You might already be a regular user of social media, but that doesn’t mean that you know all the little tricks and features that can come with each platform. A lot of features that are helpful for business accounts might not be relevant for personal users, and you may not know about them until you stumble across them on the platforms or in reading about them, like through this blog. Here are some features of social media platforms that you might not know about, but that can be used to boost your posts and engagement levels
Polls
Polls are a feature on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and they are extremely useful for finding out more information about your followers and what they want. The options for polls can vary; for example, polls on Facebook are limited to just two options to choose between, while you can include up to four options on Twitter. On Instagram Stories, there are different kinds of polls and feedback options you can select, from Polls, which offer two choices, to Quizzes, which offer up to four choices but with only one of them being the right answer. Whatever platform you are on, using polls within your posts, tweets, or Stories can help you gather feedback from your followers, which in turn can help you improve your business and your offerings.
Pro tip: If you’re making a poll on Facebook, trying including some images with your poll choices. (As long as you own these images, of course.) This is an easy way to draw attention to your poll and make it stand out as its own post.
Live Videos
Live videos can sound a little intimidating; after all, it’s a lot easier for something to go wrong when you’re projecting it live rather than recording and editing it in advance. However, live videos provide casual environments for viewers to tune in and potentially ask questions about your business. Often, they are used to offer instruction or showcase an event that’s going on in real time. Live videos can be run on Instagram or Facebook.
Pro tips: Before you start your first live video, have a plan in mind for what the video will be about or what you might say. Also, consider your audience, and how many viewers you might get at the time of day you’re going live. Announce the date and time of your live video a few days in advance, so that your followers can plan on being active on Facebook or Instagram at that point.
GIFs
GIFs are a great way to add some personality into your posts. GIFs are short, silent clips of a video or animation that can be attached to a post, and they are often used to demonstrate a reaction. You’ll want to make sure that you’re not infringing on copyright when using a GIF, but as long as you’re using your GIF appropriately, they can be a fun way to express yourself through your posts.
Pro tips: Consider using GIFs for specific posts, such as when replying on Twitter or as a response to comments on Facebook. If every post you create involves a GIF, it’s easy for them to lose their charm. Also, consider the context of the GIFs you are using. You’ll want your GIFs to be professional, even if you’re making a funny statement, so you want to make sure that the GIF is high-quality, and that any references associated with it are appropriate and professional as well. If a GIF seems obscure, off-brand, or questionable in any way, don’t use it. It’s better to have a lackluster post than one that is accidentally offensive.
Direct Messages (DMs)
On Instagram or Twitter, private messages between users are referred to as DMs. (On Facebook, they’re just referred to as Messages, but the idea is still the same.) DMs can feel like iffy territory for a business. It’s a private environment, so sometimes your business account will get spammy or rude DMs because the senders can remain more anonymous from the general public. However, the key to using DMs to your advantage is remaining professional. Don’t use DMs to try to advertise to customers, but if someone messages you, use the interaction to serve the customer by answering questions promptly, addressing negative feedback, and thanking them for positive feedback.
Pro tip: Just because DMs are private doesn’t mean whatever you say will stay private. Anyone can screenshot their DMs, or take a picture of their screen while displaying their private messages. If you respond negatively or rudely to a customer, it is all too easy for them to display that online, which can escalate the issue and damage your business’ reputation. Again, keep your tone professional, no matter what.
Social media is constantly evolving, and staying on top of each platform’s features is important! Hopefully, you now have some new features to try out in bringing your social media accounts to the next level!
Wreath Writing & Marketing Services 