Social media branding: Four things to keep in mind

By: Angela Raleigh, Senior Account Executive, Leonard & Finco Public Relations

Most brands today have some type of a social media presence, but just having a presence isn’t enough. It’s important for companies to communicate with their followers on a regular basis. There are many things you can do to keep your social media brand alive. Here are four things to keep in mind when marketing your brand:

1. Be original and true to your expertise. Social media platforms provide brands with numerous ways to share information. From creating posts, sharing links, videos, photos to polls and ads there are many options for your brand to be creative in how you reach your target audience and share your expertise. When used correctly, simple messaging has a huge impact. Consider using photos and videos as they are highly shareable.
2. Be catchy. People engage in social media for a variety of reasons including connecting with family and friends, following brands they value and being able to express their opinions. If your company only posts information about the products you sell or the services you offer, you may not get the engagement you are hoping for. Instead, when posting content about your brand you want to have a mix of information that is about your industry, fun facts and useful information that will appeal to your audience and lastly some information about your business. 
3.  Be engaging. One of the key ways to engage your target audience in social media is to keep asking questions and encouraging them to share information or comment on posts that your brand shares. Engagement will help spur conversation. Don’t forget to actively engage and respond to questions that your target audience asks you. 
4.  Be reliable. If you want your brand to be seen as a reliable source of information, you will need to consistently post information to your social media pages. Your target audience will most likely visit your page again and again if you consistently post new content on a regular basis. Keep it fresh, informative and fun.

Social media accounts are easy to set up, but they do take time to manage and truly grow your brand. What has worked for your brand? How do you stay engaged?