Social media is a bit narcissistic, no? We can all admit to abruptly pausing a pivotal life moment to take a photo while whispering: "This is the PERFECT time for an Instagram photo." We lose the spontaneity of a time that should be saved in the memory logs for all eternity for social gratification. Well, at least you used a trendy filter, right?
There IS an upside to social media. Actually, there are dozens of ways social media does good for our society. In particular, it makes our world a smaller place. We're able to speak with people around the world through a few keystrokes, connect with long lost relatives and friends, and lastly, leverage our social media influence to promote our personal brand. When it comes to personal branding, it's pivotal to position oneself as a professional in a prospective field, while providing insight and knowledge to those interested without coming off as "pushy". It's a difficult task, but once mastered, it can create a consistent funnel of leads and opportunities. Below are 6 Ways to Jumpstart Your Personal Brand in 2015.
Don't "SELL" with Every, Single Freakin' Post
We all have that one Facebook friend who relentlessly pushes their company, product or Start Up with unwavering annoyance. Your Newsfeed is cluttered with their content and it's hard to see or connect with any other part of them. Supply VALUE to friends, not a sales approach that turns them away.
Offer Valuable Advice to An Online Audience
Providing VALUE begins by being an active individual online within your skill set. As a Digital Marketing Strategist, it's important for me to become an integral part of several groups on Facebook that include Wordpress web design forums, social media clubs and more. When individuals ask questions, I'm eager to answer them thoroughly and with examples from past work. It's a great way to put their question in perspective while providing authentic feedback. Do these convert to sales? Not likely, but it's a great way of placing your skills at the forefront of group participants who will be looking for your services later.
Be Yourself
There's nothing wrong with being a bit quirky. You are who you are and there will be dozens of people out there that will appreciate your authenticity. Reveal parts of your life that aren't related to work; what your hobbies are, the music you listen to and your thoughts on specific events. You don't have to divulge more than you're comfortable with, but showing a glimpse of the inner-person that is you is a great way to connect with others and increase the scope of your personal branding. You might also connect with like-minded individuals. I've made a few friends by sharing similar interests who have been a BIG part of my development as an online marketer. LEVERAGE your social media!
Use the 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 Rule is a great benchmark for the social media mantra. The 80/20 Rule is when you utilize just 20% of your social content to promote your brand, and allocate 80% to content that interests your audience and engages them in conversations. It organizes your posts into digestible chunks that doesn't come off as pushy. As a Digital Marketing Strategist, I post examples of Web Design work and quick tips on SEO. This helps my peers understand the inner-workings of the industry while learning more about digital.
Find Your Niche Social Media Network
There are quite a few large scale players in the social media world, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Choose two of your favorite networks to really allocate time to building your brand. Are you an artist or ecommerce expert? Instagram might be a great visual platform to showcase your work. Do you connect with a diverse group of individuals through quick messages of content? Twitter might be your best bet. Use the social media networks that leverage your skill set and boost your online credibility. Utilize a few to see which ones garner the most return.
Network! Network! Network!
Networking is the ultimate way to build your personal brand. For some, it's outside of their comfort zone to approach individuals in an event environment. One way to ease the connection barrier is to be a communicator on local Facebook Groups and forums. Remember faces and conversations online so that it's easier to spark a conversation in real-time. Using your social media influence online will help individuals recognize you in the real world, thus adding a branding element to your personal interactions.
Personal branding is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to gain the trust and admiration of your peers through consistent, high-quality social media content and open conversations. Don't sell, engage your audience with tips about your business, create imagery with clean photo content, and speak up in the online conversation. Over time, friends, colleagues and referrals will begin to contact you for your services. Personal branding is the ideal way to create a living, breathing referral funnel.