The age of social media has made groundbreaking impact on our society and totally revolutionized the way that we do things. Let’s face it, the first thing that most of us do each morning is check our profiles for overnight notifications and the latest happenings of the day. In contrast, we find ourselves sharing everything from motivational memes to date night selfies to what we ate for lunch.
READ: 7 Times You Should NOT Post To Social Media
It’s very interesting to see the changes in how we use social media since Facebook was founded more than a decade ago. What was first a casual way to connect with peers has become a revolutionary tool in personal branding and business. Now, our social media profiles can be strategically leveraged to grow our brands as well as to create foundational connections between clients and colleagues.
We all are brands, whether we realize it or not, so image and reputation management online is essential to influencing the perceptions that are used to define us. The big question: Is social media working for you or against you? Below are 10 things to avoid with your social media use:
1. Lack of quality imagery
Because we are visual beings, we subconsciously form judgments and make assumptions almost immediately upon coming into contact with someone – it’s just human nature! Your packaging should always be just as good as your substance, so as not to do your brand a disservice. Invest in quality graphic design, leverage D.I.Y. apps such as FontCandy+ and WordSwag, or simply take photographs in natural lighting to achieve a polished look. As a rule of thumb, if the imagery is not high quality, don’t post it.
READ: You’ll Never Guess What Social Media Is Doing To You Now
2. Spelling errors and grammatically incorrect wording
This is by far one of the biggest deal breakers. Take pride in your presentation by proofreading carefully. If writing is not one of your strengths, hiring a writer to effectively communicate your brand message will prove to be a worthy investment.
3. Content that is not consistent with your brand message and core values
It takes a lot of time to build a brand, but only a moment to destroy it. Every post is a reflection of you. Sharing anything that is conflicting with your brand’s core values and message could be damaging in the long run.
4. Too much “salesy” content
This is especially critical for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Profiles should not be used to fulfill the purposes of a website through aggressive sales pitches. The proper use of social media is to generate brand awareness and lead traffic to your company’s website for interested parties to take further action. Businesses can maximize their social influence by sharing their story in unique ways and creating value for their audience.
5. Lack of original content
Social media has made it extremely easy for the masses to publish content and sometimes it can be a fight through the fog to separate the real from the fake. When it comes to your personal brand, original content is a great way to establish credibility and trust among your audience as well as position you as an authority in your field of interest.
READ: Refresh Your Personal Brand In 5 Easy Steps
6. No profile image
Credibility is best established when a face can be matched to a name. Make sure that your audience knows who they are talking to. If not, you may be missing an opportunity to build quality relationships.
7. Sharing content that is too personal
Your audience and peers want to know you, but there are some things that just aren’t for social media. Develop a personal list of filters to decide what your boundaries are. If you wouldn’t want the content posted on a highway billboard with your name next to it, don’t share it.
8. Too many “selfies” in relation to overall value of content shared
You’re attractive; however, it’s important to find a balance between self-promotion and content that your audience will, too, find valuable.
9. Outdated profiles
A very important element to branding oneself is being relevant. Outdated profiles send a signal to your audience that you may be out of touch or not worth keeping up with. One quality post per day, three times per week is a good structure to build upon.
10. No consistency across social platforms
With branding, consistency is key. Make it easy for others to find you and recognize you by being consistent with social media handles, profile images as well as the overall tone of content shared across platforms.
Consider your social media accounts as your personal brand’s visual storyboard or online portfolio. Once content is in cyberspace, it lingers forever. If a prospect visited your profiles today, would they find content that is the best representation of you and/or your business? If not, it’s time to shape it up!
Aaja Corinne Magee is a Chicago-based Image & Personal Branding Strategist, specializing in helping high-potential leaders create game-changing personal brands. For more savvy advice and quick tips, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for her newsletter at www.aajacorinnethebrand.com.
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