The Key to Social Media Success? Engaged Followers.
Today we’re going to focus on one tip to successfully using social media to promote your brand. I’ve observed some companies going wrong by using their social media platforms to simply advertise themselves. Social Media growth does not come from spaming your followers with buy now, call now, book now direct sales posts. In today’s world, this won’t work. Consumers are no longer buying just products, they are buying relationships. They go to a restaurant because their favorite influencer recommends it, they read a new book because their friends are raving about it, they buy the latest trend because everyone else is. We all want to join in the conversation with those around us.
With this in mind, let’s think about how we use social media. Each platform has its own little niche, but there’s some overarching rules as well.
- Get the Right Followers. Everything in social media stems from engagement.
You want engaged followers. Many people ask about buying bots for more followers and likes. This can work when done correctly. The bot has to be set up to gain real followers and for local business it needs to be local followers.
Think about your purpose for using social media – to promote yourself yes – but what else? Are you trying to increase sales? Foot traffic? Traffic to your website or blog? Gather feedback? None of these goals will be achieved from fake followers. Take the time to get the right followers. Those who will see your posts and want to reach out – whether that’s by coming in your store or restaurant, sharing it with their friends to increase your awareness, or simply adding a comment providing some feedback that not only you, but other viewers can see.
- Introduce Yourself Being all about connections, viewers love to see the face behind the product.
They want to know WHO they’re buying, your values, your beliefs. This is a great time to use those headshots you’ve gotten from our Pittsburgh business photographers. Creating a personality for your brand – that mimics your own – will gain the trust of your viewers, and they will want to follow you throughout your career, gaining yourself some loyal followers.
- Give Your Brand A Personality. Now that they know you are, keep that personality going.
Find a tone that works for you – sassy, classy, light & friendly, sophisticated – and stick to it. Use all your captions as a way to talk to the followers. Social Media is a platform for conversation – not one -way advertisement. Use copy that sparks conversation not only between you and them, but between the followers themselves. If you can do this, you’ve just began to create your own little world. THESE are followers who will bring in their friends, spread your name, and help increase your success.
- Go Live! Some platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow “live-stream” or “stories” features.
Take advantage of these! Depending on your business, use the live stream to show “behind the scenes” footage or to quickly promote something new. Using the “stories” feature also allows you to directly talk to your viewers. In your stories, it allows you to add stickers, one of which is a chat sticker. This is by far the most common and most effective sticker. You can use it to ask for opinions, to open it up for questions, or to start a dialogue.
- Use Hashtags. **Instagram Specific** The other tips were there to help you keep the followers you already have engaged.
This one is to help find new ones. Instagram uses hashtags to connect posts to each other. This is how people find new accounts and posts based on subjects they are interested in. You can use up to 30 hashtags on your post. SHOULD YOU USE THEM ALL? You can but for the best organic growth use only 9 to 10 hashtags per post. Use a mix of location hashtags (#pittsburgh, #robinson #pgh) , general industry hashtags (ex: #headshotcrew), and a few specific post related hashtags. Keep in mind if you want to grow local followers the more local hashtags you use the more local people will find you. If you use mainly industry hashtags you will grow people in your industry for all over the world. General hashtags or content related hashtags should be used less often. (ex: #Italiandinner).
6. Use great photos. You will see many online claims that your photo quality dose not matter.
However brands that really are growing on social media use high quality photos. On our Instagram we will use a mix of Professional photos from a DSLR and only few iPhone photos. Why? Because Personal Brand Photography is a mixture of photojournalism, lifestyle and portraiture. Sometimes the ease of use of the iPhone helps to regularly communicate your personal brand and make a meaningful connection with your audience.
Jen Barker Worley Photography
555 Grant Street, Suite 337 Offices at the William Penn Pittsburgh, PA 15219
https://jenworley.com
412-370-4520
This is what it took. #shibainu #familyphoto
Every anniversary we take a photo. Sometimes arranged, sometimes not. Helps us remember what our year was like, when looking back. Here’s to 15, 3 now with Rue and Subba. (Will see if we can get a more epic sunset tomorrow though.)
Dec 2
Every anniversary we take a photo. Sometimes arranged, sometimes not. Helps us remember what our year was like, when looking back. Here’s to 15, 3 now with Rue and Subba. (Will see if we can get a more epic sunset tomorrow though.)
