This month we’ve been talking a lot about growth over in the #ThinkSocial groups and I wanted to take a few moments to share some of the reasons why growing your social media presence is so important…and how to grow with style, staying classy and providing value to each and every person who follows you!
So…What is Growth??
The obvious answer is that growth is when your numbers go up, right? And, that’s true, but there is so much more to it.
Think about it this way: Collectors like to grow their collections by adding items that will ultimately sit on a shelf and do nothing but look pretty. How many of you know someone who is an avid collector? I may or may not be married to a baseball card collector. I have friends who collect certain types of dolls. And some who collect Star Wars memorabilia…
The problem with these types of collections is that they stay neatly packaged up and do NOTHING. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in watching the numbers of your collection rise, but that should never be the end goal.
My point is this: When we’re focused on growing our social media, we can do it two ways. We can grow our NUMBERS just to see the number go up…or we can grow our VALUE and see our sales go up.
The Difference Between Collecting People and Collecting Customers
I’d far rather have 500 followers who engage with me and find value on my social profile than 5,000 followers with only 50 people who actually engage. That 5,000 number looks mighty nice, but in the end, it’s just a vanity metric if there’s no engagement that comes with it. You can turn an engaged follower into a customer, but a follower who is just a number in a fancy collector’s package is just that – a number.
Don’t grow your account – grow your value and your engagement!
Prove that you’re worth following by giving value to your audience. Stand out by being different and teaching something.
When someone looks at your social media, what do they walk away with? Warm and fuzzy feelings? That’s value! Sometimes people need the warm and fuzzy. Did they learn something new? Did you teach them a styling tip, a cleaning trick, or share a motivational quote?
Here are just a few ways to grow your value and give your followers a take away that will keep them coming back for more:
- Teach them something new
- Solve a problem they don’t even know they have.
- Help them live intentionally
- Spark emotional reactions
- Be motivational
- Share your real life
- Give something away (and it doesn’t have to be a physical product – share tips and tricks about your product or service)
Getting Attention with STYLE
As you’re growing your social media, ask yourself this: Why should people follow me? How am I BRINGING that value?
Here’s the thing. Value is AMAZING…Education is AMAZING…but the other side of growing your social media is style. No matter how amazing the things you share are, if the photos are dull and boring, no one is going to stick around.
You’ve got to get people’s attention, and you do that by sharing consistent images, great photos, and an alternative to everyone else out there who looks like a carbon copy of some corporate template. Learn how to take photos with good lighting. Use your branding to create a consistent feel across your social media. Be thoughtful and intentional about what you share and how you share it, and the right people will come.
Join Community
You can’t do this alone. Well, you can…but it’s so much more difficult! If you’re looking for a like-minded tribe of business owners, entrepreneurs, and consultants who support and encourage each other, I’d love to invite you to join me in the #ThinkSocial Society, a community where over 100 amazing, motivated, and compatible entrepreneurs learn and grow together! We’d love to hear your story and help you grow your social media presence.
