No matter what your marketing budget is, when it comes to marketing your business, Facebook is a no-brainer. Whether you have a large advertising budget – or none, it is an easy way to engage with both potential and current consumers of your brand. However, it may come as a surprise that Facebook has proven less effective in recent months.

As an increasing number of businesses join the Facebook bandwagon, and as Facebook’s algorithms change, it is becoming harder for those businesses to maintain engagement. In fact, an analysis of more than 880 million posts on the social media platform shows that engagement is down by roughly 20% over six months.

What does that mean for your business? It means you need to be proactive in increasing your social media engagement. Not sure where to start? No problem.

Our social media team of experts have put together the top 3 ways you can boost your social media engagement, to stay relevant on Facebook.

  • Post When the Most Users Are Active

Running your own business is time-consuming  and we get it, but if you’re saving your social media posting for early in the morning or right before you go to bed, chances are, you aren’t reaching the majority of your audience. Wednesday tends to be the most active day on Facebook, with Thursday and Friday following close behind. Sunday is the least active.

Regardless of which day you post, late morning to mid-afternoon is when you’ll find the biggest audience. If you don’t have time to sit and post on your own during the best times, use a scheduling tool like Hootsuite.

Scheduling apps allow you to schedule posts weeks or even months in advance and specify which day of the week and time of day to post them.

  • Use More Visual Media

If you’re using walls of text, you’re probably conveying plenty of information. That doesn’t mean that your followers are reading it, though.

Facebook is highly visual. In fact, photos and videos make up most of the content on the social media platform. Many people scroll right past walls of text but stop at pictures, so the more visually intriguing your posts are, the more likely you are to gain loyal followers who truly engage in your content.

Tip: Use high-quality images and videos that speak to your audience and show your brand in a positive light. When using images, switch up the filter and styles, so that they stand out against each other. 

  • Engage With Your Audience

It might seem like a given, but you’d be surprised how many businesses want to engage their audiences but don’t actually interact with them. If you receive direct messages from potential or current customers, respond to them as quickly as possible. If you are unable to react quickly, simply set up an auto response system.

When your followers comment on your posts, make sure to reply to them within 24 hours. When someone takes the time to interact with your social media account, the polite thing to do (not to mention the smart business move) is to have the courtesy to respond. Responding not only sends a direct message to the person, but others see that you… well, care.

Need Help With Your Social Media Profile & Engagement?

Facebook and other social media platforms are constantly changing – so, when it comes to keeping on top of your social media and platform trends, it pays to get help from experts.

At Sprout Media Lab, we understand that being a business owner is time consuming and running a social media account can tap into your priority day-to-day business operations.

Let us keep you on top of your social media game. Contact our digital marketing experts online, or give us a call for a consultation at (800) 617-6975 today!