11 Proven Strategies to Grow Your Social Media Presence from Scratch

Got a new social media page or profile that you’re looking to put on the “social media map”? We’re here to help!

When it comes to the dizzying world of social media, building a brand new profile, page, or brand from zero can seem like a daunting task. However, by implementing a combination of consistency and strategic actions, you can grow your social media presence and establish a thriving community no matter where you are starting from. 

So, let's dive into 10 effective ways to build a brand on social media from scratch!

1. Get Consistent With Your Content Creation:

Consistency is the foundation of any successful social media strategy. Regularly posting content keeps your audience engaged and signals to algorithms that your account is active. Whether it's daily, bi-weekly, or weekly, find a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it.

Try these simple strategies for getting consistent with your social media content:

• Create a content calendar to plan your posts in advance.
• Use content shortcuts like done-for-you content bundles and monthly posting plans to meet the content creation demands your new profile or brand will need
• Experiment with different posting times to see when your audience is most active.
• Use scheduling tools like Socially Suite to automate posts and maintain consistency. It eliminates the need to create your content from scratch and you’ll never forget to post again!

Getting Consistent on Social Media Pro Tip: Find and use social media shortcuts and done-for-you content like the bundles in the Socially Inclined Store to help you do more with less time and money.

Gone are the days where a small business owner has to create all of their content by hand, or hire an expensive social media manager to do it for them. A done-for-you monthly social media membership, like Your Social Plan (great daily content), or a all-in-one marketing solution, like Socially Suite (great daily content + powerful posting dashboard), will take hours off of your daily marketing to-dos while still helping you grow your new page or profile on social media. 

2. Engage with Your Audience:

Social media is meant to be a two-way communication street, and those who use it as such get rewarded with more engagement and better reach! Therefore, building a community involves more than just posting content. Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, liking and commenting on posts in your niche, and promptly responding to messages. Ignite the algorithm by being genuinely social on the platform.

Try these simple strategies for engaging with your audience:

• Ask questions in your captions to encourage comments and interactions.
• Host Q&A sessions or polls in your Stories to involve your audience.
• Share user-generated content and give credit to your followers.

Get More Engagement Pro Tip: Save time, get more engagement, and reach more people with a daily engaging question of conversation starter on social media. We call these Visibility-Boosting (V) Posts around here and we include them in our MVP Daily Posting Strategy because a daily engaging question will make a huge difference in your reach on social media.

Both of our Your Social Plan and Socially Suite Marketing Memberships include daily content built around our famous MVP Strategy, so these engagement-grabbing questions are built right in... No more need to making them yourself every day! 

3. Use Hashtags Effectively:

Harness the power of hashtags to increase your reach. Research and include relevant hashtags in your posts, and consider creating hashtag groups for easy incorporation. Strike a balance between popular and niche-specific hashtags to maximize visibility.

Try these simple strategies for using hashtags on social media effectively:

• Create a branded hashtag unique to your content or brand and use it for every single post.
• Analyze trending hashtags in your niche and incorporate them into your posts.
• Use location-based hashtags to connect with local audiences.
• Remember, that bigger hashtags are not always better. Try and think of what hashtag someone would be searching who is trying to find your content as the solution. Use that hashtag instead.

Hashtags Pro Tip: Save even more time with Socially Suite's Hashtag Groups Feature. Batch create groupings of relevant hashtags that can be added with a single click to your posts to help grow your new profile or brand fast on social media!

4. Use Call to Actions (CTA) on Social Media:

Encourage interaction with your content by including clear Call to Actions with every post. Create CTA groups with prompts for likes, shares, comments, and other engagements. Always ask for the engagement you want and try to make it easy for your audience to connect with your content.

Try these simple strategies for using call-to-actions on social media:

• Ask followers to tag a friend who might enjoy your content.
• Use polls and quizzes in your Stories to prompt engagement.
• Include a direct CTA in your bio, encouraging users to visit your website or other platforms.

Pro Tip for Using CTAs in your social media content: Easily customize a CTA for each platform by using a quality posting platform, like Socially Suite, so you can easily adjust the CTA to be relevant on the platform you're posting to. For example: If your CTA involves a link on Facebook but a visit to your link in bio on Instagram, you can easily adjust a CTA for a platform in one place with a single click.

