Trends, Twitter, and Tacos

We’ve all seen a viral story pop up on our newsfeeds at one point or another. Whether it’s embarrassing, funny, cute, or somewhere in between all three, there is some underlying aspect that many people love to share with their friends. The beauty of “going viral” is that there is not much one can do to make it happen. It simply relies on the people who follow you and their desire to share your post. Even though you can’t force your posts to go viral, you can create content that your followers think is worth sharing.

Many companies think that a social media presence is not important, when, in reality, their consumers – and business – can benefit greatly from it. The most successful online presence pays attention to trends and frequently shared posts in order to remain relevant to followers. By increasing the amount of posts on social media, and occasionally incorporating humor, a company’s customers can see them as approachable and relatable.

Take Taco Bell for example:

Creating funny responses to your customers on social media is a great way to get their attention and entice them to share your posts. Taco Bell’s response to a joke about their company got 116 retweets, which means that all 116 people, plus their followers, saw this tweet. The power of social media comes from shares. Getting your current followers to share your posts is one way to reach a broader range of consumers.

More shares = more opportunity for increased followers = more potential customers.

Social media trends seem to change with the wind, so for a company to stay relevant and interesting to consumers, it is important for them to create content on multiple platforms for customers to engage with. Without current material, social media users will look at a company’s account, see their lack of posts, and choose not to follow them.

The beauty of social media is that it provides a channel for easy customer engagement. You don’t have to ask for emails, cell-phone numbers, or any information, which makes it much easier for a follower to engage with you. To get a customer to participate, it’s as easy as telling them to click the “like” button or tag a friend. These simple interactions on social media lead to a better image of your company, making your customers feel like they can trust you and give you their business.

The most successful companies keep up with the trends their consumers follow. Social media’s popularity has increased dramatically within the last five years, so for a company to stay connected to their audience, having an online presence is vital. You don’t have to go viral to reach new followers – you only have to connect with your current customers via social media and allow them to share your content for you.