Why you need an authentic social media presence

As an entrepreneur, you must be able to sell your idea — and yourself — to other people. That’s why many entrepreneurs struggle with social media marketing, where they need to set the pitch aside and focus on being authentic.

What exactly does that mean? Authenticity is all about being genuine and resisting the urge to talk only about yourself and your business. It sounds simple, and it mostly is — once you have a couple of tips under your belt. Here are three steps you can take to cultivate a more authentic social media presence:

Stop (or at least tone down) the sales pitch. As with any marketing project, priorities are important in social media. More than sales or brand awareness, your main goal should be offering valuable information. So before you get into the sales pitch or behind-the-scenes corporate stuff, make sure you’re providing tips and advice that’s relevant to your followers. Be a resource and promote the sharing of ideas. That — and the occasional cat video — will give your followers a reason to keep coming back.

Engage like a real person. Don’t want your followers to dismiss your message or, worse, you? Stay away from the brand-speak and industry-speak. People want the real you, the person behind the company. Don’t refer to yourself as your business. Comment and ask questions. Provide valuable information just for the sake of it, rather than always asking for something in return.

Don’t worry about being perfect. Life isn’t perfect, and your social media shouldn’t be either. By that, we mean you don’t have to use perfect grammar or big, fancy words in your social interactions. Communicate professionally but like you would if you were chatting with a colleague at the office or networking with someone over lunch. People trust people — and want to buy from people — who are real, flaws and all.

It may be quick and easy to set up your online presence, but developing relationships takes time. Remaining consistently engaged and interacting authentically with your followers is the foundation that will help build your unique personal brand.

At New Life Strategies, we’re here to help you be financially successful. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. And visit our website to learn more about us: