When the coronavirus swept over the globe, it turned many lives upside down. The stay-at-home order forced businesses to adjust with the times. Many businesses succeeded by creating makeshift offices at home, curbside pickup and online ordering while some closed. Yet, social media was booming with COVID memes and political statements. As a social media marketer, this is the first time I’ve encountered where I didn’t know what to post. It seemed as though the world just stopped. Period.
Even though I felt that way, social media was still important. Maybe even more. According to eMarketer, Facebook saw a 70% increase in usage of its apps in the month of March. As more people stayed home, they spent more time being entertained, connected and informed on — you guessed it — social media. So, it would seem that this would be the perfect time to say something, anything, to get your brand out there. Before you dive into the sea of social media, here are a few things to consider as we continue to adapt.
Look at Your Audience Now More Than Ever
When you don’t know what to post on your social media platform, check in with your followers and fans to see how they feel during this time. Tuning your eyes and ears on your audience can help you determine how best to reach them. Are they posting quotes? Are they liking videos? Are they looking at a lot of cat pictures? This will help you get a better picture of what you should and should not post on social media when times like these are changing everyday. By reflecting on your audience, you can build a brand that they want to engage with and build forever customers.
Focus on Your Community, Not on You
I virtually attended the Midwest Digital Marketing Conference 2020 where I learned new information about social media marketing in turbulent times. They reminded me how supporting your local community can be the best way to market your brand. What I mean by that is focusing your attention on what your community is doing. For one of my clients, I shared posts from other local businesses that were making masks for people, providing hand sanitizers, donating food to local hospital staffs, and delivering meals to the senior community. And you know what? The engagement skyrocketed, because sharing content gets eight times the engagement. When you’re unsure of what to post, look around you and see what other people are doing in your local area.
Silence Can Be Just As Powerful
Have you ever heard that less is more? In uncertain times like dealing with the coronavirus, it’s okay to be silent. In fact, if you don’t know what to post, it’s better to post nothing at all than post content for the sake of posting. The quarantine life got so isolated so fast that social media became a place to connect with friends and family — the actual purpose of social media. That doesn’t mean your brand should go completely dark. Instead, you could take a proactive approach by communicating with your audience — connecting with them. Start by engaging with your followers with likes and comments. Let them know you’re here for them, that you care. Sometimes actions are louder than words, especially in turbulent times.
Social media marketing is a guessing game right now with the world updating their status every minute. Take this time to hone in on your audience and your community, because now more than ever, listening will get you heard in the sea of social media.