Understanding Social Media Engagement

Navigating the many different social media platforms can be quite overwhelming. In addition to maintaining a presence on so many networks, you're also expected to understand how you to better connect with your audience. When looking at social analytics, there are a lot of numbers, but one of the most important metrics is always “Engagement.”

Guest Post from Team Fanbridge

From Twitter to email campaigns, there is an emphasis on engagement. But what does this word actually mean, and why should it matter if your fans are giving your post a thumbs up?

What is Engagement?

An engagement, in social media terms, can mean a “like” on your Facebook post or a Retweet on Twitter. It is any deliberate interaction on the fan’s part, meaning that something you said made them want to spend their time and take an action to show their support for you.Think about the last time you got a “like” on an Instagram photo, or the last time someone replied to you on Twitter. Yes, that engagement counts toward a number and a percentage of your audience that’s engaged. But don’t forget to really analyze what it was that you said that prompted their response. It goes much deeper than that number. That engaged fan feels a connection with you, and they want to strengthen that connection.

Why Should You Care?

An engaged audience in social media and email leads to an engaged audience that you can monetize. If your fans don’t care enough to click on a new instagram photo and give it a quick “like,” they certainly won’t care enough to make a purchase from you.Engagement on social media can translate to engagement in email, and eventually, it can lead to a purchase. If you get that “like” on your photo, next you can get a click through on your Twitter post prompting followers to join your mailing list.See Also: Learn about FanBridge Fan Action PagesOnce they’re on your mailing list, there’s an even higher chance that, (a) they will know the next time you have a product/service for sale, and (b) that they will buy that product/service.However, it all has to start with that connection. A “like” by itself seems rather arbitrary, but really think about why your followers feel the need to take that action, and keep connecting with them in even more meaningful ways. It can pay off (literally).