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Chapter 5: Creating Your Instagram Profile
GOING THE SOCIAL DISTANCE: HOW TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE AUDIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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Before we dig into the specifics of marketing yourbusiness on social media platforms, let’s touch on some important ethics that will serve you well—both helping you market your business more effectively, and build a lastingaudience.
Let’s face it, there are a number of tactics you could use that would help you build a quick audience of people who are using the same tactics to build their own audience of people who are using these tactics to build theirown…yikes!
That’s not what this book is about. Those audiences remind me of the swarms of zombies in the Brad Pitt movie ‘World War Z,’ piling up rapidly in a crazed frenzy to get over some perceived barrier. These followers do pile up quickly but they disappear just as fast.
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Going the Social Distance: Building a Sustainable Audience on Social Media
Creating a lasting audience that likes what you offer
I want to show you how to create an audience of people who appreciate what you offer and are like-minded enough to Only interact stick around. Buildings that are with content erected on a solid foundation are that aligns more likely to remain stable and continue to stand for years to with your come. This is the type of audience interests, your you want for your business. You values and might still grow your audience your message. rapidly, but the ways I’m going to teach you to go about finding your followers will help you create a following of like-minded individuals who are more likely to stick around while you continue to grow your business.
These people follow you because they like what you share. They agree with your services or like your products, and are more likely to become your best advocates. They will share your products or services with their friends, family, colleagues and even strangers.
Chapter 4: Using Social Media Marketing Effectively |
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Sprinkling in spontaneous images of things you’re experiencing (especially when you think those moments might inspire someone) can add more value to your content, and makes you more relatable.
Values that work for building a sustainable audience
When thinking about how you want to engage your audience, it will serve you well to remember what most people want: to be seen and to be loved. If you can make another person feel good in a way that is authentic to you,
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Going the Social Distance: Building a Sustainable Audience on Social Media
you’ve not only made the world a brighter place (good for you!), you’ve also quite possibly made a new friend.
Here are some specific rules of thumb I use that have helped me build a great audience:
Be authentic. Being true to your values and your interests is the most effective way to build relationships. If you remain true to yourself, and always speak in a positive, uplifting and compassionate way, you’ll gain respect and make lasting connections that show integrity—which serves you, your business and your community.
Be genuinely appreciative. Finding a way to genuinely acknowledge someone’s efforts in a positive way will help you gain trust, likeability and connection. It will also provide a side benefit: it leaves you feeling good. There’s always something to appreciate or be grateful for, and always something about the other person that is worthy of praise. This bears repeating: remember that most people want to be seen and to be loved.
Be humble. You can share your expertise, yourexperience and knowledge without sounding like you’re bragging. Being willing to learn from others and acknowledge when other people have good ideas (even when those ideas differ from your own) is a sign of a good leader, a good business owner, and a good friend.
Chapter 4: Using Social Media Marketing Effectively |
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18 Be selective. Only interact with content you personally agree with, find inspiring or useful, and want your business associated with. Not only does this help hone an audience that will be in alignment with your business, it will also limit the content you have to sift through in your own feeds, to find the businesses and consumers that match or compliment what you stand for.
Be mindful. Be kind, compassionate and uplifting in every interaction you have. This was already mentioned before, but can’t be overstated. Making use of positive, encouraging language is an essential part ofbuilding a sustainable, supportive community of consumers and
like-minded individuals.
Going the Social Distance: Building a Sustainable Audience on Social Media
