You’ll have heard the term engagement bandied around a lot in the world of social media, but have you ever stopped to think what it really means and why you should do it?

To most people, social media engagement means just two things – likes and comments. That’s because those are the outward signs that people are responding to our content.

In fact, there are a whole host of other things that also count as engagement on – or as a result of – your posts, so make sure you take those into account too.

Other types of engagement include: Follows, direct messages, post saves, post shares, profile views, web traffic (from social), downloads and video views.

Why is engagement so important on social media?

Engagement is the life that comes into your social media and without it you’re just broadcasting.

Engagement helps you build a closer relationship with your followers. It allows you to understand what they want and need from you.

Engagement also sets you aside from other therapists who may ignore their customers and ultimately gets you seen by more people. Best of all – the algorithm loves engagement. In short, the more you engage, the more people will see your posts.

Proactive vs reactive engagement

You’re probably familiar with the art of reactive engagement – that is, responding to comments and DMs sent to your accounts.

But how much time do you spend on proactive engagement?

Not sure what that is?

Proactive engagement is when you spend time actively engaging on other people’s content. This could include:

• Commenting on your ideal client’s posts
• Sending direct messages or voice notes to clients
• Starting or joining in with conversations on other accounts
• Using social listening tools to find out what people think of your brand via brand mentions

If you have a social media strategy, it should include a section on engagement.

If you don’t have a strategy or don’t proactively engage, you need to factor it into your schedule. You’ll be amazed at the impact it can have.

Quick tips to increase your proactive and reactive engagement  

Proactive

• Lots of platforms – including Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn – have a bell on each user’s profile. When you click the bell, you’ll be notified each time that account posts. This is a great way to quickly engage with your ideal clients
• When someone new follows your account, take a moment to check out their profile and like or comment on their most recent post. You don’t need to go all out with a follow back
• Follow strategic hashtags so that you can easily find and join conversations that are relevant to you – these could be therapy based or location based

Reactive

• Respond to all comments on your posts – or at least as many as you can if you get hundreds a day!
• Reply to all direct messages – there’s nothing worse than a company that ghosts its clients
• Always include a call to action on your post, e.g. ask a question or invite people to direct message you for more info. People are more likely to engage with your content when you give them a reason to

Be consistent with your engagement

Being consistent with your engagement will make a huge difference to the success of your accounts, but I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed at the prospect.

The key is to be intentional and to make it part of your daily routine. Engage while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil or set a 10-minute timer and put your phone down when the alarm goes off.

Follow these simple tips and watch your account grow.

If you’d like help with any part of your social media management – or would like more advice on engagement – please get in touch today!