It’s ok to not like social media!
What’s one of the largest impacts to businesses in the last 15 years? Take a guess - social media. There was a time when Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and all the platforms didn’t exist. People DID do a lot of business back then (I know I was on the phone a lot more in those days!). Social media has made an impact on businesses and our personal lives (for some better or worse for others).
I have spoken to many of you in the past few months. Many of you feel this HUGE pressure to do Instagram Reels, have a Facebook group or other social media actions that will land you clients you want (or that’s what the experts say). However, maybe you don’t like being on video, don’t enjoy it and/or doesn’t align with your values. (I for one tried doing Instagram Reels and never really felt that was my best way to connect!)
I wanted to share some great tips on how to use social media as a tool in your business or at least reduce it so that it doesn’t have to BE THE ONLY marketing activity you use. -
1) ASSESS THE SITUATION:
Identify what exactly you are doing on social media
How many platforms you are on each week/month
Watch what you are spending your time on?
If you use it for entertainment and connection, you are probably spending more on the platforms than you think. For a week, watch and take notes on your behavior. How much of your time is spent using social media for your business? I’ve had my own challenges with social media and how I had to stop scrolling.
Maybe you can relate with me. What did you learn after watching yourself for a week? Feel free to email me and let me know, I’m here to help!
2) ENGAGEMENT:
How are you engaging on social media?
Are you posting a lot?
Are you also engaging?
The secret to social media is building real relationships with people and that’s usually through commenting on their posts and Direct Messaging. I know some professionals out there who NEVER post and only comment and DM! Think about what that would look like and - think about who you want to engage with. Do you know where your ideal client is hanging out? Here’s a few guidelines to start watching which platform you are on and if your clients are there too.
3) HOW LINKEDIN CAN BE A TOOL:
I know many of you are on LinkedIn, mainly because it’s a professional platform where your colleagues, referral partners and potential clients hang out.
One of the mysteries I learned quickly about LinkedIn during the pandemic is that it’s critical to connect with someone as a human first, then you can talk about business. If you are active on LI, some of you might get a lot of spam messages in your DM about having a 10-15 call and you don’t even know them! I find that I have some friendly scripts I customize and share with people in Direct Messages and only spend time on LinkedIn to connect with real people. I’ve also made an effort to connect to 5 people a week to broaden my network. Want to learn more about how to use LinkedIn as a tool for your business and minimize your time there? Check out my LinkedIn Masterclass!
Social media doesn’t have to dominate your marketing, especially if it’s used as a tool to connect with people. You don’t have perfect posts or do the Reels and post multiple times a day (you can definitely do it if you enjoy it). My approach is to provide a balanced approach to marketing and show you that you can do a few different activities that can lead to the clients you love working with. Social media is only one tool of MANY!