Taking time to enjoy the Beautiful weekend with Subba, Rue and @dan_jenworleyphotography
Nov 26
Taking time to enjoy the Beautiful weekend with Subba, Rue and @dan_jenworleyphotography
Many companies have me take photos to their specs in studio, so their marketing departments can adjust them for consistency of brand. An example of what’s on the web, and what we did in studio. #legalphotos #pittsburghphotographer
Nov 1
Many companies have me take photos to their specs in studio, so their marketing departments can adjust them for consistency of brand. An example of what’s on the web, and what we did in studio. #legalphotos #pittsburghphotographer
So yeah, we don’t do #seniorphotos But when a friend asked, Dan said he wanted to do it, and I said I’d be his lighting assistant.Dan and I didn’t want these type of pictures you always see at the yellow sister bridge (Clemente, Warhol, and 9th). Wanted to bring a little more “epic” to it.#pittsburghphotographer #pittsburghportraits
Oct 30
So yeah, we don’t do #seniorphotos But when a friend asked, Dan said he wanted to do it, and I said I’d be his lighting assistant. Dan and I didn’t want these type of pictures you always see at the yellow sister bridge (Clemente, Warhol, and 9th). Wanted to bring a little more “epic” to it. #pittsburghphotographer #pittsburghportraits
Have I mentioned recently how much I love my job as a #professionalteamphotographer and #headshotphotographer? I get to work with a ton of fun people.
Oct 28
Have I mentioned recently how much I love my job as a #professionalteamphotographer and #headshotphotographer? I get to work with a ton of fun people.
This is one of my favorite portraits that I’ve taken in the historic Supreme Court of PA courtroom in Pittsburgh.I remember our shoot, Justice Baer was very down-to-earth and wasn’t in a rush, and we had a nice conversation. I liked it that he wanted his portrait in a suit, not his robe, and he liked my vision for setting up this shot.My sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. Obituary in Oct 1 @pittsburghpg
Oct 3
This is one of my favorite portraits that I’ve taken in the historic Supreme Court of PA courtroom in Pittsburgh. I remember our shoot, Justice Baer was very down-to-earth and wasn’t in a rush, and we had a nice conversation. I liked it that he wanted his portrait in a suit, not his robe, and he liked my vision for setting up this shot. My sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. Obituary in Oct 1 @pittsburghpg
Thanks to @culturaltrust @asmp_pgh to organizing such a great event. Looking forward to January! @elliottcramer @elanmizrahi @adrieshoots @farzeenghavam @dprephoto @jwramp @cathykellyphotography @shelleyliptonart @wdophoto
Sep 24
Thanks to @culturaltrust @asmp_pgh to organizing such a great event. Looking forward to January! @elliottcramer @elanmizrahi @adrieshoots @farzeenghavam @dprephoto @jwramp @cathykellyphotography @shelleyliptonart @wdophoto
From our “photoshoot” in Maine. Haha. Hard to time the dogs looking at the camera with the crashing waves.
Sep 23
From our “photoshoot” in Maine. Haha. Hard to time the dogs looking at the camera with the crashing waves.
Love all the cool #professionalpittsburgh people who come in, and get some amazing #selfconfident #professionalphotos. Love my job as a #headshotphotographer
Aug 23
Love all the cool #professionalpittsburgh people who come in, and get some amazing #selfconfident #professionalphotos. Love my job as a #headshotphotographer
Love all our #pittsburghlobbies and doing some #teamphotos in #downtownpittsburgh sharing a bit #behindthescenes
Aug 22
Love all our #pittsburghlobbies and doing some #teamphotos in #downtownpittsburgh sharing a bit #behindthescenes
I’m not often going for the super serious look for #headshotphotos for most of my #pittsburghprofessionals. But sometimes, it fits what they do.
Aug 16
I’m not often going for the super serious look for #headshotphotos for most of my #pittsburghprofessionals. But sometimes, it fits what they do.
I couldn’t make it, but @dan_jenworleyphotography had a great time 📸.Thanks to @jasanooo for bringing creatives together and @premierimaging for promoting.Thanks to the Models, ya were great. If I messed up or missed anyone in these, please tag. : @sariebeary @meech_mackey @traaabix_ @earthtoaaron @_cupofjoe._
Aug 1
I couldn’t make it, but @dan_jenworleyphotography had a great time 📸. Thanks to @jasanooo for bringing creatives together and @premierimaging for promoting. Thanks to the Models, ya were great. If I messed up or missed anyone in these, please tag. : @sariebeary @meech_mackey @traaabix_ @earthtoaaron @_cupofjoe._
Loving my job and the great people I meet as a #headshotphotographer in #pittsburgh
Jul 28
Loving my job and the great people I meet as a #headshotphotographer in #pittsburgh
Highlights from last Thursday’s shoot day; ready for release yesterday. #pittsburghportraits #headshots
Jul 26
Highlights from last Thursday’s shoot day; ready for release yesterday. #pittsburghportraits #headshots
Shot in The State Capital in Harrisburg earlier this year; just finalized, printed, and delivered for all the Judges. This is the test print I ordered; video doesn’t exactly capture correct exposure. Superior Court if Pennsylvania. If I have time, will do a post in sections…. Still, all the details of this courtroom are so amazing, that the photo is as much about the institution of the space as well as the judges.
