However, separating your business from the competition can be difficult.
Understanding, identifying and positioning the brand that is you and then sharing it consistently is vital.
So, how can you use social media to build your personal brand and gain a voice in a busy online world?
Tackle it in bite-sized chunks!
I’m excited to release my eBook, “10 Ways to Use Social Media to Virtually Crush the Competition,” including ten steps and two bonus tips to help you use social media to virtually crush your competition and position your business or personal brand as the go-to leader within your industry or niche.
See highlights and an opportunity to download your FREE copy below!
1. How to Stand Out Online
How do you translate an established offline brand into an online into one that attracts, engages and inspires potential customers?
- Have a step-by-step system to build your business or personal brand online
- Understand what it takes to outshine your competition using strategic social media and marketing tactics
- Know how to position your business or personal brand for online domination
- Identify top social media tools to manage, monitor and grow your online presence
2. How to Define Your Shine
Whether you like it or not, assumptions are being made right now about your personal brand. Your product, service, customer experience and online presence are all factors in driving consumer perception.
But it is so much more than just that. Your personal brand also includes the reputation and relationships you have built over time.
3. Know Your Market
As the use of social marketing for business continues to evolve, having an established social media presence is crucial.
However, before you dive in, take a step back and analyze what your motivation for using social media truly is and how that impacts your target market.
4. Build Out a Captivating Profile
Social media profiles are an enormous opportunity to present your story and message in a real and relatable way.
They also speak directly to the search engines, so do your homework and know how potential clients are searching for you when online.
Peg Fitzpatrick, social media strategist does an excellent job utilizing every bit of the “about” space on each of her social media profiles, but especially Google+. Want to rock your social media profiles and bio? I asked Peg for a few tips to get you started.
See all of them in the eBook!
5. Define Your Look and Feel
Your look and feel is the visual definition of your online brand. From your website to your social networks, your online presence should express a consistent theme.
This includes your logo, website, blog, and any images shared on social media. In fact, images are an enormous opportunity to connect fans to your brand.
Whether it is a picture promoting your latest blog post or a custom image around your most recent product, stay true to the look and feel that best represents your company.
6. Create a Unique Experience
Take a moment and think about the last experience you had with a business or brand. What stands out in your mind and how did it make you feel?
Creating a memorable experience allows customers to emotionally connect with your business. It’s a personal connection that taps into the five senses.
Why is this important? Because…
“People buy emotionally and then justify with logic.” – Buck Rodgers, Vice President of IBM
7. Share Your Story
In our often chaotic and hectic online world, slowing down and taking the time to take people on your journey is critical. A great way to give potential customers a more intimate look into your business is to use video.
Share who you are, what you are all about it, and who you can help. Offer tips, advice, updates and relevant content in a short, easy to consume format.
Not only does Google love video making it great for SEO purposes, but embedding YouTube videos into you website increases views and personalizes the user experience.
8. Embrace Social Media
As the use of social marketing for business continues to evolve, having an established social media presence that connects with potential customers is a crucial element to building your business or personal brand.
However, before you dive in, take a step back and analyze what your motivation for using social media truly is.
9. Create a Credible Website
A website can help establish credibility and should be the hub or center of your online presence. With it you can showcase your individual talents and provide insight into who you are, what you are passionate about, and what niche or group you and your business serve.
Allow your website to complement all that you are doing both offline and online. Add it to your marketing, newsletter, email and any other location where you are eager for consumers to find and connect with you.
10. Merge Offline with Online
While business seems to be more Internet-based than ever, you never want to neglect your offline efforts. Merging your offline and online is a perfect way to take an established reputation and introduce it to your new online audience.
Take your brochures, email marketing, flyers and direct mail campaigns and repurpose the content across your social media channels.
Bonus 1: Invest Online
Whether it is time spent creating content or an investment into a new marketing tool, investing in your personal brand provides growth opportunities.
Spending money on the development of your brand can also build credibility, boost visibility and create a higher overall perceived value.
For example, spending money on your look and feel – a logo, custom website and branded social media channels – tells your story and sends a consistent message to potential clients.
Learn how you can amplify your message on a shoestring budget. Just fill out your information below to download my free eBook!
Bonus 2: Set Measurable Goals
Setting periodic goals for your personal brand is a good way to analyze your achievements and adjust your strategy as necessary. Set daily, weekly and monthly goals that support your dream.
What is it that you want to achieve? Once you decide what you are working towards, put it in writing!
Rebeka
I enjoyed reading your article. As someone who has been online since the late 1990’s I especially liked “know your market”.
People always wonder what social networking platforms they should spend time on. When they know their market, they’ll know the answer!
Coach Maria
Hi Rebekah,
I’m new to your website and your work. Right now I’m in a transition in my own business, pretty clear that it’s time to go in a new direction and I’m awaiting clarity. Reading your tips was helpful as I percolate and brainstorm. Thank you 🙂
Wow this is truly amazing content you just shared, I am new to blogging and online marketing and to be honest I havent had great results through social media, After reading this I just realized that I was totally doing it the wrong way, You just rescued me thanks for sharing
Hi Rebekah!
