Showing posts with label Personal Branding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Branding. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Solopreneur Social Media Checklist?


90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their marketing. But the point is, are you doing yours right?



In a world where (according to an Adweek study), over 90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their overall marketing strategies, solopreneurs arguably have the most to gain and lose via social networks.

Sure, those platforms often have a reputation for being total time-sinks or wastelands of marketing ROI. But savvy solopreneurs understand how to use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to spread the word about their businesses. In many cases, these same solopreneurs are growing those businesses and bottom lines without spending a dime.

But, when you're using social media to pursue networking opportunities or seal the deal with new customers, how do you know whether you're using your time wisely or merely spinning your wheels?

Fear not. The following checklist is a guide for solopreneurs looking to pinpoint their social strategy and use their time on these platforms wisely, to build their investment in their business.



1. Pick A Primary Channel

Simply put, you need to decide on a single social channel that's going to command most of your attention. That's not to say you can't focus on both Facebook and Instagram, for example, but trying to be in multiple places at once will inevitably burn you out.

For many solopreneurs in the B2B space, Facebook is the number one channel to focus your efforts. There's a good chance that your clients and customers are already connected to the platform in some way, shape or form, especially considering that users spend an average of 50 minutes on Facebook per day.

Niche businesses, however, are booming on Instagram, especially those within B2C industries such as fashion and beauty. Growing and monetizing Instagram followers is arguably easier than ever; meanwhile, Instagram has one of the highest average order values via ecommerce, at $65 per order.

When in doubt, you can pick your primary channel by answering one simple question: "Where are my clients and customers hanging out?" If there's a clear answer, then you know where to start.



2. Don't Spread Yourself Too Thin

Despite popular belief, you don't need to be active on each and every social site. In fact, there are no "must-have" networks for solopreneurs, truth be told.

But, think about it: There's absolutely no way you can effectively manage a presence simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn by yourself. If you try, you'll neglect at least half of your social sites.

Solopreneurs have two options when it comes to attacking the various social channels available.
  • Pick a primary channel coupled with one or two secondary channels (for example, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
  • Focus on a primary channel while using a social automation solution to help push content and maintain a presence on secondary channels
For example, apps such as Buffer and Sprout Social allow solopreneurs to curate and queue content to their social network of choice without lifting a finger. While such solutions do require a monetary investment, they allow your brand to be in multiple places at once, so to speak.

3. Never Stop Networking

The old adage, "Always be prospecting," rings incredibly true for today's solopreneurs on social media. There are seemingly endless opportunities to connect with new clients, win over customers and share your business's content all at once.

Private Facebook groups based around your industry represent potential gold mines of new business. Likewise, sites such as LinkedIn put you on the same level as CEOs and industry bigwigs.

4. Position Yourself As An Influencer

Oftentimes, making yourself heard via social media means playing the role of a bigwig yourself. By positioning yourself as an influencer, you grow your authority within your niche and make yourself more attractive to potential clients and customers.



Some smart yet simple positioning strategies on social media include:
  • Thoughtfully responding to questions and comments on industry-related Facebook or LinkedIn groups
  • Republishing your own content to the various social channels, including LinkedIn's own publishing platform
  • Regularly commenting on the updates of major players in your industry, showing that you've got the chops to be a bigger player yourself
Any combination of these strategies not only puts your name out there, but also publicly displays your commitment to your industry.

5. Look For Opportunities To Curate Social Proof

Especially if you're a new solopreneur, social media represents a great place to curate social proof on behalf of your business.

Ever leave a comment that got tons of positive feedback? Created pieces of content that just about went viral? Have clients who've given you a digital "thumbs up" or a public "thank you" via social?



If so, you can use such social proof as a way to seal the deal with future clients and customers.

By highlighting your positive social experiences either on site or throughout your marketing materials, you can break down the trust barrier for any skeptics who may not think you're the real deal.

6. Professional Imagery Goes A Long Way

This point is crucial but so easy to ignore: Something as simple as your professional headshot can make all the difference when it comes to networking via social media.

If you want to be taken seriously, present yourself accordingly. Bathroom selfies and party pics aren't going to cut it if you really want to make an impression on your audience.



7. Don't Let Your Profiles Gather Cobwebs

Finally, don't let your social presence fall to the wayside. Period. Consistency is key to gaining followers and traction via social: The more you post, the more you will grow an audience that's hungry for what you have to say.

On the flip side, if a certain channel is netting you absolutely no engagement, don't be afraid to cut it loose for the sake of your time and energy.

Today's solopreneurs are living and dying by their social presence. By sticking to this checklist, you can save yourself from scrambling for a social strategy and focus on what really matters: growing your business.

Guest Authored By Nathan Chan. Nathan is the publisher of Foundr Magazine, a digital magazine for young, aspiring and novice stage entrepreneurs. He has had the pleasure of interviewing rock star business leaders to find out what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Follow Nathan on Twitter.





“Today's solopreneurs are living and dying by their social presence.

By sticking to this checklist, you can save yourself from scrambling for a social strategy and focus on what really matters:

Growing your business..”


