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Battle of The Metrics: Engagement vs. Reach on Social Media

Not sure whether to focus on growing your audience on social media or creating connections with your loyal followers? This is a common challenge for those wanting to grow their social media account. In an age where algorithms are constantly changing, it is hard to know whether reach or engagement is the most important. Each thing is valuable in its own right so read more to find out which strategy is best for you. 

What is Engagement on Social Media?

Engagement is the interaction between a user and your content. For example, when a user likes, comments or shares your post means they are engaging with your content. It is a great way to measure the effectiveness of your social media strategy.

A high engagement rate often means that your content resonates with your target audience which can lead them to interact with your brand.

A quick way to boost your engagement is to have your followers comment a buzz word on your post if they would like a DM with more information. However, this tactic is quick but will not create a meaningful connection with your audience. 

A client of Colewood Digital Marketing getting ready to post a picture to their Instagram Social Media

Create Authentic Conversations to Build Loyalty 

When you reply with thought and consideration to your audience, more users will engage with your content. 

Colewood Digital’s Top Tip: Ask your follower’s questions to invite your followers to interact more! 

Users are more likely to remember your brand and share it with their own network. From a psychological standpoint, this is also a great way to develop a sense of loyalty to your brand. Show your appreciation to your followers, address their concerns, and participate in their discussions – it is a great way to encourage long-term relationships with your audience!

Turn Your Clicks into Conversions 

You could use your engagement to turn those clicks into conversations. Like buying your product, sign-ups or any other actions you want your followers to do. 

A great way to do this is to include a compelling and clear call to action in your posts by talking directly to them. Offer exclusive deals, or content, to make it easier for your users to take the next step.

A great way to engage with your users is to utilise targeted ads to those who have already shown an interest in your brand. Make sure you optimise your landing pages to create a seamless user experience.

By aligning your social media strategy with your business goals, you could easily convert your engagement into measurable results – especially if you are creating meaningful connections with your audience

What is Reach on Social Media?

Reach is the total of unique users that see your content. Did you know that 90% of social media users are lurkers? Chances are your audience will not interact with your posts. This is often because they value their privacy or they simply do not like to comment or share posts. 

It does not mean they are not your customers, so by encouraging reach you can see the potential size of your audience and see how widely your message is being distributed across all your social media platforms. Whether that is Instagram, Linkedin or even Facebook.

A high reach means that more people are exposed to your content, which is brilliant for brand awareness. By understanding your reach, you can gauge for yourself how effective your promotional strategies are and even see gaps you can use as opportunities to amplify your message.

Increase Your Brand Visibility By Building Your Following

This is a great way to increase your brand awareness on social media. By having a larger (and as a bonus, more engaged!) following, more people will see your posts. The more people that see, the more likely they are to follow and lead into conversions. 

If you focus on creating compelling and relevant content that will resonate with your audience you can attract and retain your followers. But the best way to do this is through original content. 

“Why does original content matter?” I hear you ask. 

Original content matters because it is a great way to boost visibility on Google as well. This SEO practice can increase your brand awareness in the SERP’s (Search Engine Ranking Pages) and encourage more users to follow your social medias.

Achieve a Greater Reach for Your Campaigns

A great way to achieve a reach for your campaigns is to implement strategies that maximise your exposure and attract a wider audience. 

There are benefits of an effective PPC campaign, as paid advertising is a great way to target specific demographics and increase the visibility of your campaigns beyond your existing followers. 

By collaborating with influencers or partnering with other brands, you could also tap into new audiences.

Optimise your content for shareability by creating content that is visually appealing and easily shareable posts. Use trending hashtags and participate in popular conversations to boost the chances of your content being discovered on a variety of social media platforms. 

By regularly analysing your reach metrics you can refine your approach and ensure your campaigns are effectively reaching your target audience. 

A Woman getting ready to understand her reach and engagement  on social media with Teeside's Leading Digital Marketing Agency Colewood Digital

Need a little extra help in optimising your social media strategy? Contact Us at Colewood Digital today for your FREE consultations. 

Together we can help you navigate which social media strategy is better to reach and engage your followers. Explore our social media services today and start your journey to effective growth with the best social media marketing agency.

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