The likes of Facebook and Instagram have become major business drivers in the last few years, so it's up to you to make use of state-of-the-art social media marketing techniques.

Here are 12 ways that you can improve your social media presence:

1. Focus on the right channels

You can create accounts on dozens of social platforms, but do you really need them all? The answer is likely no, so make sure to focus on the right channels exclusively.

Writing services, for example, should focus on Facebook and Instagram, as these are the networks that attract the majority of students.

2. Optimise your accounts

Now that you know the best social media channels, it is time to optimise your accounts. First, use highly professional profile images and cover photos. Write clear and concise account descriptions and always add a link to your website or a specific landing page.

3. Publish standout posts

Content is the essence of social media marketing, which means that your duty is to craft standout posts that suit the expectations of the target audience.

Do your best to make it versatile enough by publishing the following formats:
  • textual posts
  • images
  • videos
  • infographics
  • podcasts
  • memes, and
  • GIFs.

4. Show your personality

Many businesses make a serious mistake of acting too seriously on social networks. Although you are supposed to maintain a certain level of professionalism on Facebook and other platforms, bear in mind that social communication is all about showing your personality.

If you have something funny or entertaining to share with the fans, feel free to do it.

5. Keep it consistent

Another thing that you should remember is to make your social media activities consistent. One amazing post won't earn you thousands of fans as it will get lost in the crowd of other posts in users' newsfeeds.

It's always good to have a content calendar and to and plan your posts well in advance.

6. Ask for help

It's hard to keep the highest level of quality and consistency in social media marketing. If you are losing pace, don't hesitate to ask for help.

There are various agencies out there, but here are three services that might be useful for content creation:

7. Inspire user-generated content

User-generated content is a huge source of visibility as it looks more natural and organic. All you have to do is convince followers to design brand-related content and publish it on their social media profiles.

It is the finest sort of word-of-mouth marketing you can earn online.

8. Organise Q / A sessions

Popular platforms give you the option of going live — a feature you should use to organise question-and-answer sessions for your followers.

The idea is simple: invite users to ask questions in the comments, while you can answer in your live video. This is a genuine engagement booster and also a concept that makes followers feel acknowledged and appreciated.

9. Focus on other types of engagement

Social networks are primarily communication tools, so we have to mention the influence of engagement once again. Exploit every chance to build stronger relationships with your fans by asking questions, answering their comments and solving users' inquiries.

10. Listen to your audience

Another detail that makes user engagement critical is the fact that you can learn a lot from your fans. Don't forget to listen to the audience and see what they think of your business.

That way, you can quickly identify the strengths of your company, as well as the weaknesses that make it look bad in the eyes of a typical customer.

11. Advertise if needed

Social networks come with powerful advertising features and you shouldn't run away from exploiting them. It allows you to target users very precisely, thus reaching verified leads through relevant traits such as locations, average income, education levels and interests. 

12. Measure and improve

This tip applies to all sorts of campaigns, including social media. You have to measure the results of your actions and find a way to improve the strategy accordingly. It will make your content better and drastically improve your social media presence.