There are so many platforms and a multitude of ways to use social media. We often get stalled on how to DO the thing that we get stalled and end up not doing it at all. Because social media can be a good source of lead generation through relationship building and visibility, it’s an asset that can be transformational when used correctly.
If you are someone who wants to learn how to use social media more purposefully in order to build the relationships through use of your personal profile and network as well as your business page, we’ll cover the necessary framework.
Before we start, I know there are going to be questions as to which social media platform is the best or most effective. The simple answer is, a platform you will use and the one where your ideal clients are. So, identify your potential client and which platforms they use and choose the one that you can and will engage with them on.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Have awareness of your mindset. We’re often so worried about how we’re perceived that we overanalyze our looks, content, likes, comments, views, and shares. STOP. That’s not what relationship building through social media is about. How many times have you scrolled through social media, saw something engaging, watched/read, and scrolled on without liking/sharing/commenting? Exactly. People are seeing you in the same way, recognizing your content, and likely moving on without acknowledgment. When you let go of the notification needs, posting your content will become more fun. It will take practice. And sure, some people are nosy and just want to see what you’re up to. Show them! Use them to increase your reach, strengthen your relationships, and let them help you manifest business leads!
And just because I’m an expert at this… don’t take yourself too seriously. Show up as your authentic, wonderful self. The world needs it!
Step 2: Engage purposefully. You have people who know you, like you, or want to know you more so strengthen those relationships through engagement. Here are some ideas in order to not overcomplicate it:
What is engaging? Commenting on posts or direct messaging the person. Here are some examples to do it purposefully:
Wish them a ‘Happy Birthday’ through a direct message. Bonus points if you ask a question!
Comment on whatever they are sharing. Again, bonus points if you ask a question!
Start conversations in DM; it’s just like texting. Use social media the same way. Not sure what to say? Simple. “I thought of you the other day and wanted to reach out to see how you’re doing.” Some are quick to respond while others take a bit longer but either way, know that you put a smile on someone’s face.
The key here is to engage consistently and build that relationship. I have a system that outlines my outreach to others to start conversations with them at least 4 times per year. Email me with subject line “Quarterly Letter System” and I’ll send it to you!!**
Keep adding new friends. Adding people as friends is the technological equivalent of a business card. Before I even offer to add them on my phone, I always ask to connect with them on social media. It’s the easiest way to stay visible and stay connected.
Now that you have the right mindset to add and engage, you need to move on to posting!
Step 3: Post about your business AND what you do in everyday life is key. You need to have both.
Posting about your business is very easy. Don’t reinvent the wheel, Google “your business social media content” and take advantage of the free resources. Start there and start small. Don’t get caught up on the daily posting expectations; the most important part of posting is consistency—people will expect to see your content. I’m also a believer in talking about your business consistently through telling relatable stories. Tell a story where someone can see themselves in it and the information is also more appealing. If you JUST talk about your business, people will inevitably lose interest because your business might not be captivating to them right now.
Now, the part people really want to know more about. What are you up to? They want to know, so tell the people. Tell them about yourself, what your interests and hobbies are, what you’d do if you had more time, the things you wish you could do, share tips, etc. The goal would be to share about 3-5 things consistently. You can stick with the same 3-5 things or change it up with the “seasons’ of your life.
Example: I post about my family and what we’re up to, real estate, our Women in Business events, mindset work/living a purposeful life, etc. As a family we do quarterly goals - so I love posting about those and giving updates, it also changes up what is going on in our lives.
Social media can definitely be overwhelming and stress-inducing if you don’t have the right mindset and aren’t purposeful in how you post.
These might not be the typical tips that you’d get but I hope that you can take these and implement them to help grow your reach online! Build those new relationships, strengthen the existing ones, and be consistent and purposeful. The results will be more visibility, the expectation of seeing you in their feed, and the connection to knowing you also have a business that provides for XYZ.