7 Genius Social Media Hacks You Wish You Knew Sooner

We’ve all seen accounts with thousands of followers that seem impressive, but here’s the truth—followers don’t automatically equal success. You could have a massive audience, but if no one’s engaging with your posts, it’s like shouting into the void. Social media isn’t about collecting followers like trophies; it’s about building a community that interacts, comments, and genuinely cares about what you’re sharing. After all, it’s the connections, not just the numbers, that drive real growth.

In this week’s episode of The Social Media Takeaway (available on all the leading podcast platforms including iTunes and Spotify), I’m thrilled to sit down with Peg Fitzpatrick, an accomplished social media strategist with over a decade of experience. She was the first head of social strategy for Canva (yes, that Canva!), and she’s sharing fantastic tips on social media for small businesses. If you’ve ever wondered how to get more out of your social media efforts, this episode is packed with advice that will help you build a social presence that truly works for you.

1. Don’t Chase Viral Success:  Going viral is cool… for about five minutes. Peg and I agree—what you really want is real success. The real magic happens when you focus on long-term growth. Building solid relationships with your audience is way more valuable than a one-time viral hit.

2. Engagement Beats Algorithms: With algorithms constantly changing, the best thing you can do is engage. Peg mentioned that liking, commenting, and replying to messages helps keep you on people’s radar—and that’s what matters most. Whether it’s responding to a comment, sending a DM, or liking a post, the more you interact, the more likely you’ll stay visible in your followers’ feeds. It’s like sending a little reminder that says, ‘Hey, I’m still here, and I care about what you’re saying.’ Trust me, it works.

3. Consistency is Key: I know I say this all the time, but it really can’t be said enough—consistency is key. I repeat this every chance I get because it’s so important. Social media success isn’t about showing up once in a while and hoping for the best. It’s like watering a plant—you’ve got to keep at it regularly if you want to see it grow. Whether you’re sharing tips, personal stories, or even a funny meme, staying consistent builds trust with your audience.

4. The Power of Networking: Networking on social media isn’t just about posting and hoping for the best. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be to actually engage with people. I make it a point to leave thoughtful comments and congratulate others on their milestones—it’s amazing how those small actions can lead to real connections. Whether it’s a business partnership or a new opportunity, you never know who’s watching or what doors might open. So, get out there, engage with others, and build those relationships. You never know what might come from it.

5. Building Community: Peg says building a community on social media is about more than just throwing content out there and hoping for likes. It’s about genuine connections. One thing I always say is that social media should feel like a conversation, not a one-way street. Peg emphasises that when you engage with your audience—whether it’s answering a question, responding to a comment, or just sharing a little bit about yourself—you create a space where people feel like they’re part of something. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love being part of a great conversation?

6. Brand Consistency: Your audience should be able to recognize your brand whether they find you on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Peg mentioned she saw a lot of businesses that have brand inconsistencies all over different platforms. This confuses people. Brand consistency means having to keep your logos, colors, and tone of voice consistent across all platforms. Keep it simple, keep it consistent, and you’ll build trust without anyone having to second-guess who you are.

7. Handling Negative Feedback: Negative reviews? The key is not to take it personally or let your emotions take over. Trust me, it’s tempting to fire off a snappy response, but here’s what Peg advises that works better: respond calmly, acknowledge the issue, and then take the conversation offline to sort things out. It’s all about showing that you care and are willing to fix things. And like Peg mentioned, sometimes that unhappy customer can turn into your biggest fan when you handle things like a pro.