People engage with other people on social media. That's why brands should act more like people to succeed. If you've been struggling to connect with your target audience on social networks, incorporate these 5 ideas to humanize your company and watch your impact grow.
1. Focus on quality not quantity
If you're just thinking about how many followers you have on Twitter or how many likes your latest Facebook post received, stop. To humanize your company on social, you need to think about the quality of your interactions, not the quantity.
Instead of obsessing over your numbers, shift your focus to think about each connection as representing a person.
Instead of trying to get a post shared a certain number of times, aim to create content that engages people.
A people-centric approach is the first step to humanizing your social presence.
2. Turn it into a conversation
Sure, you want to get on Facebook to share images of your new products. However, research shows that brands who make their social presence all about themselves don't perform as well as those who use these platforms to connect to their audience.
One of the easiest ways to connect with your audience organically is to turn your social presence into a conversation. Ask questions, engage with followers who interact with your brand, and share content that's informational and engaging as well as promotional.
3. Rethink your voice
Are you using industry jargon and buzzwords in hopes of sounding like a relevant thought leader? If so, try to find a way to say what you mean without relying on jargon. You'll sound more likable and more human instantly.
Once you've started speaking in plain language, rethink how you speak in your social posts. Every brand has a personality - so what's yours?
If you aren't sure, do some creative thinking on your brand. Once you have a strong understanding of your brand personality and your target audience, rewrite your social posts so they speak in your brand's voice to your ideal customer.
This is a natural way to make sure that all the content you share sounds human.
4. Don't be afraid to be off the cuff
There's no question that using a content scheduler saves time and allows you to push out great content daily. Yet if you rely on your content scheduler for everything social, you'll miss the chance to interact impulsively.
Make a habit of spontaneously sharing content to connect to people and humanize your brand.
5. Make people the face of your social presence
A simple yet effective way to seem more human on social media is to show humans first and foremost.
Instead of using your logo as your avatar, consider using your face.
Share photos and videos of your staff so visitors can get a feel for who you are, not just what you do.
While these strategies may take more time when you first implement them, over time they'll start to feel natural. You can then create content quickly that engages, informs, and increases the ROI of your social.