What is social media engagement and why is it important?

You’ll have heard the term engagement bandied around a lot in the world of social media, but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means and why you should it?

To most people, social media engagement means just two things – likes and comments. That’s because those are the outward signs that people are responding to our content.

In fact, there are a whole host of other things that also count as engagement on – or as a result of – your posts, so make sure you take those into account too.

Other types of engagement include follows, direct messages, post saves, post shares, profile views, web traffic (from social), sales, downloads and video views.

Why is engagement so important on social media?

Engagement is the lifeblood of social media and without it, you’re just broadcasting.

Engagement helps you build a closer relationship with your followers. It allows you to get under their skin and understand what they want and need from you.

It also sets you aside from other brands who ignore their customers and gets you seen by more people. Best of all – the algorithm loves engagement. In short, the more you engage, the more people will see your posts.