Tips for Growing Your Social Media Accounts

So, you’ve taken the plunge and created social media accounts for your business—well done! But now comes the challenge: how do you grow your followers and increase engagement? Building a social media presence takes more than simply setting up a profile and waiting for people to find you.

Here are some practical tips to help you grow your social media accounts while fostering meaningful connections.

Start with You

Don’t fall into the trap of creating your business social media accounts and then waiting passively for followers to roll in. It won’t work. You need to make the first move by reaching out, following relevant accounts and initiating connection requests.

Targeting Your Audience

Think carefully about your target market. If your business operates within a specific geographical area, ensure you’re connecting with people and businesses in that region.

Supportive Advocates

Occasionally, you might encounter a business outside your target market that engages with and shares your content. Connect with them! These social advocates help amplify your message and their support can be invaluable. Relationships like these are worth nurturing, even if they don’t fall neatly into your direct target market.

Have a Growth Plan

Just like any other aspect of your business, having a clear plan helps. For example, aim to connect with 20 new accounts per week per platform. Breaking it into smaller, manageable tasks makes it easier to stay on track.

Reciprocation is Key

Social media isn’t a one-way street. If someone likes or shares your content, don’t forget to reciprocate. Ignoring these engagements can discourage further interactions.

For instance, I regularly support a local supplier by liking and sharing their content. They’ve never returned the favour. How does that make me feel? Like an unappreciated customer. I’m now questioning whether they value our business relationship at all. Don’t make this mistake—it’s a missed opportunity to foster goodwill and maintain loyalty.

Be Personable

People connect with people, not faceless corporations. Show your human side. Share images of your team, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your workplace or highlights from events.

During the lockdown, I saw a large company post photos of their team working from home. It made them relatable and I felt more connected to their brand. Similarly, personable posts help potential followers feel they’re engaging with real people, not just a brand.

Quality Over Quantity

While it’s important to maintain a consistent posting schedule, flooding your followers’ feeds with constant marketing content can backfire. Aim for daily marketing posts, but balance them with helpful, informative or entertaining content to avoid being seen as spammy.

Share Knowledge and Tips

Position yourself as an expert in your field by sharing blog posts, how-to guides or industry insights. Content like this builds trust and keeps followers engaged.

Show Gratitude

When someone shares your content, recommends your business or constantly likes your posts, show your appreciation. A simple thank-you or shout-out can go a long way. Acknowledging these interactions strengthens relationships and encourages ongoing support.

Spread Positivity

Social media is full of people sharing achievements and milestones. Take a moment to celebrate others’ successes. Praise a job well done, highlight great content, or compliment someone’s efforts. As Maya Angelou famously said:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Competitors Aren’t the Enemy

Some people shy away from connecting with competitors, but I see it differently. There’s plenty of work out there for everyone and connecting with competitors can lead to mutually beneficial relationships.

I’ve found some of the most supportive people on social media are technically “competitors.” Their engagement is often a compliment and demonstrates respect for your work. Of course, not everyone plays nicely—so trust your instincts and avoid unethical behaviour when you see it.

Paid Options

Certain platforms allow you to boost your follower count by running paid ad campaigns. There’s nothing wrong with this approach, but make sure you don’t lose those new followers by failing to engage with them after they connect.