How to Increase Social Media Followers: 7 Steps to Social Media Swag

We are in the information age. And a lot of Baby Boomers (me included) are a little intimidated by technology. The digital divide is real. No wonder so many of us are left asking how to increase social media followers. Or make the most of these platforms in general.

It is my mission to close the gap. I want to get people to see how social media and technology are just another communication tool. It’s like public relations on steroids.

Same message, just a different method.

You’ve heard the term swag lately.

Someone may say, “I like your swag” or “He’s got swag!” And although you may not find this popular term in Merriam-Webster’s version of the dictionary, it is used worldwide by teens, recording artists, TV critics, and, most notably, for your sake… social media!

I know, I know. Before you tell me how you don’t know how to tweet and have no desire to tweet, twit, or Facebook, for that matter, let me let you in on a secret. Social media can be your business’ ticket to success.

Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it to you.

Swag is a term used to describe someone’s style, personality, the way they carry themselves, and their confidence level. It’s a person’s walk, their talk. It’s their attitude but in a good way!

We’ve all got some level of swag… well, some more than others. But after reading the following, I challenge you to ‘get your swag on’ and make social media work for you.

How to Increase Social Media Followers: Step 1

Don’t Hate on the Competition Just Yet…

In any business, the goal is usually to beat the competitor.

But in order to beat the competition, you have to know what they are doing and what makes them a competitor. If they are still in the game, they have to be doing something right. So you need to watch, look and listen to what is going on around you.

Put your head in the game! Take inventory of where you are right now and where you want to go from here.

For example, when you read a blog, you are studying your competition. And after you read so many blogs, you’ll not only be motivated to start your own, but you’ll know what to say, how to say it, and who is listening. Read the responses to the blogs as well. This lets you know what your target audience is saying, which allows you to tailor your own blog to those respondents.

(Speaking of your target audience, here’s how to network with them)

Though many like to think so, social media is not a magic lamp where you can rub it, and out comes a genie.

It is just another spoke in the wheel for your overall marketing plan.

The social media outlet door is wide open for you and the rest of the world to see, free of charge! No longer do you have to play detective and act as a secret shopper to find out the best strategies of your competitors. Their marketing strategies have just become an open book.

Read their tweets. Follow their Facebook posts.

Find out who your top three competitors are, and simply sit back and watch, look and listen. Then determine your personal goals you want to achieve through social media.

Social media is more than an outlet to just post pictures and ‘like’ someone’s status

It’s essentially a free advertisement.

Let’s say that I have a client who has an article about them written in Essence or Ebony. They can then repost that article into a blog site or even add a link to the article on their Facebook profile. This not only allows the readers of these publications to read the article, but all of this person’s ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ also learn of the success.

If someone is featured on The View or Oprah, they can obtain a copy of it from the TV station, upload it to YouTube, and then repost to whatever other social media sites they choose. So while your friends or family may not have picked up the latest issue of Essence and didn’t get to watch you on The View, they are sure to see it when you post it on your public social networking profile.

(Looking for even more social media goodness? Don’t miss this post next: How to Build Your Social Media Platform: 5 Stages You Can’t Skip)

How to Increase Social Media Followers?

Start by watching, looking, and listening.

The competitor didn’t become a competitor by doing something wrong. They have to be doing something right. Find out what it is and make it work for you. While watching the competition, you purposely position yourself to attract your target audience as well.

Okay, there you have it. The first step to increase social media followers. Ready for more? Take a
look at your next move here: Social Media Swag Step 2: Make Digital Footprints in the Sand.

Here are three posts to read next:

• Don’t Let Your Story Die Inside of You: Lessons from Natasha Munson
• How to Get Media Attention
• No More Whack DIY Websites…Outsource to the Experts and Improve Your Brand Image

This post was first published in 2013, but it was updated in 2021 just for you.