How To Create Community On Social Media

It’s the social media marketer’s dream–a social media community that is encouraging and interactive. Every business wants visitors to like their Facebook page; everyone wants their tweets starred or better yet, retweeted.

So, how does a company create community on social media pages?

It’s hard, I mean really, really hard, to get the kind of community we all long for in a social page. No doubt, it takes tons of persistence, but the good news is that it can be done.


Check out this video to see how social media has (and is) changing our world.

1) Respond to each of your followers.

Answer their questions or complaints when it comes up. If someone is complimenting you, return the favor. Just because you represent a business does not mean that your potential customers like to go unnoticed.

Your followers may not expect it, sure. So that gives you even more incentive to do it–to exceed their expectations. To surpass your competition’s level of customer service.

Ask your followers questions. Have them respond to surveys. Conduct contests. All of these are ways you can interact with your followers and to learn more about their wants and dislikes to further specialize your content for them.

2) Nurture the relationship with your followers.

Let them know how much you appreciate them, their interest, their business. Tell them how awesome they are. Even if they just “like” your response, that like could make it onto someone’s feed.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou, writer

Businesses aren’t excluded to Angelou’s advice. Make your customers or clients let you know how much you care. They will remember the feeling your company puts off to its customers.

3) Like or share them first.

If you see a quality article, picture, or video from someone you follow that pertains to your business or your audience, why not give them some attention by liking or even sharing their material?

This can do double duty by showing your audience that you’re listening to them while also giving them information that may not be entirely business-related. Your clients or customers want to have fun and go to social media to be informed and entertained. Give them both with fun articles mixed in with some informational goodness.

Which leads me to number 4.

4) Don’t be afraid to mix it up.

In your free time (what’s that, I know) you’ve found an awesome article that you think your audience would appreciate. It doesn’t have much to do with your business per se, but you believe your audience may like it. What do you do?

Share it.

Have fun with your page, be yourself, and others will notice.

In fact, your Twitter feed or Facebook page should be about 80% business/problem-solving and 20% devoted to building your community. That 20% should be fun, entertaining, and encouraging.

Just think of it this way–without that 20%, you could come off pushy or uptight. That’s never any fun.

5) Don’t be afraid to show some personality.

Grassroots organizations are making a huge comeback. From farmers markets and specialty butcher shops to local coffee shops are seeing an increase in customers.

Can you guess why?

People do not like to feel like a number. No one wants to feel like he or she doesn’t matter to an organization or company. Instead, they want to feel like they mean something. They want to go into a coffee shop where the barista knows their name and their drink–rather than every morning having to recite their large mocha half-caf latte with almond milk.

Consumers want to feel like they’re a part of a larger community. Even if that means knowing they prefer the fatty bacon over the lean at the butcher shop.

This is what brings people back over and over again; loyalty isn’t given but earned.

How do you get your customers to want to be loyal to your company?

By showing personality. By getting to know them.

Don’t be afraid to post fun pictures of yourself meeting new customers or visiting extraordinary places for the perfect supplies that will go into your newest product. Fill that 20% dedicated to fun with some good quality connection-building material.

The Takeaway

Social media is detrimental for business these days. Without it, they are missing endless opportunities to reach out and get to know their audience. Focus your social media efforts onto specific websites where your clients frequent.

The key to social media marketing is just that–being social. It isn’t about pushing a product or service.

It is about being a friend–a friend that people will want to talk to and about. You want to be the business that has a fantastic reputation for customer service. Give your clients the outlet to make you shine.

Now it’s your turn

What are some ways you have interacted with your clients or customers online that received a great response? Have you ever used non-related, fun media to boost page morale? How did it go?

Comment below and share your wisdom with us.