Social media platforms play a prominent role in determining a brand's success. Especially nowadays, when there is an emphasis on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The two boasts of having hundreds of millions of active users every month and the number is going to grow in the future.

Of course, brands that are starting out will likely struggle to make the most out of what social media has to offer. Lack of experience can be a big disadvantage. On the other hand, that should not be a reason to stop. After all, everyone had to start from somewhere, right?

The work you put in will determine whether the campaign on either of your selected platforms is a success or not. And in case you have been struggling to come up with a plan on your own, consider implementing ideas mentioned below.

Idea #1 – Look at Successful Examples

Inspiration from brands that have had success in the past could be one of the best first steps to take. If you have doubts about the effectiveness of social media in general, these doubts should disappear when you see real-life examples.

illustration by Valeria Mysko

Oberlo explains how to use social media campaigns to boost sales on their website. Take this information and use it as a reference for when you are struggling.

Idea #2 – Organize Giveaways

Giveaways and contests have been around since the inception of social media. Marketers have already noticed that it is a perfect method to attract a bigger audience. Give them something for free, and they will be more than happy to follow your page and share the post of a giveaway with their friends. Some will even share it with public groups that they are in.

Contests tend to go viral quite often, and they can be one of the best investments, even if the prize is relatively trivial. Since there are no entry fees and engaging with the post is all that is necessary to participate, you can expect a lot of people to jump at this opportunity.

Idea #3 – Engage With Your Followers

o not leave your audience hanging after you publish a post. You need to take the initiative and respond to their comments and questions. Some brands hire social media managers that are responsible for interacting with the audience.

Show the followers that there is a real person behind the account. This way, your customers will be more eager to engage, as well. Seeing that there is someone who uses a personal tone and is relatable is what a lot of people on social media are looking for.

Idea #4 – Use the Story Mode

The Story Mode is a relatively new type of content that you can find on some platforms. The appeal of it is the fact that these stories only last for 24 hours and disappear after.

This gives a perfect opportunity to create the kind of content that followers should not miss. Behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive deals, and teasers about upcoming projects will create a situation where people will be afraid to miss out.

Idea #5 – Create Profiles on Multiple Platforms

Do not limit yourself to just Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. There are more platforms that can provide you with chances to reach even wider audiences, especially those that are not present on the most popular websites.

Idea #6 – Focus on Content Quality

The quality of content is what attracts new followers and keeps the ones you have interested in remaining loyal to your brand. Social media success is measured by metrics like new followers and engagement on posts. You cannot expect to do well in these departments if you are negligent and do not put your best in it.

Idea #7 – Run Ad Campaigns

Ad campaigns are another method that will help you reach a wider audience. This is especially true when you are looking to reach people who have not interacted with your brand before, but might be interested.

There is a lot of tinkering with settings involved, as well as other nuances that require experience. As such, if you are unwilling to learn all that stuff yourself, you may want to hire someone who has experience with ad campaigns and can take care of the task for you.

Idea #8 – Keep Track of Analytics

o not guess your results blindly. The tools that provide data are there for a reason. There is multiple analytics that keeps track of every little bit of information and provides you with the details.

These details help determine whether you have had success or not. Moving forward is easier when you can back your future decisions with real numbers.

Idea #9 – Join Communities

Do not just get stuck on your profile. You can join communities within a specific platform and show yourself to even wider audiences. Who knows, if you are active and can establish yourself as an authority by providing insightful comments, you can expect to get even more attention as a brand on social media.