How to be Authentic on Social Media

By now, most businesses know that having a social media presence is no longer an option - but a necessity. With constant changes being made to the platforms that marketers everywhere use, know, and love, simply having a social media presence is no longer enough. It's imperative to have a meaningful social media presence. What you share on behalf of your business matters. Adding sales, events, and offerings alone is not enough. You can help to set your company apart from the crowd by maintaining an authentic social media presence. Here are a few tried and true tips for ensuring your voice on social is both true to your brand and authentic to your fans.

Stay in Your Lane

It might be tempting to try a one-size-fits-all approach by grabbing just about any trending topic and blasting it all over every social media platform you use, but if the topic isn't relevant to your brand it could seem trite. And trite is the enemy of authenticity. Of course, there will be instances where something "off topic" has a global impact, making it relevant for everyone to share, but in most cases, you'll find the best success when sharing information and articles your target audience can appreciate. Consider your audience, your company's mission, and your goals when building your content mix. If DIY cooking videos aren't adding value to your voice - leave those to the experts at Buzzfeed.

Be Social!

But, alas, don't be boring! Adding more than just "Hey, buy this!" or "Donate here!" posts to your content mix are essential for creating a relationship with your audience where they want to continue to follow your brand. No one wants to feel like they're constantly being sold something. (We're looking at you, old friend from high school constantly hawking the next best thing to everyone they've ever met on Facebook.) Adding some fun and relevant flare to your feed is essential for showing your fans that your brand has a pulse and it's run by humans!

Be Conversational

Close your eyes. I want you to recall your favorite infomercial. What taglines come to mind? "Act fast now!" "Three easy payments!" "Set it and forget it!" No one talks like that. Well, no one should talk like that. While sharing an offering or service to your fans, imagine you're just chatting with a friend about its components. Granted, you may have some technical language that you need to include once in a while. Don't forget- the best part of social media is that it's social!

Do Good.

Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back for all of the great things your business is doing for the community - but don't forget to share them either! If you're spending the weekend cleaning up storm damage or you've donated a portion of your proceeds to a worthy charity - it's worth a mention. Letting your fans know what you're passionate about helps them to understand your brand's mission on a deeper level. BONUS: you may inspire them to do more good in their community, too!

If you want more tips on maintaining an authentic social media presence for your micro business, contact our team today. No time to manage your online community? We do that, too! We'd love to hear what's been working best for your brands in the comments below!