Why Social Media
First some statistics. “Social media statistics from 2019 show that there are 3.2 billion social media users worldwide, and this number is only growing. That equates to about 42% of the current population.” (Emarsys, 2019) Mar 7, 2019) In September 2019 there were 7.7 billion people in the world. It is safe to say your clients and prospects are in that number. So, social media gives you a place to connect to your current and potential clients. It is a place to build relationships.
To be found on social media you will need a name. Most of you are probably already have a personal social presence but fewer have a business page. Let’s pretend for the moment that you do not. Since we are looking at this from a business perspective you will want to create a business social name or handle. As a professional it is important that you use your own name for your personal accounts as they will be easier to find and connect with. Save the savvy language and handles for your descriptions and tag-lines. For the business pages, such as Facebook, Instagram, etc., that will bear your business name, reserve them as soon as possible, as domain names. You’d be surprised how people and businesses carry your same name. You may need to make variances by including initials. Try not to abbreviate too much. Your name should be recognizable and easy to remember just like your website address. If possible. Make them all the same.
Once you have your name it is now time to choose your image. For your personal channels you should use your current face, not your cat, dog or logo for your business. For your business, if you are the face of your business use that in conjunction with your logo. If you are a business entity you need to brand that image with your logo.
Now that you have your name and image, you now need to create your profile. Think about your description and how you can use it on all your channels. Some will only allow a certain amount of words or characters, so be concise and consistent in your descriptions of what you offer and how you want to differentiate yourself from the other thousands of stylists, estheticians or nail technicians in the area.
Finally, on most platforms, you get a huge cover image area in which to create your own digital billboard. Use it to show off your business or practice. Make it splash, but not too busy, that we can’t focus. Again, consistency is key for branding. Each platform has its own requirements for image or video dimensions and file size. We like to refer to this area as digital real estate.
Once you have your accounts setup it is now time to engage and gain followers or likes. Invite your clients to connect with you. You should also search from them and follow or send them a friend request. The key is to develop a targeting following to be able to share tips, ideas, promotions and your events. Adding value instead of pouncing your products and services is the desired way to engage friends and followers. No one wants to be sold and pitched all the time. It is the quickest way to lose followers. Start asking questions and be sure to reply to any questions when asked. Intentionally post or comment or retweet your followers and friends. Remember you are building relationships.
Try these programs to automate the process of creating and posting content to your channels. They include Hootsuite, Buffer, Pablo, Canva, Easel.ly, Piktochart, and Ripl, to name a few.
If you need any assistance with managing your social accounts, just give us shout! We can help.
Blessings of Health, Happiness and Prosperity,
Audrey Wiggins
Founder & Course Developer
