As a small business owner, it can be tempting to measure the success of your social media presence solely based on the number of likes and views you receive. When it comes to building a strong online presence though, engagement and interactions should be your top priority. Read on to find out why engagement is more important than likes and views for small businesses on social media.

1. Building Relationships:

Likes and views are superficial indicators of success on social media. While they might boost your ego, they don’t necessarily translate into loyal customers or increased sales. On the other hand, engagement and interactions allow you to connect with your audience on a deeper level, building relationships that can lead to long-term brand loyalty.

2. Creating Authenticity:

Likes and views can be easily manipulated and often lack authenticity. In contrast, genuine engagement reflects a real interest in your brand and the content you share. When your audience engages with your posts through comments, shares, and direct messages, it not only strengthens your credibility but also helps foster a sense of authenticity for your brand.

3. Encouraging Trust and Credibility:

In an era of sponsored content and paid influencers, consumers are becoming more sceptical about traditional marketing tactics. However, when your followers engage with your content, it sends a message that you are a trustworthy and credible source. Real conversations and interactions build trust, which is vital for the long-term success of your small business.

4. Amplifying Reach and Awareness:

When your audience engages with your posts, it increases the visibility of your content. Likes might temporarily boost your visibility, but genuine interactions have a longer-lasting effect. When your followers comment on or share your posts, their connections also get exposed to your brand, potentially expanding your reach and increasing brand awareness.

5. Gathering Valuable Feedback:

One of the greatest benefits of engagement and interactions is the opportunity to gather valuable feedback from your audience. By actively listening and responding to their comments and messages, you can gain insights into their needs, preferences, and pain points. This allows you to refine your products or services to better meet their expectations, ultimately driving more sales and customer satisfaction.

Now that we understand why engagement and interactions are more important than likes and views, let’s explore some practical strategies to maximize your social media presence:

Respond promptly:

Make it a habit to respond to comments and direct messages as quickly as possible. This shows your audience that you value their input and are actively engaged in the conversation.

Ask open-ended questions:

Encourage your audience to engage with your posts by posing questions that require more than a simple yes or no answer. This prompts discussions and invites your followers to share their thoughts and experiences.

Host contests and giveaways:

These can be great ways to foster engagement and build excitement around your brand. Encourage your followers to like, comment, and share for a chance to win. This not only increases engagement but also helps expand your reach.

Collaborate with influencers:

Partnering with social media influencers who align with your brand values and target audience can help amplify your reach and increase engagement. Influencers can help create authentic content, initiate conversations, and encourage their followers to engage with your brand.

Share user-generated content:

Encourage your followers to share their experiences and tag your brand in their posts. This not only increases engagement but also allows you to leverage user-generated content, which is seen as more trustworthy and relatable.

In conclusion, small businesses should focus on engagement and interactions rather than simply chasing likes and views on social media. Building relationships, creating authenticity, encouraging trust and credibility, amplifying reach and awareness, and gathering valuable feedback are all essential benefits of genuine engagement. By implementing strategies to foster meaningful connections with your audience, you can drive long-term success for your small business on social media.

Start Engaging With Your Customers Today

Categories: Social Media /

About the Author: Trevor Cherewka

For over 20 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of sales and marketing, but my real passion took off in 2008. That’s when I noticed a growing need for local businesses to be found online. People were searching for services in their area, yet many businesses didn’t have the tools to be visible. So, I began building websites for small businesses, ensuring they had an online presence that helped them get noticed. In 2010, I dove into social media, understanding how it could transform the way businesses engage with their audience. I wanted to help my clients connect with their customers in meaningful ways. By 2013, my attention shifted to SEO, where I invested in learning everything I could through conferences across the U.S. and Canada. SEO was the future, and wanted to make sure my clients were ready.

Some Brands We Work With

Join the list of organisations we’ve helped to grow.

Creating Meaningful Connections Social Media