"How do I get potential clients really caring about what I have to say on social media?"
"Michelle, you talk about branding helping us to create relationships and more meaningful connections which then leads to bigger and bigger success, but how long does that take? In other words, what can I do now that will really start to make a HUGE difference?"
"I don't have time to be ALL OVER social media. If that's what it takes then I'll surely be losing out."
I get asked versions of these questions all the time.
And you want to know the one simple secret to building your brand online and specifically on social media (i.e. facebook)?
Share YOUR own ORIGINAL content.
That's a great first step to your facebook strategy and you can change it around quickly…
Let me repeat that…share YOUR own ORIGINAL content. This is where your most authentic and POWERFUL brand will build from, on any platform. This is also where you have the chance to be most memorable. It may sound simple, however, as we know common sense isn't common practice. 😉 I see this happening ALL over facebook. Women entrepreneurs pulling quotes, graphics and sayings from others WAY more often than they are helping their own brands become most visible…to lead.
Help your own brand succeed and lead.
Make it common practice
Use the 80/20 rule. Share YOUR brilliance 80% of the time and share others' brilliance 20% of the time.
Share your quotables, your truth, your beliefs around the work you do or the transformation you offer. This is what people will remember and be way more connected to.
Sure, they make click LIKE on a mantra or graphic you posted from Gabrielle Bernstein but will they remember you and your brand because of that graphic? Not likely. They'll remember Gabrielle Bernstein. And if you're doing this more often than sharing what YOU believe or feel is the advice to give in that post, you will be helping build her brand, not yours.
But, if they've clicked LIKE on a powerful truth that you've posted and that obviously comes from you there will be a different quality and memory to it. They will remember you.
Your community's perception of your brand and of YOU grows every time they receive/see/feel original content from you!
Here are some additional tips:
In addition to the 80/20 rule, I would suggest and/or detail the following…
Use your own content. What are the things you say to clients most often? What do you believe? What awesome inspired nuggets came from you from that last event you attended?
Make it original. Can you take what most others are talking about in your industry and flip it on its head? Or, can you start the post with something that is bold and eye-catching and end it with the truth or thought you want to share? Can you use a facebook post as a blog entry, maybe?
Think of content not as content, actually, but as value, and when posting on facebook, for example, before pushing "post" make sure that you are providing VALUE to your community ("Does this post provide actual value to my ideal clients and my community?). That will make it come from the most genuine, authentic and most powerful place and also take that sharing to a new level. It works like a charm.
One last tip that works wonders is creating a month's (or even a week's) worth of facebook posts then giving them to an assistant or intern to plan/post for you on hootsuite throughout the month (or week). You don't have to go it alone. And planning out your original content a month or so before pulls the best of the best from you. It's genius!
All of that said, don't be afraid. You are a leader. And you are not just a business but a brand…and a movement. So share from this place. You have so much to say…say it and share it. This will not only lead to more excitement over what you have to offer in your business specifically (that whole "leaning-in" effect) but to others sharing, just as you did with Gabrielle Bernstein's quote, what YOU have to say!
Make yourself and your business shareable.
p.s. If you weren't LIVE with us this Saturda, I'm happy to share the Strategy to Success 2014 Planning Day recording with you (it was an absolute success with over 545 registered to hear the creative and strategic business practices for 2014!): https://michelleghilotti.com/audio/StrategytoSuccessVIPe.mp3 Also, if you would like to grab the 2014 workbook and calendar to fill out while you listen to the training, you can do that by giving us your information here: www.michelleghilotti.com/strategy