5. Collaborate and Network on Social Media:

Expand your reach by collaborating with similar accounts for shoutouts or partnerships. Join niche-related social media groups and communities to tap into new audiences. Leverage Instagram Stories and Reels to showcase your personality and connect with your followers.

Try these simple strategies for networking on social media:

• Reach out to influencers or accounts in your niche for a feature or collaboration.
• Participate in relevant Twitter chats, Instagram Threads, or Facebook groups to connect with like-minded individuals.
• Host Instagram Lives with guest contributors to diversify your content and reach.

6. Use All Content Formats That You Can:

Diversify your content to keep your feed interesting. Post a mix of images, videos, carousels, and live videos. Use Post Prompts (like the ones found in our daily posting plan called Your Social Plan)  to share personal stories and build a connection with your audience.

Use these simple tips for varying your content format on social media:

• Share behind-the-scenes content to give your audience a glimpse into your daily life.
• Experiment with different video formats, such as tutorials, interviews, or vlogs.
• Use carousel posts to showcase a series of related images or tips.
• Read our Marketing Minute Blog to find the current months content ideas so you never feel uninspired about creating your content. 

Pro Tip for Varying Your Content Formats on Social Media: Creating videos, text posts, and more while keeping up with all the varying content demands on "being everywhere" on social media is nearly impossible. Don't be afraid to grab done-for-you content when you can like the posts and reels included in our monthly content membership called Your Social Plan. It provides 3 daily posts plus 2 daily reels each and every month for just $37 a month.

Content shortcuts like these are not only visually appealing but they're engineered by marketing professionals to get more engagement and help you grow your profile, page, or brand fast on social media. 

 

7. Promote Your Social Media Across Channels:

Cross-promote your social media profiles on different platforms, including your website and email signature. Reach a broader audience by sharing your content on various social media networks.

Use these tips to cross-promote your new profile or brand on other channels: 

• Share snippets of your Instagram posts on Twitter or Facebook with a link back to your profile.
• Embed Instagram or Twitter widgets on your website to showcase your latest posts.
• Use a scheduling tool like Socially Suite to post content to multiple platforms in a single click. 
• Include social media icons and links in your email signature for easy access.

8. Run Contests and Giveaways to Grow Brand/Page Awareness:

Organize contests and giveaways to encourage likes, comments, and shares. Collaborate with other brands or influencers to broaden the reach of your campaign. Utilize the Campaigns Section to organize and track your giveaways.

Try these simple strategies for running giveaways and contests:

• Create a contest where followers must tag friends and follow your page to enter.
• Partner with a complementary brand for a joint giveaway to reach each other's audiences.
• Use interactive elements like quizzes or challenges as entry requirements.

9. Consider Using Paid Advertising or Boosted Content:

Consider investing in paid advertising to accelerate your growth. Boosting posts and running targeted ads can attract new followers. Start with a modest budget and experiment with different ad formats to find what works best for your audience.

Try these beginner tips for using paid social media advertising for new accounts:

• Boost a well-performing post to extend its reach to a broader audience.
• Use Facebook Ads Manager to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.
• Run A/B tests with different ad creatives, headlines, and audience segments to optimize performance.

10. Regularly Analyze Your Performance:

Use analytics tools to track your social media growth and understand your audience's preferences. Adjust your strategy based on these insights, focusing on content that resonates with your followers.

Try these 3 strategies for analyzing your social media growth:

• Use Instagram Insights or Facebook Analytics to track key metrics like engagement, reach, and follower growth.
• Identify high-performing content and create similar posts to capitalize on successful themes.
• Pay attention to audience demographics to tailor your content to your target audience.

11. Use Personal Outreach:

Don't underestimate the power of personal outreach. Personally invite friends, family, and acquaintances to follow your page. Use the invite feature to connect with people who have engaged with your content and encourage satisfied customers to share and follow.

Use these 3 strategies for personal outreach when growing a new account on social media:

• Send personalized direct messages to friends and family with a friendly invitation to follow your page.
• Utilize the invite feature on platforms like Facebook to connect with engaged users.
• Offer exclusive content or discounts to friends and family who promote your page to their networks.

In the ever-changing world of social media, growth takes time. Be patient, stay consistent, and adapt your strategy based on the ever-evolving landscape. By combining these strategies with thoughtful execution, you'll be well on your way to building a vibrant and engaged social media community.