There’s a saying that goes: “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” This means you don’t need to start from scratch on any endeavor. Especially when you’re trying something new, check out the blueprints that already exist.
Look at the people who perfected the “wheel” before you and proceed accordingly. The same principles apply to social media. There are countless examples you can follow. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
So, who provides you with “wheel-like” inspiration on social media? Your competitors! Just find the social media accounts that are doing what you want to be doing and do it better.
In this article, we’ll discuss how analyzing your competitors’ engagement and growth can help you succeed on social media.
Evaluating Competitor Follower Growth: Tracking Progress and Trends
Tracking your competitors is a great way to determine if they’ve truly succeeded on social media. In other words, should you be following them or looking up to them, or is it better to look elsewhere for inspiration?
Progress isn’t always easy to measure—how do you track it, after all? It’s like trying to measure the blueness of the sky; it seems intangible. However, we have a practical method for doing this.
Start by creating a spreadsheet with their base level follower account so you can monitor their follower count each time they post a trending video.
Is their follower count growing? What insights can you glean from this progress? What strategies are working for them? By evaluating these metrics, you can better understand what drives their success and apply similar tactics to your own social media platform.
Assessing Engagement Metrics: Likes, Comments, and Shares
Another important thing to track is your competitors’ engagement metrics. This includes likes, follows, comments, and other interactions. Unlike follower metrics alone, engagement metrics take a look at how content resonates with audiences.
Monitor engagement on new videos and overall trends. When do people like, comment, subscribe or share? What prompts these interactions? Understanding this can help you identify successful strategies that you can use.
Steer Clear of Toxic Content
That said, you should also take a look at the flip side – but what does that mean? Consider the nature of the comments. Are people engaging because they genuinely like the content, or are they just “hate commenting”? This distinction is significant. Five years ago, engaging with content just to say something negative was less common; now, it’s almost a sport for some people.
Track hate comments to avoid being misled by content that appears to be trending but is actually attracting negativity and undesirable comments, likes, and even followers. This way, you can steer clear of topics that aren’t beneficial to your side of the algorithm.
Identifying High-Performing Content: Learning from Success Stories
If you want to identify your competitors’ high-performing content, you’ll need to analyze several key metrics and indicators, some of which may not be fully accessible to you. Start by examining your own metrics, then see what insights you can gather about your competitors. Here’s what you need to understand:
1. Engagement Metrics
Engagement metrics include likes, subscribes, comments, and shares. Look at both the quantity and quality of comments. Are people engaging in meaningful conversations, or are they simply reacting? Are they saying mean things? Are they saying hateful things? If the majority of comments are negative, avoid posting similar content on your page, as it could lead to toxicity.
2. Reach and Impressions
Your reach measures the number of users who have seen your content. On the other hand, impressions Indicate how often your content was displayed, regardless of the clicks you get. A high number of impressions coupled with high engagement (ie lots of comments) are a positive sign – but again, you need to actually go into your comments and make sure the comments are positive, not negative.
3. Follower Growth
Monitor the number of new followers you gain. Experiment with different trends, new ideas and content similar to your competitors’ to see which results in the most new followers. A spike in follower count usually means high-performing content.
4. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Click-through-rate or CTR measures the number of people who click through to your off-platform content. Many in the industry consider this the most crucial metric. Also, make sure you determine what type of content encourages people to click through and which links are the most effective.
5. Conversion Rates
Always include a Call-to-Action and then track how many people complete the desired action. This could mean typing a specific word in the comment section of the video, signing up for a FREE course, following, or making a purchase).
6. Audience Retention
Audience retention is important because it lets you know if the content you’re putting out is actually any good. You want to take a look at two things, watch time and retention rate. But what are they?
- Watch time is the total amount of time your audience spends watching a video. Longer videos can indicate higher engagement but might also deter some viewers who prefer shorter content. Short content is king on social media right now, but longer videos pay better.
- Retention rate is the rate or percentage of viewers who watch your content to the end. You want as many people as possible to watch your content to the end. That should be the goal of your content.
7. Virality
Virality measures how widely a video is shared and talked about. It doesn’t necessarily mean “virality” as in going “viral” and reaching millions of views, but rather it’s about performing exceptionally well relative to your usual metrics. Virality takes a look at the total number of shares, mentions and tags.
8. Sentiment Analysis
Analyze the sentiment of your comments to gauge overall audience reaction. Are your views positive? You want positive views, especially if you’re trying to sell something. Avoid letting your content become a breeding ground for toxicity, even if it leads to virality. Prioritize creating a positive community to ensure long-term success.
Observing Influencer Collaborations and Partnerships: Potential Opportunities for Your Brand
Brand deals and partnerships might seem out of reach right now, but it’s essential to dream big and plan for the future. So, let’s do it together now.
The partnerships and collaborations you establish in these initial phases of your social media journey can significantly impact your brand’s growth and trajectory. Here’s why you should start considering influencer collaborations today:
Start Early, No Matter Your Follower Count
No matter how small your current following is, begin reaching out to influencers you admire or align with your values. Early-stage collaborations can provide the visibility and credibility your brand needs.
Reach Out and Inquire
Contact influencers to learn about their costs and requirements. Understand what they can offer and assess whether the costs align with your growth goals.
Early Collaborations Are Beneficial
Again, in the initial stages, an influencer deal can be the boost your brand needs. Collaborations can increase your reach, introduce your brand to new audiences, and enhance your credibility.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Big Names
Partnering with well-known influencers can truly amplify your brand’s visibility. A single endorsement from a prominent influencer can attract a significant number of new followers and potential customers.
Plan Your Collabs
- Identify influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.
- Focus your efforts on influencers who have high engagement rates – not just a large follower count. Don’t let high follower counts fool you.
- Build long-term relationships with influencers and collaborate with them over time.
Gain Followers by Understanding the Competition with Socialty Pro
Your follower count will be low in the beginning; there’s no way to change that. We all start from zero.
However, there are strategies to amplify your follower count from the start. Understanding your competition and tapping into their methods for gaining new followers is crucial. But how do you do it?
We’ve outlined a good plan above, but implementing it requires lots of effort.
Here’s some advice: Start with Socialty Pro—a social media marketing agency that will help you understand your competition.
Socialty Pro is a master of the social media game and knows how to hack the social media world for anyone in any niche. We offer a “Done For You” white glove package, mentorship and a variety of other services to assist you on your social media journey.
So, what exactly is Socialty Pro?
We’re the world’s top “Done for You” organic TikTok marketing agency, helping businesses like yours thrive online. Our approach is simple yet effective, using proven strategies that focus on trends, engagement, and viral growth.
Our Specializations Include:
- Growing your account from 0 to 100,000 – 1 million or more followers
- Making content go viral on every platform
- Turning creators into leaders in their niche
- Mastering the entire social media game
If you’re ready to hit the ground running, reach out to Socialty Pro today. Learn more about us by visiting the link.
