Everyone knows social media is one of the best ways to communicate in the modern world. Social media engagement allows businesses to reach a previously unrealistic number of consumers. But in a situation rife with opportunity, it can be hard to know how to engage the people on the internet. Social media can be confusing, but today its more important than ever to understand.

So how exactly does someone communicate effectively and receive engagement? The rules for this process are relatively simple. By following a few easy guidelines, companies can start to see massive improvements on their social media pages. So, where does someone start when trying to create social media engagement?

Step 1: Know Your Audience

The first step to building a social media presence people want to interact with is planning. Before you even create accounts, it is helpful to know who you want to reach. Social media can put you in contact with anyone in the world! But it works best for businesses when communication is more targeted than random. Targeting your market segment helps, and knowing your target market makes this process achievable. But how do you talk to your customers?

Step 2: Have a Voice

Knowing what kind of content you want to post is important. A companies page on social media needs to be a clear representation. Developing this voice can be hard but it helps to have a plan before posting. A company should create a style of posting and regular content which they chose to post. This consistent conversation will help followers of the brand know what to expect from it. Similar to having a coherent voice, your brand should engage regularly.

Step 3: Consistent Social Media Engagement

After developing a voice that fits the companies brand, engagement should be done regularly. Regular engagement helps generate new followers and keep old followers loyal. Engagement includes posting, replying, and even viewing other profiles. Consistent engagement will make people rely on your media for content. If you post regularly, people will come to expect it from you, which keeps followers coming back.

Step 4: Engage on Multiple Platforms

While utilizing all available social media platforms might seem obvious, it is a valuable practice. For example, lots of businesses view Instagram as a less beneficial platform to maintain. But Instagram users average above 20 minutes on the site every day. And there are even platforms that help manage multiple social media pages. Ignoring any platform might cause you to lose out on valuable business. Utilizing all available platforms helps spread out your message, ensuring you can easily target your desired market segments.

Step 5: Build a Social Media Community

Once you have a following, they have to feel involved in your content. If people feel like they are a part of your brand or the people who support it. Support will form bonds that keep people invested in your community. This support can range from promotion of user-generated content to contests and more. Having a way for people to become a part of the narrative makes it fun to follow company’s social media. However, this content has to be in line with your goals and voice to seem fluid. It’s essential to analyze the impact your posts are making. Mainlining your voice is extremely important when developing your online community.

Step 6: Don’t Flood People with Ads

Let’s be honest; if the only thing you post is advertisements, you’re not running an exciting feed. People don’t want to be swamped with promotional information. One way to get around this is to post content you think your target niche is interested in. If your customers happen to be people who like picnics and puppies, sprinkle some in. Having other content helps keep followers from feeling like they are being taken advantage of. Similarly, you can post content that is in line with your companies brand. These posts can help strengthen brand perception as well as promote intended goods or services.

Step 7: Stick with the Engagement

Social media can be time-consuming ad stressful at first. The process of gaining initial followers can be hard-fought. Reaching high levels of followers with tons of active engagement takes a long time. Paying for advertising, collaborating with established influencers, and networking can all help build a company. If you don’t see rapid returns from social media stick to the plan. In the long run, utilizing social media to advertise and reach consumers is a valuable practice.