In 2024, community is everything when it comes to social media marketing, and by everything I mean the best way to make money and see direct results from marketing on social media. (So yeah, it’s a killer strategy)
Overall, people are becoming less focused on building giant followings and more focused on building a strong community, whether that’s 500 people or 8,000 people. These days, it’s all about quality over quantity, baby.
Why? Strong communities offer higher engagement rates, and much higher conversion rates than accounts with large followings and a weak community aspect.
Take a look at the pros – Nike, Starbucks, Sephora – they’ve cracked the code on building killer social communities that go beyond just selling stuff. They’ve created tribes of loyal fans who are as passionate about their brand as they are about their morning coffee (or post-workout sneakers, or killer makeup looks). This turns them into brand advocates, the ultimate pinnacle of success in the world of consumerism.
So, where do you start on your journey to building a ride or die community?
Successful social media communities begin with understanding your audience. Dive deep into what makes ’em tick, what makes ’em laugh, and what keeps ’em scrolling through their feeds at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday. If you are unsure on how to learn more about your target audience, check out this blog post here where I share 5 methods for learning about your target audience.
Feeling a bit lost in the community-building department? Follow these 3 strategies and you’ll be well on your way to having a ride or die Instagram community in 2024.
Start a series
Starting a series of themed content or recurring posts can help foster anticipation and engagement among your audience aka they watch your Instagram account like a hawk, eagerly anticipating your next piece of content.
Consistent series provide structure and familiarity, which encourages followers to return regularly to engage with your content (plus, it’s easier for you to plan out your content calendar with a repeatable piece of content that you KNOW your audience loves). Instagram content series are also an amazing way to show off your expertise and encourage deeper connections with your community as they get a feel for your personality.
I started a series for my client, Haley, who is a professional copywriter that her audience has been LOVING. Not only is this a fun way to show off her expertise as a copywriter, by being able to write in different brand voices, but it also gets her community involved as we ask them which tv character they’d like us to write for next. That’s what I call a win, win baby.
Take us along on the journey
Mark my words, this is going to be a strategy that blows accounts up not only with a lot of followers but with QUALITY followers who are obsessed with you in 2024.
Whether you’re learning a new skill, embarking on a personal or professional endeavor, or transforming your life in some way, inviting your audience to “come along for the ride” builds a sense of intimacy and connection. By showcasing both the highs and lows of your journey, you humanize your brand and create relatable touchpoints that resonate with your audience on a deeper level, fostering empathy, loyalty and duhhhh COMMUNITY.
Some examples could be, “Day 1 of me trying to become an influencer.” OR “Day 1 of me investing in the stock market sob that I can retire by 40.” OR “Day 1 of me healing from a breakup with a narcissist.” The more specific and more relatable, the better. Again, make sure this is something your audience will care about otherwise it’s ain’t building that community sis, and that’s the whole point!
Involve your audience in decision making
Make your audience feel like they’re a part of your decision-making, by asking them for feedback or direction related to your content or brand. This could involve conducting polls or surveys to gather feedback on potential content topics, product features, or marketing initiatives.
For example, Starbucks launched a contest in 2016 where they asked their consumers to design their new cups. Talk about a genius marketing and community building strategy.
Doritos also has done this in campaigns like their “Crash the Super Bowl” campaign where they asked their consumers to create their own Doritos commercial for a chance to win money and be aired at the Super Bowl on the big screen. By involving your audience’s preferences and opinions, you show them that their voices matter to you and you value their feedback. (Two incredible strategies for building community).
Some ways to do this on social media could be asking a photographer who took a funny picture asking their followers to “Caption this post” OR a fashion brand like Garage, asking their followers “Which outfit would your girlfriend pick for a night out?” OR Spotify could create a post asking their users, “You wake up in a bad mood. What’s the first song you’re putting on to cheer you up?” See how all of these are talking with your Instagram followers, not AT them. Social media is about conversation and… being (wait for it), social. (I KNOW, you’re mind-blown).
In 2024, community is king. So, take these strategies, run with them, and thank me later when your Instagram community and bank account are both thriving.
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