Creating Value in Your Social Media
You’ve already heard this; Stop selling on social media and start telling stories!! But very few are actually paying attention to this directive.
So, I want to say first; I am not an expert. I am an
observer of human behaviour and interaction and I have the ability to see
patterns and shifts in patterns. My own communication style is; think - think -
think – speak/write. And when I write, I will read and re-read before I hit
send or post.
I do this because I know that written language is not the
best way to communicate in every situation. Written words lack context unless
it’s provided. Written words do not indicate body language, tone of voice and
facial expressions. This means that written words can and often are easily misunderstood.
Social media has become the number one means of advertising
your business. BUT social media is not TV or Radio or Billboards or newspaper
ads. These “old school” means of advertising were the “in-your-face” advertising
style – BUY BUY BUY!! Social media is not like that. NO ONE wants to be asked
to BUY BUY BUY. Its annoying. Its impersonal and disruptive to our mindset. I
just scroll by any posts I see that start off with “ just wanna introduce my
new blah blah blah made especially for you……etc” I liken this behaviour to the salesperson who
pounces and hovers over you while you are in a store. No one wants that and
when it happens to me I often leave the store.
I view social media as the internet version of being in a
room with a bunch of people you don’t know, say like at a networking meeting or
a casual meet and greet gathering. I would never run up to someone and get in
their face asking them to be-my-friend-will-you-be-my-friend-hey-lets-be-friends……
People tend to become uncomfortable and will move away from you as quickly as
possible. Instead, approach with a gentle smile and offer and handshake and be
interested in learning about who they are.
I am guilty of posting salesy posts on occasion. Gary Vee
talks about the jab, jab, jab, right hook approach. So, while in the past I too
posted too often in a sales-like tone, now I work on providing value value
value with a very light sprinkle of buy/signup.
What is providing value? I try to reverse engineer an idea or concept
in order to understand it better. In the case of learning how to provide value;
I read my content as if I were just a regular person scrolling and reading on
social media. Then I ask myself: Does this post provide any value to me? Did I learn
something? Was I entertained? Or do I feel I’m being sold to? If the content
reads as if you’re being sold to, rewrite it. Don’t sell. Tell a story. Talk
about why you love doing what you do. Tell a story about something that
inspires you. Tell a funny story that happened to you. Be a human. Be relatable.
Show that you are imperfect. Something really important to remember is that not
everyone who comes across your business and your social media content will like
it. Just like in “real life” not everyone likes you. And that’s absolutely 100%
okay. You don’t want to work with people who don’t share your values because it
very quickly becomes awfully hard to please them. You do want to work with
people who DO share your values. And they will find you when you express your
values in real life terms. Being relatable and real is the best way to promote
yourself. Is it scary to put yourself out there?? 100%!!! I’m an introvert. I’m
terrified every time I film a video of myself. You can see it on my face!
You will receive more rejections than acceptance. And that’s
okay too!
Social media used to be fun. Now its rife with sales
pitches. Let’s make it fun again by being real.
One last secret: You don’t need everyone to buy from you;
you only need those who believe what you believe because they will stay with
you. They will be there to raise you up when you fail (and you will lots of
times) and they’ll be there to celebrate your successes.
Looking for more?
Check out these great inspirational speakers and business moguls:
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