Social Media Audit
Love it or hate it, social media has COMPLETELY changed the way we receive and share information. It has even changed the way we buy things, or at least research things we are considering buying.
When I was in corporate America, we paid big bucks to advertise our brands and our return on that investment wasn’t nearly as effective as the recommendation of a friend. While advertising still happens, the majority of people would prefer to hear what their friends are using and why they are using it. Enter social media. Anybody can build a following that leads to exposure and ultimately influence.
It’s time to start thinking of social media as your storefront. The one shift will forever change the way you see your business.
I’ve built my businesses, and helped others do the same, using social media as the main marketing tool. Don’t get me wrong, Network Marketing will always be a relationship business which is why you have to keep the social in social media or you will simply be a commercial that nobody is interested in watching. Insert eye roll, I appreciate that you’ve probably experienced a SPAMMY SPAMMY SPAMMY Network Marketer. I don’t like it either but they simply have the wrong mentor or haven’t learned yet.
When done well, Social Media can
build your voice and impact (brand awareness)
help you serve the people God has entrusted to you (love your network well)
draw your ideal customer to you
sell your products, services or business
create and grow your tribe (which is basically your community)
And the best part, there is no need for a website. You certainly can have one but don’t think it’s necessary to grow a successful online business. I didn’t build a website until after I hit the 7 figure mark in the Network Marketing space.
Audit Time
So where should you start? The first step (and probably the most boring) is to do a social media audit. Boring, I know but this exercise is EYE OPENING. So head over to one of your profiles. It doesn’t matter which one; just pick your favorite social media outlet and start there.
Take a FIVE MINUTE GLANCE and give an honest summary of what it is saying about you? Is your about section clear and on brand? Does your profile set you up for success or is it the hot mess express?
How about your cover image? This is typically the biggest piece of real estate on the feed. Are you using it wisely? Creating the right cover image is easy to do.
If you need help with design, get my Just Say No To Ugly Graphics course here. Or hire it out. Fiverr is an inexpensive option.
Next, let’s move to the profile photo. Is it a nice shot of you? You don’t need a fancy photo shoot to have a nice profile photo. If you don’t have one, this is the week that changes. Put on your favorite shirt, do your makeup and hair and ask your spouse or friend to snap some shots. Easy peasy!
Another important step in this audit is to check your security settings. The goal of your social media is exposure and impact. If your security settings have all your content on lock down you’re negatively impacting the amount of eyeballs that see your content. Allow people to see what you’re up to without being connected to you. This is often a safe entry point for people.
Who’s Your Who
Now, that you’ve done these steps, what is your current social media communicating? Are you giving people your best or are you all over the place. You want to steward this real estate well. Based on the audit results are you doing that?
Pro Tip - if you see people selling products or services that are similar to yours, don’t get discouraged. This is actually good. It means you are in the right spot and that it can be done. One thing I’ve learned in the entrepreneurial space is there is room for all of us. And nobody does things exactly like you. God made you so unique and special that there is only one of you and that means we need you just the way you are!
The next step is to know (without a doubt) who you serve and provide value to. It’s time to get SUPER clear about this. Try not to overthink it and get as specific as you can. It’s human nature to downplay our personal gifts and think we don’t have anything unique. I’m here to tell you that you do! Here are some questions that will help you get started:
Who do you best serve and create value for?
Where do you have God's favor?
Where have you experienced breakthrough?
Who has God put in your path in this season?
Who do you most easily relate to?
Get so specific that it seems that only YOU would fit in it.
If you want more help, grab my FREE workbook Who Is Your Who.
Still need help? I have a training, just for you. Simply CLICK the Follow Your Favor course button.
Where Are Your People
Time to move to the next step. Where are your people hanging out? Let’s not make this harder on ourselves than it needs to be. The goal is to master the social media platforms where your WHO is.
So think about your WHO and let’s do some research. The main platforms that come to my mind are Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. These might be super different for you based on who you serve. Do a deep dive into the platforms that make sense for you. Did you know each platform knows their audience super well. Start by searching their blogs and then check out influencers to see if it matches what you found.
Share Share Share
Now it’s time to focus on what to share. This is called content and it’s how you show up on social media. Research shows us that people buy from or join people that they KNOW, LIKE and TRUST. What you share is either helping people get to know you and building trust or it isn’t. Since time is our biggest commodity, I don’t want you wasting yours which means the sooner you grasp this the sooner your social media starts working for you rather than against you.
I want you to start thinking about quality rather than quantity. Solid social media isn’t about more, it’s about value. What do you know that others want to know?
Before you post, ask yourself this:
How is this helpful or valuable to my network?
If you’re still uncertain about what to post, here are some of my favorite thought starters for content that builds trust:
educate – tutorials, tips, how-to’s, training, industry news
provide value – give them something they can use immediately
makes them think – thought provoking questions or success stories
inspires or motivates them – people love this type of content + it’s super easy to create
incentives – things they get for connecting or engaging with you – like special offers
Call to Action
The general rule for social media is the 80/20 rule which basically means that 80% of your content should be about value while 20% is about your business, product or services. I see so many people miss the final step which is a basic Call to Action.
A call to action is simply sharing what people can do to get further help from you. They don’t have to be fancy to work, they just have to be clear and keep the customer’s needs first. It may sound odd, but the more you serve your WHO the more they trust you. Love your people well and your business will thrive. I like to think about my call to action like this:
Share where people can purchase, contact you, get your free tool, learn more or take your relationship to the next level.
Okay, now it’s your turn. Time to start being intentional about your social media and using it to provide value to the people in your life. It’s not as hard as it seems, it just takes a little planning and intention!
Happy Social Media-ing!
