So hopefully by now you\u00a0know I am all about learning from the competition! Following competitors on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is another way to get valuable insights to help the\u00a0local\u00a0businesses you represent.<\/p>\n
Staying ahead of the competition requires knowing where the competition stands, how they are doing and what you can improve upon. Let’s dive in and explore how you can use social media to learn from others.<\/p>\n
Simply observing social media activity can reveal plenty about a brand\u2019s marketing strategy. Look at which social channels other businesses are most active on, how often they post updates, what time of day they share content, and whether or not any of their content is sponsored (i.e., whether they pay to get more views and engagement). Size up how effective a brand\u2019s social media marketing<\/a> tactics are by looking at their engagement levels, and take note of brands receiving a consistently high number of comments, shares, likes, and replies.<\/p>\n Successfully connecting with consumers on social media requires sharing content that inspires engagement. Follow similar businesses and brands to see what type of content their audience enjoys most. For instance, do their followers prefer humorous GIFs over informative articles? Do certain hashtags or keywords result in more retweets or reactions? Keep in mind that what works best on Facebook<\/a> might not translate well to a tweet, so it\u2019s important to consider how content can be repurposed and presented differently across multiple social networks.<\/p>\n There are several things businesses can learn from analyzing their competitors\u2019 social media fans and followers. The consumers following competitors can reveal insights into the target audience of the business you represent, including online behaviors and preferred social media channels.<\/p>\n Scoping out a competitor\u2019s connections can help identify industry influencers<\/a> who might be interested in partnering up\u00a0or reviewing products. Remember to look at the\u00a0competitor\u2019s followers as well as who the competitor is following back.<\/p>\n In addition to finding out what strategies work well for similar brands on social media, businesses can also learn from their competitors\u2019 mistakes. Anytime a business or brand fails to address a negative comment or acknowledge a customer concern, it presents an opportunity for competing brands to think about how they could have handled the situation better. In some cases, it may even be appropriate to step in and provide the answer or resolution sought by the competitor\u2019s audience.<\/p>\n Following competitors on Twitter is like subscribing to a steady stream of relevant industry news. Whether checking out what they\u2019re retweeting or following links to their latest blog posts<\/a>, other brands in the\u00a0industry are sources of real-time updates and information that may be relevant to you. Brands can use social media to gain awareness about trending topics, events, and anything else top industry brands or local competitors are posting about.<\/p>\n2. What Content Sparks The Most Engagement<\/h3>\n
3. Find\u00a0Consumers And Influencers To Follow<\/h3>\n
4. Social Media Tactics To Avoid<\/h3>\n
5. Relevant Industry News And Trends<\/h3>\n