Social Media has become a place where people feel like they can’t show their true authentic selves. There’s immense pressure in social media to look, act, and be a certain way. But the whole point of social media was to give other people access to us. It’s meant to connect people with similar interests and life experiences.
This shift has led a lot of people to show up in ways that aren’t aligning with who they truly are. People begin to market themselves and their businesses in a way that isn’t authentic to what their goals are. It may not seem like a big deal but people want the person they decide to work with to be the same one they saw on Instagram.
It’s super important to stay true to yourself and market in the way that you desire to serve your clients. Here are five things that you can do to help you build better authenticity in your brand messaging on social media.
Use your Own Images
Ditch the stock photos and use your own images. I’ll admit, there was a time when I chose to use stock photos. I had a content calendar that I was following that had suggestions on things that I could post. Some of these posts just didn’t fit into my personality and my lifestyle but I found images to post for it anyway. I had a pretty grid, but I didn’t get much engagement because it wasn’t authentic to me. It can be easier to connect with people when they know what you look like and they see how you are in real life. Both brand photos and real-life photos are important for being authentic. These photos can include photos of you working, engaging, and anything related to your business or your personal life that you feel comfortable sharing. Take imperfect pictures of you and your dog, or you laying in bed because that’s what’s going to connect with people.
Tell your Story
Storytelling is hands down the number one way to show up authentically. People want to learn and buy from others who have been in their shoes. They want someone who understands the struggles and the victories; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Social Media is built on trust. Share why you do what you do so that people can feel that connection. Telling those stories, connecting with people, and showing why you are the way that you are builds connections, and helps people relate to you.
Don’t Post and Disappear
I struggle with posting and then disappearing. But, in order to build an authentic brand, you want to establish those connections with people and not just sell to them. Go back to the early days of social media, and engage with people. Follow people who are interesting to you and like, comment, and respond back to them. When you are committed to doing this consistently, you will see an increase in others engaging back with you. They will be intrigued to see more of you and this will lead to better connections.
Be Consistent
Being consistent is going to help people find your message and remember who you are. When you show up on their feed consistently, you will be easily accessible and readily available to serve them. Figure out a schedule that works for you. You don’t have to make it something that stresses you out. Allow people to feel like they are getting to know you on a timeline that works for you. Don’t try to over-exert yourself by fitting into a posting schedule that you know does not work for you. As long as you are being consistent, that is what’s going to help you the most.
Do Not Strive for Perfection
Being perfect is an unrealistic goal. You will always end up disappointed. While we can admire the pretty pictures and feeds as inspiration, we most likely don’t feel connected to those people. We know that that image of perfection is not real life. I encourage you to fight the temptation to feel like you have to be perfect on social media and instead be real.
If we are showing up as who we are and presenting ourselves authentically, then we are more likely to present a brand and business that is authentically us. People will learn to know the person behind the business and will ultimately help our business grow.
Leave a Reply