Standing out on social media is about more than just eye-catching videos; small adjustments can make a big difference. Here are three simple yet powerful tweaks you can implement to give your tanning business an extra edge: optimizing posting frequency, using the right hashtags, and focusing on SEO-friendly captions.
1. Posting Frequency: Start with Quantity, Then Shift to Quality
When you’re new to social media, the key is to post often. Early on, you need quantity to collect data about what resonates with your audience. The more content you produce, the quicker you’ll learn what works – whether it’s specific video lengths, certain formats or topics that drive engagement. Treat this phase as an experiment to learn what captures attention.
Once your audience begins to grow, you can reduce frequency but focus on higher-quality content. By then, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what your followers enjoy and engage with most. While 1-2 daily posts might be necessary early on, as your brand gains significant traction, three to four well-crafted weekly posts can be just as impactful, if not more.
2. Hashtags: Broader is Better
Hashtags are essential for discovery, but many businesses go too niche, using overly specific tags like #LocalTanningStudio or #TanningProducts2024. While these are fine occasionally, they often have very low search volume, limiting your content’s reach. To get in front of a larger audience, use broader hashtags with higher search traffic in your niche.
Aim for 3-5 hashtags per post, mixing broader, high-volume tags like #Tanning or #SunlessTan with one or two more specific to your business. This approach maximizes your content’s chances of being discovered by people actively searching for similar services. You’ll have a much better chance of being seen if your posts are attached to popular search terms, rather than buried in highly specific, low-volume tags.
The only exception to this is incorporating hashtags that are relevant to your specific geographic location, which will help target the content to people you want to reach.
3. Leverage SEO in Captions to Boost Visibility
Social platforms, especially TikTok, have evolved into search engines of their own, meaning that captions now play a key role in discoverability. TikTok even surpassed Google as the most used search engine among younger audiences, making keywords in captions more important than ever.
When users search for specific content, algorithms match their queries with videos that include relevant keywords in the captions. So, if you’re posting a video on “sunless tanning tips,” including that exact phrase in the caption increases your chances of being found when users search for similar content. Think of captions as mini-SEO opportunities – incorporating relevant keywords can help boost your visibility.
Even the best strategies won’t work unless your content is engaging and provides value to your audience.
For example, if your video is about “achieving the perfect tan,” make sure your caption includes that phrase. Even though captions are meant to be concise, including key phrases helps your content rank better in search results, and it signals to platforms like TikTok that your video should be paired with similar content.
4. Content Still Matters Most
While posting frequency, hashtags and SEO-friendly captions are important, they’re just tools to enhance the visibility of your content. Even with the perfect strategy, if your videos aren’t interesting or valuable, they won’t gain traction. Great content remains the heart of your social media success.
For a tanning business, that could mean posting how-tos, behind-the-scenes videos, customer reviews or expert advice. These small tweaks can improve visibility; but your content must still offer something compelling to keep viewers engaged.
5. Little Changes, Big Impact
By refining your posting frequency, using broader hashtags and optimizing captions with keywords, you can significantly improve your social media performance. These small adjustments may seem minor, but they can give your content the extra push it needs to stand out in a crowded space. Just remember, even the best strategies won’t work unless your content is engaging and provides value to your audience. Combine these tactics with great ideas, and you’ll be well on your way to growing your online presence.
