I quickly got tired of creating great content on social media but not seeing any growth in my followers. I’m sure I’m not alone.

It’s stressful to be posting daily and pressuring yourself and your peers to produce content on top of content. Despite all that stress and effort, my content always failed to stick.

Many people struggle with growing their social media following, despite putting in the effort to create high-quality content. The truth is, the reason you’re not getting followers may not be because of your content quality, but rather your social media habits.

What most people forget is that social media is about being social — not be competitive.

Over my years managing social media pages, I’ve discovered a few social media habits that can lead to consistent follower growth. These habits are beyond the content you create and can be applied throughout your marketing. I’m sharing them here so you can finally see the results you’ve been working for.

Habits to Get Your Social Media Growing

#1. Respond to comments

It’s super important to show your followers that you’re listening to them and caring about what they have to say. So make sure to respond to comments on your posts as quickly as you can, and use a friendly and approachable tone.

Once you get into the habit of responding, you should break the formal business tone and opt to find your own unique voice. Although the safe and polished tone reduces potential hate, haters will be haters regardless of how formal your comments are.

Change your messaging to something that sounds less like an automated response and more like a person.

This helps build on the most important value a business can rely on.

#2. Hit the ‘like’ button when you like something

Liking other people’s posts on social media is a great way to connect with other users and show them that you’re interested in their content.

Plus, when you like a post, it’ll show up in their notifications, which might make them check out your profile and even follow you. Even just the name popping up and a user giving it less than a split-second of attention gives you that extra boost in brand awareness.

Hundreds micro-seconds of brand awareness will add up to what seems like years of knowing you.

Suggested: Turn Reel Views to Followers: The Instagram Funnel Secret

#3. Answer questions in your DMs

If your followers have questions, make sure to answer them in your DMs.

This will show them that you’re accessible and willing to help and that you care about their questions. And again, this adds to that human and community aspect of your brand that helps keep your customers loyal.

#4. Engage with your competitors

Okay, I know what you’re thinking: You don’t want to boost your competitors’ engagement and give them an advantage.

I hear you! But, the benefits of interacting with the community — especially people with an interest in products like yours — will significantly increase your reach and brand awareness.

Engaging with your competitors on social media is a great way to connect with other people in your industry, and to get your name out there. You can do this by commenting on their posts, sharing their content, and even reaching out to them for collaborations.

#5. Keep posting, even if your content is terrible

Even if you’re not 100% happy with your content, it’s important to keep posting.

The more you post, the more likely it is that your followers will see your content, and the more opportunities you’ll have to connect with them.

It also gives you a chance to show growth and progress. No company has ever started out perfect and has seen great success. Bring your customers on your journey of growth to help them feel like a part of the culture.

Don’t be afraid to post, even if you don’t think it’s perfect.

#6. Tag, Share, and Repost (with moderation)

Tagging, sharing, and reposting other people’s content can help expose your profile to a wider audience. But, make sure to be selective about what content you share, and always give credit to the original creator.

Make sure that you’re only reposting content that aligns with your brand and that your followers will find valuable. Oversaturating your content strategy with reposts will discourage new followers. Having a healthy mix of content is key to keeping your followers engaged.

Conclusion

Growing your social media following isn’t just about creating great content, it’s also about having the right habits in place. By responding to comments, liking posts, answering DMs, engaging with competitors, consistently posting, and tagging, sharing, or reposting content, you’ll be on your way to building a strong and engaged community on social media.

Suggested: How to Determine the Right KPI (for Beginners)

If you found this article helpful, please consider buying me a coffee as a token of your appreciation. It helps keep me fueled and inspired to continue creating content for you!