As a performer I’ve personally been caught between these two realms:
Social media is overwhelming so I’m avoiding it all!
Concerns: Keeping up with posting consistently, finding engaging content, when is the best time to post, what is being shared in my network, what is being shared beyond my network, why are there so many channels – WHAT IS GOOGLE+??????
or
Social media is amazing! I’m going to post random things and keep up at every minute and not eat, sleep or shower.
Clearly if you care about your hygiene and keeping your friends this is not the way to go. And just because you are posting a lot, doesn’t mean you are posting the ‘right’ content for your brand.
As a performer, creative business owner and/or entrepreneur you have to get your brand out there but you don’t want to annoy everyone with useless updates. Here are my tips for:
5 Ways To Get Your Brand Right On Social Media
#1: What is your Goal?
Who are you? What do you want to share with the world? Use social media to get your message out to the masses and keep it on brand. Once you have a clear idea of your brand you can look into specific goals with social media. Some common goals are:
- Brand Awareness
- Build a Dedicated Community
- Increase Email Subscribe List
- Increase Traffic To Website
- Generate Leads
- Increase Sales
#2: Find the Right Social Media Network that Work for your Brand.
Are you a business owner? Visual Artist? Sword Swallow-er? Find the right social media network for your brand. For instance, if you create killer unicorn paintings, use a visual channel such as Instagram or Pinterest. Perhaps you are in a band, YouTube or Vimeo would be a great platform to show off that xylophone solo.
If you don’t know which network is right for you, test out a few. Try a new network for 2-3 months and evaluate how helpful it is compared to your other networks. If it’s not helpful – shut it down.
#3: Find your Voice.
Your tone of voice defines your brand. What tone of voice do you use when you post on social media? Do you use a professional tone or a friendly tone?
For you actors out there, it’s kind of like finding your hit. Are you the loveable girl next door or the macho jock? If you are frequently cast as the macho jock, posting a kitten sitting in a tea cup does not help you brand. Instead you want to post a preview of that epic speech from Remember the Titans that you will be performing at the Toronto Monologue Slam. Save this teacup cat for your personal Facebook channel that doesn’t have casting directors following you!
#4: Consistency is key.
If you have 28 social media profiles be prepared to be active on all of them. Decide how frequent you will post on each channel. Are you showcasing your artwork on Pinterest once a week? How often will you be tweeting? If you are finding a platform is not working for you, shut it down. Nothing is more sad than seeing your last YouTube video made 3 years ago. It really makes me worry about you – did you catch a terminal illness?
It is better to have a few networks that you are active on than many with little to no activity. Rock the networks that are working for you and ditch the ones that don’t. Even if that means you are only on 1-2 networks!
via GIPHY
#5: Keep your accounts up to date
Fill out all sections of your profile, ensure look and feel are the same on all accounts and cross promote. Is your cover photo the same on all profiles? Having a completely different look and feel on your social channels confuses everyone and makes you look like you have multiple personalities. Choose one identity and run with it!
Cross promotion is key! Link your Instagram, website and YouTube to your Facebook page, you never know who can be looking for you. Linking your social media accounts to your website also helps in building SEO juice – yummy!
Keeping rocking your personal brand and let social media help you!
Do you find social media overwhelming or inspiring? What difficulties do you encounter with your brand on social media?