Social media and personal branding are like peanut butter and jelly. Sure, you can have one without the other, but why would you…ever?
Whether you’re a CEO of a large company, an employee at a small local company or somewhere in between, you are representing yourself when you’re online. Everything you say and do speaks to your personal brand.
- How do you want to be perceived?
- What do you want to be known for?
- What is your unique selling proposition?
- What differentiates you from everyone else?
Don’t let what differentiates you turn out to be your worst nightmare.
Imagine this: As a professional expert in your industry, you’re attending a conference, networking event, or even a zoom meeting. What would your perception be if someone brazenly started sharing their views on an incendiary topic like politics, sex or religion?
It doesn’t matter whether you agree or disagree with this person’s viewpoint, because in a first-impression-situation, you need to think carefully about how others view your behavior. It’s about putting your prospects first, not your urge to respond or share.
Even though it’s common knowledge that in social situations you should never visit incendiary topics, somehow that rule is getting lost when it comes to social media. Outrage drives algorithms and we are nearly powerless against it.
Resist the urge to give into the outrage machine.
Outrage only feeds social media platforms and rarely has a net positive for you and your personal brand.
Most people are not even aware of this manipulation and I admit, it feels good to participate. My recommendation is to temper your actions by thinking before you jump in.
If you aren’t solid in your personal brand, social media can become a minefield both for you and the recipients of your posts. Your connections will mute, block, and/or unfollow you and most of the time, you’ll never know they did it until it’s too late.
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The Internet is forever.
My friend Mark Schaefer does a wonderful job of engaging on social media. He is solid in his personal brand – he knows who he is and why he does what he does.
Mark shared this thought on LinkedIn recently and it caught my eye:
In today’s iteration of the Internet, known as Web3, a personal brand and reputation are the very currency we trade on.
In a world where everything we say and do is cataloged, wouldn’t you agree it’s crucial to pay close attention to what you say and do online?
Every time you are online, in a meeting, at a conference, networking reception, or even a backyard BBQ, be mindful of two things:
- What others are experiencing about you.
- What you want others to experience about you.
In each of your engagements, your customers, peers and even friends and family, are evaluating you. When you’re solid in your professional brand, there is no difference between #1 and #2.
Social media and personal branding should be part of every salesperson’s modus operandi.
Your reputation is at stake with everything you say and do. Social media only amplifies it. You can’t afford to make unforced errors on social media with your reputation.
For business leaders, incorporating social media and personal branding within your organization’s sales methodology builds trust with consumers and the result is more profitable deals and satisfied customers.
Social media is how customers prefer to connect with companies now. If you manage salespeople today, social media and personal branding should be part of your overall training curriculum. This is the heart of social selling – a technique used by salespeople to laser-target their prospecting and establish rapport through existing connections.
I’m sometimes astounded by various salespeople’s behavior on social media. I understand the need to tell everyone about the injustices you feel and how wrong some people’s thinking might be. I’m not saying you shouldn’t participate in advocacy.
What I am saying is take a beat. Before you hit send, ask yourself, “Would I follow ME based solely on this one post/comment?”
The difference between posts that make people shudder and valuable content that makes people want to follow you, is personal branding.
When you know exactly who you are at your core and approach social media knowing why you do what you do everyday, the content you post shifts in a positive direction, sometimes resulting in sales. It becomes flavored with your authenticity, vulnerability and credibility. You become more aware of how you’re seen by others and thereby enhance your value in social and sales relationships.
Don’t be a candidate for the Unfollow.
Just stop and think before you post. Don’t be that person who everyone unfollows – we are all too connected now and it could be the gateway to your demise. Instead, treat your social media profiles as community-building assets where people look to you for sound advice and trustworthy information about what you sell.
Your personal brand is about making a full-time commitment to the journey of defining yourself as a leader and how this will shape the manner in which you will serve others.
Your personal brand should represent the value you are able to consistently deliver to those whom you are serving.
Everything you post leaves an impression. Your own reputation as a well-informed, trusted resource is at stake here. Think carefully. Post responsibly. Allow your personal brand to shine through.
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