forget to like, share and subscribe to our blog. 😉