Jul 25
Shot in The State Capital in Harrisburg earlier this year; just finalized, printed, and delivered for all the Judges. This is the test print I ordered; video doesn’t exactly capture correct exposure. Superior Court if Pennsylvania. If I have time, will do a post in sections…. Still, all the details of this courtroom are so amazing, that the photo is as much about the institution of the space as well as the judges.
Have you been to Racoon? Lived in #pittsburgh all my life, and only went to that small little beach once. But this place is huge! So glad we camped here for a close weekend “away”. And it’s mushroom season! Lots of cool mushrooms you can observe. Since ya know it’s @dan_jenworleyphotography thing.
Jul 23
Have you been to Racoon? Lived in #pittsburgh all my life, and only went to that small little beach once. But this place is huge! So glad we camped here for a close weekend “away”. And it’s mushroom season! Lots of cool mushrooms you can observe. Since ya know it’s @dan_jenworleyphotography thing.
First year I’m appreciating all the lilies. Lilly? Or Lily? Should spellcheck.
Jul 15
First year I’m appreciating all the lilies. Lilly? Or Lily? Should spellcheck.
My go-to on location stuff. Mobility is key for me. @westcottlighting @godox_global @tethertools @canonusa @benrousa @manfrottoimaginemore @arcaswissusa
Jun 30
My go-to on location stuff. Mobility is key for me. @westcottlighting @godox_global @tethertools @canonusa @benrousa @manfrottoimaginemore @arcaswissusa
I really need to post more all these amazing people who come in. With their permission, of course! #headshotphoto #pittsburghphotographer
Jun 20
I really need to post more all these amazing people who come in. With their permission, of course! #headshotphoto #pittsburghphotographer
Subba. Taken with new 13Pro on Portrait, then edited in Lightroom Mobile. #shibainu
Jun 18
Subba. Taken with new 13Pro on Portrait, then edited in Lightroom Mobile. #shibainu
In the line for the tour, the guide asked a little white girl what she knew about George Washington. She said: “He had slaves.” The enslaved people of Mt Vernon was one if my biggest takeaways from the visit. This was George Washington home, farm, and yes, plantation.The home was by no means the grand mansion that we would expect a man of Washington’s stature to have today. But the grounds were expansive. He had 5 large farms, tons of acreage of forests, a harbor on the Potomac, and beautiful personal gardens. In 1799 when he died, there were 5 family members who lived on the state. About a dozen white servants.But over 300 black enslaved workers. Some families were split up to work on the different farms, and so didn’t regularly see their spouse or children. When they died, there was no marker to signify where they had been buried; by contrast, at the end of his life Washington commissioned a new tomb & grave site be made for his family, with a big brick mausoleum complete with the obelisks typical to the period. Not even the smallest of stones for the enslaved people.#mtvernon #georgewashington
May 19
In the line for the tour, the guide asked a little white girl what she knew about George Washington. She said: “He had slaves.” The enslaved people of Mt Vernon was one if my biggest takeaways from the visit. This was George Washington home, farm, and yes, plantation. The home was by no means the grand mansion that we would expect a man of Washington’s stature to have today. But the grounds were expansive. He had 5 large farms, tons of acreage of forests, a harbor on the Potomac, and beautiful personal gardens. In 1799 when he died, there were 5 family members who lived on the state. About a dozen white servants. But over 300 black enslaved workers. Some families were split up to work on the different farms, and so didn’t regularly see their spouse or children. When they died, there was no marker to signify where they had been buried; by contrast, at the end of his life Washington commissioned a new tomb & grave site be made for his family, with a big brick mausoleum complete with the obelisks typical to the period. Not even the smallest of stones for the enslaved people. #mtvernon #georgewashington
Definitely worth a trip to. Very Dog friendly, although of course they can’t go on the mansion tour, or the museums. #shibainu Wanted the music to be “Washington on your side” but didn’t see it in the music feed.
May 16
Definitely worth a trip to. Very Dog friendly, although of course they can’t go on the mansion tour, or the museums. #shibainu Wanted the music to be “Washington on your side” but didn’t see it in the music feed.
Fun at work.