Ask Us Anything: Digital marketing strategist Meg Coffey explains how to boost your social media game

This month we asked you for questions about how to boost your social media profile for your business or your personal profile. Answering your Ask Us Anything questions, in partnership with Optus Business, is digital marketing strategist Meg Coffey.

We sent the four top questions to Meg. We hope her expert answers help you manage, create and boost your social media platforms.

1. What are some positive ways to spin negative engagement with a post or to correct misinformation within the comment section constructively? Or is it just better to not engage with the comment section at all?

Ignoring things will never make them better and the comment section is where it all goes down these days. The key is to respond strategically rather than react emotionally.

If someone is providing constructive criticism, acknowledge it and address it professionally. A well-crafted response can transform a negative into a brand win, showing your audience that you listen, care and act. On the flip side, ignoring it shows you simply don’t care about your customers.

When dealing with outright misinformation, respond with facts — clearly, concisely, and without antagonising. If a comment is inflammatory, you have options: hide it, delete it (if it violates community guidelines), or you could leave it alone if it’s not gaining traction. The goal is to manage the conversation, not fuel the fire.

Never underestimate the power of your community. The best audiences will often correct misinformation for you, providing a sense of reassurance and support. A brand that engages thoughtfully earns respect, while a brand that ignores everything can seem disconnected. 

Ultimately, engagement should always be intentional, not reactive. Every action should be a reflection of your brand’s values and goals. I always ask myself, “Would Grandma be proud?”

2. How often should I post on LinkedIn if I want to get more followers? And do videos perform better with the algorithm, or that doesn’t matter? 

Consistency is key, but quality will always be better than quantity. If you want to grow on LinkedIn, aim for two to three posts per week, but make sure every post has a purpose! Be it showcasing thought leadership, sharing industry insights, or engaging with your community, don’t post to boast — have a purpose for your content.

The algorithm favours content that sparks conversations, so posts that encourage meaningful discussion perform better than those that simply broadcast information. Polls, storytelling, and posts with clear takeaways get high engagement. But don’t post bait. People can smell it a mile off, and you’ll have the opposite effect of what you’re trying to achieve. The algorithm (on every platform) penalises those who are actively asking for likes, shares and comments.

Videos can perform well if they serve the audience. Snappy, insight-packed videos that add value are great, but a poorly executed video won’t automatically rank higher than a well-written text post. What matters most is dwell time — if your content keeps people engaged longer, it’ll be rewarded by the algorithm.

The takeaway? Post consistently, strategically, and with value in mind. And don’t just post — engage. Commenting on relevant posts and joining discussions will boost visibility as much as the posting itself.

3. Is Pinterest worth investing time and money into? Have you ever heard of anyone getting any ROI on that platform?

Yes, and YES! Pinterest can be a goldmine if it aligns with your business. Unlike other platforms where content disappears quickly, Pinterest is a visual search engine, meaning your content has a long shelf life. Pins can continue driving traffic for months or even years.

It works best for lifestyle, home, fashion, food, travel, and DIY businesses. If your audience is actively searching for inspiration or planning purchases, Pinterest is worth the effort.

The ROI from Pinterest isn’t instant, but businesses that optimise for search and use Pinterest ads smartly do see results. It’s especially strong for driving website traffic — so if conversions happen on your site (rather than within a social media ecosystem), Pinterest can be a valuable channel.

If your business thrives on impulse buys or real-time engagement, Pinterest might not be the best fit. But if you play the long game and use it strategically, it’s far from a waste of time. We use it for all our clients and have significant long-term success.

4. Everyone jumps on social media trends, does this really bring the awareness it should a business or is it just for the algorithm? Is it worth it for a small business of five people to spend time creating trends or to focus on creating awareness on what our business is about?

Trends can boost visibility, but only if they align with your brand and only when done correctly (and quickly!). Jumping on every trend for the sake of it is a waste of time, especially for a small business with limited resources.

Instead of chasing trends, be strategic. Is the content you’re creating fit for purpose? If a trend naturally fits your brand voice, audience and message, go for it. If not, don’t force it. It won’t feel good to you, and it won’t feel good to the audience either. The best social media presence is authentic and sustainable, not one that is a constant game of catch-up.

Small teams should focus on high-impact, evergreen content that showcases what makes your business unique. Brand awareness isn’t about fleeting moments — it’s about creating content that makes people remember you long after one viral song becomes another.

So, should you hop on trends? Only if they serve your brand and audience — always ask yourself, “is this fit for purpose?”. Otherwise, put your time into content that actually moves the needle for your business.