These ten ways will surely crush your competition on Social media!!!
I especially love number two: “How To Define Your Shine” because people tend to assume your personal brand. We have to be mindful of other people’s perceptions of us.
Our reputation is so important. This is why we always need to be respectful, empathetic, and of course pump out good content. When socializing, we cannot just plus or press like, but go the extra mile and always leave an appropriate comment.
-Donna
I’m applying for an internship at Translation LLC, an advertising agency in NYC, and there’s a social media component to the application. It’s highly competitive and the person with the most engagement on their tweet to the agency automatically get’s an interview. Please check out my story, and if you like it maybe even RT it. I know your following and would greatly appreciate any help!
https://twitter.com/avan1928/status/456647362186706944
Thanks for sharing this useful blog post 🙂
You are always highlighting the key points Rebekah!
You were actually mentioned twice in my recent podcasts with Jenn Herman and Jeff Sieh due to your standout branding. It is something we all aspire to, and use a model in many discussions.
Great to see that mentioned here, I think it is key!
ashley
Hi Ashley! Just finished listening to your interview with Jenn. So many great points about Instagram! I’m definitely a supporter of using it for business.
You are a fantastic host btw. It’s definitely a gift (that not many have) to create a compelling show. I’m subscribed and can now say I’m officially a raving fan! 🙂
Hi Rebekah,
Thank for ebook..
Still downloading your ebook.
Hope i get more tips about social media so can increas my personal brand.
Thank you Bambang! I’d love your review once you’ve finished reading it!
Hi Rebekah!
Glad to be hear and appreciate you for adding a terrific value to your readers with such a thoughtful post.
All the points (I mean all 10), are very important cornerstones to success online. It is very important to pay attention to how we are being perceived and how we want to be perceived.
However, the one I loved the most is, about merging offline and online. I mean that is the key. We shouldn’t be someone else online when people offline see us online (and vice versa). Absolutely important point!
Thank you for sharing!
Regards,
Kumar
So true Kumar. We have to be the truest version of ourselves online as we can possibly be. Anything else is a disingenuous and a complete waste of time IMO.
Very useful and helpful article, especially for start-ups or newbies. Although I have several years of experience in social media, I still found some new helpful tips for myself.
Social media is improving so much that we need to update our knowledge on this field every day, in order to keep the market. Good to share your great advice with us. Thank you! 🙂
http://www.dervish-az.com
Using social media to CRUSH the competition? Really? Should we also use collaborative networks to WIPE OUT rivals and DOMINATE the market? Welcome to the Brave New Militarized World of online connectedness, community and collaboration.
Rebekah,
I may already say this before.. but worth repeating.. Love what you share about social media.. I am so happy to always learn more and more from your great knowledge and now with this wonderful list of items I am a lot more set to get something going and much better than before..
Thanks so much for sharing and may all what you do for others to benefit, will benefit you more.
_nickc
I used to be a rep for a popular nutrition/fitness related mlm that relied heavily on social media for promotion of its products and they mentioned all of the above for their trainings. I’ve have yet to make a video of myself because I’m not too fond of the sound of my voice. This has been one obstacle that I’ve had a hard time getting over.
A great list Rebekah. I think the hardest one for a lot of people is actually bonus one; they equate online to being free and don’t invest in their presence.
So true Sarah. Between the investment of money and time, most people don’t give social media what it deserves.
Thank you for sharing this, Rebekah. Can’t wait to read it! I like to think I’m a seasoned blogger/online user but I can always use insights from a pro.
You are most definitely a seasoned blogger Sara. I love learning from you!
hi rebekah!
unfortunately, i’m finding that the submit form on this page isn’t working & i’d love to download your e-book!
just a heads-up…i’m not sure if it’s just my issue or if something really is wrong with the form.
Hi Ebony! I’m not having trouble with it. Do you want to try it again? Let me know if you’re still having a problem.
i got it to work! (by clicking the button lots of times in a row. 😉
in any event i’m in…thanks for the response!
So glad it finally worked Ebony!
Hi Rebekah. This is a wonderful list of items. There is so much that can be done, but if we can just focus on getting a couple of new things working each week, we will get there. Thanks so much for this article.
All the best,
Leslie Denning, The Home Biz CEO
It’s baby steps Leslie. Take one little step each day and before you know it, you’ve mastered it!
As a new blogger in a niche market – these are some great tips to really stand out and optimize my presence on social media! Thanks!!
How fun Joan! Congrats on diving in to blogging. I know it can and will be a huge medium for you…especially in a niche market.
Hey Rebekah,
Great write as usual. Killer headline!
I learned something recently. When it comes to social media, it is never about the numbers. It is the number of reach and effects from it.
Thanks for sharing. Bookmarked it in Pocket for future reading!
Very true Reginald. If you only focus on the numbers, you’re missing the much bigger picture.
Thanks for bookmarking. I love Pocket!