10 Keys to Social Media Branding
What makes a social media brand successful? Is it posting on Facebook at least once per day? Having lots of Twitter followers? Always being first to spread the news on your blog? Do you need a great logo?
These are all good things, but they’re not the heart of what makes a social media brand great.
Whether you’re a nonprofit, for-profit, or an individual trying to make a name for yourself, the basic elements of success are the same. Here’s my list of 10 things you must be to have a truly remarkable social brand.
- Personable – You must be likable! Out of all the media outlets from traditional newspapers to professional TV news channels, social media is the most relaxed. You must be friendly and engage people so they want to listen to you.
- Consistent - Whether you have one employee or many updating your social media, your brand’s voice must be consistent. Is it funny? Authoritative? Down-to-earth? Do you blog about personal things, or keep it strictly business? Discuss these questions with your team and agree on them.
- Focused – Your company has a mission, right? So should your social media! Don’t just write about anything and everything. Make sure it’s relevant or serves a purpose. Even if you let your employees write about personal things, they should write with the mission in mind.
- Creative - No one wants to hear the same thing over and over again. Keep looking for new ways to engage your audience through real life updates, links to interesting material, live events, polls, contests, discussion questions, or anything else that can relate back to your mission.
- Transparent - Be open with your followers. Share the ups and downs! Not only do people love hearing “behind-the-scenes” stories, it’s a great way to build loyalty.
- Sincere - Don’t fake it. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. People can see right through you, trust me.
- Interesting – A good rule of thumb is: if you don’t want to read it, why should your followers? Keep it relevant, entertaining, or informative – or all three, if possible!
- Helpful – People follow businesses and nonprofits because they want to know more about them, or they want to be entertained, or maybe they want to learn something. It’s your job to figure out what they want and then give it to them.
- Modest – Social media is advertising, but that doesn’t mean you should be talking about how great you are all the time. It’s annoying. Even if you really are the greatest thing since sliced bread, no one will listen to you.
- Grateful – This goes hand-in-hand with modesty. Give credit where credit is due! Thank people when they re-tweet your messages or comment on your blog. Acknowledge your biggest fans every once in a while. Don’t thank people so often that you sound insincere, but don’t ever forget to remember the guys who help you.
Great post, you hit it right on the head. There is no easy way of doing it.
Thanks! I’m looking forward to getting to know more about Bookraiser. I’m keeping my eye on your Twitter feed. I’d be keen on donating myself if I wasn’t trying to amass a personal library!
Thanks jessica, it has been a slow start but it is a really good program. A lot of people just throwaway there books, why not use them to fund projects. You can even use it to fund your blog. I love your blog, i will keep an eye on it. Are you still college.
Jessica,
Another great post! I’m learning a lot from you. Keep the posts coming.
Gari
Hi Gary!
Thanks for connecting! I’ve been keeping an eye on your Twitter stream, too. You’ve got a lot to teach and share yourself! We all have a little bit of knowledge to add to the pot.
Jessica