Don't just rely on social media to grow your community

Last week, Meta was down and this week it looks like TikTok could be banned in the US, proving that social media has a shelf-life. 

What does this mean for all of us, who use social media as a large part of our digital strategy? 

First and foremost, it means we need to be growing our community outside social media walls. TikTok is fantastic for community management and engagement, due to how specifically you can target an audience using hashtags #cleantok #booktok etc but it’s not the be-all and end-all. 

You can achieve a similar niche community by inviting your audience to a more intimate space, whether that’s a Discord server or a WhatsApp group. As long as it's a dedicated space for your community to meet, share ideas and where you can fully get involved too, the world is your oyster. Be present, and be engaged with them. They will feel special and valued that you want to talk to them in a smaller space.

Next, you want to double down on your mailing list. This is one of the most important parts of digital strategy, and it’s a tool that’s wildly underused. This is the best opportunity to tailor your emails to specific lists and segments, using platforms such as MailChimp or Klaviyo and gives you a direct line into someone’s inbox, the most personal of spaces! If you need help with your email flows check this out.

Thirdly, you need to invest some time and money into your website. People want to be able to find you so make sure your SEO is up to speed as well. A clear and navigable site should be presented in your brand’s TOV and colours as this will help with recognisability if your content is uniformly formatted across your site and socials. 

Top tip: get someone, ideally not in your industry, to go through your website: do they understand what you do and can they find the information they need? The fewer clicks, the better! UX is not to be slept on. 

Whether or not TikTok gets banned in the US or Meta explodes again, these are good practices to follow, there’s no time to present to get started 🤝. We’re always here if you need a hand!