    • Authored by:
      Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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    Monday, October 29, 2018

    Maintain YOUR Social Media Brand Reputation?


    How to take care of your brand reputation on social media..

    What is the importance of brand reputation on social media, and how does one keeping it safe and sound? Read on for more.



    Social media has changed the way we see the world and the way we look at brands.

    Brands need to fight constantly for their positions, and one careless move can cost them a lot. For many, social media is a chance to sparkle, and they're successfully managing a great presence.

    Others, however, are afraid of even entering the social arena since it's not all fun and games. It requires lots of time and full-on procedures to build brand awareness. The road can get really bumpy if they don't care about their online brand reputation.

    So, today I will show you the importance of online brand reputation and the ways of keeping it "safe and sound."




    --90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a particular business.
    --49% of consumers need a 4-star (or higher) rating to choose a particular business.
    --97% of consumers search online for local businesses.

    There are also four things that a good brand reputation helps with:

    --Trust: Audiences trust brands with a spot-on reputation.
    --Credibility: In the eyes of customers or employees the brand seems to be more credible when they have a flawless brand reputation.
    --Profit: All brand reputation activities can impact revenue.
    --Talent: Brand reputation leads to brand awareness and a desire to join the workplace.

    Brand reputation is not a buzzword! It can drive your results and sales and impact brand awareness, but not always in a positive way. And social media is a "slippery dance-floor" for brands if they don't know how to "dance."



    Be Consistent

    Social media, when used well, really delivers.

    Prepare a strategy of what to post and where. Show your strengths and the story behind your product. Care about the quality of your communication and the message you provide. Analyse your performance, to ensure that your brand is going in the right direction on social media.

    Regular posting can help to gain trust and credibility by building brand recognition.

    Once your brand is recognizable, you need to put more focus on brand reputation to maintain what you already gained. However, you will also need to be then responsive.



    Be Responsive

    Social media is not about talking at people; it is about talking with people. You need to be responsive to them! To do this successfully, you need to make the following checklist:

    --Have you made a timetable of duties for your team? What happens to messages, comments and reviews left over the weekend? Is there anyone there to answer them?
    --Have you prepared a social media playbook with procedures for crisis management? Do you know what to do, and what to answer when a crisis escalates, or even when a single neutral message appears?
    --Have you set up KPIs for response time? Customers hate waiting for answers on social media - they need to have it almost immediately. If they don't, they may prefer your competitor instead.



    Social Listening

    Monitor brand mentions.

    According to this RadiumOne survey, over 67% of brand mentions go on in "dark social" - i.e. emails, forums, and apps. While social media platforms are essential, you shouldn’t forget the rest of the internet.

    Monitoring mentions can prevent a crisis, or identify brand ambassadors you had no clue about.

    It can also show you the sentiment, the context, and the places where your brand is mentioned the most.



    Personal Branding

    Does personal branding really matter for your brand reputation? Oh boy, yes it does! That is why so many CEO's are in love with their privacy settings. But all employees should also be careful about what they post, and what they say about the company they work for.

    There have been quite a few cases where an employee impacted a company's brand reputation. In my opinion, the most tricky topic on social media is politics, and it's perhaps not always worth taking a political discussion public. Whatever you say about your brand matters and the Internet is not about to forget about it. That's a reason screenshots exist.

    It doesn't matter if you are in the C-suite or just a junior assistant. Try to provide value on social media when it comes to the brand you are connected to. Everyone loves parties, but if you party too hard, maybe it’s better to keep some photos to yourself - or configure your privacy settings beforehand.



    Social Proof

    Reviews, oh dear... reviews.

    Be responsive and answer all of them, no matter if they appear on Facebook, Tripadvisor or Booking.com.

    Remember that people are more likely to leave negative reviews (and put off other people) than leave a few kind words.

    Be thankful for all of them, and regard them as valuable feedback, answer their doubts and requests. Don’t get offended, and try not to take them personally. You can turn complaints into an amazing customer experience.



    Influencer Marketing

    Last but not least, a topic we covered recently. Influencers can become your brand ambassadors and can affect the reputation of your brand a lot. If they are chosen wisely, you shouldn’t be worried. However, if you selected random people without checking their stats first, you can be in trouble, and your brand can be hurt.

    Keeping your brand reputation in good form is not a single activity - it is a constant process that pays off in the end! Brands that can show off with an excellent online reputation are well-loved, trusted, and deliver better results. Look around.

    Guest Authored By Kinga Odziemek. Kinga is a Social Media Designer. Social Media is her blood type. Follow Kinga on Twitter.





    How many brands do you know that have a good reputation? Is your brand like them? If not, our guide may help you! -KingaOdziemek


      • Post Crafted By:
        Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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      Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA

      Thursday, January 11, 2018

      YOUR Social Media Content Is The Next BIG Thing?


      Why personalized content on social media is the next big thing..

      "Personalized content" is one of the latest buzzwords in digital marketing. It's also a push companies are making towards creating a better connection with people that takes their specific wants and needs into consideration.



      Personalizing, in this context, means that companies create specific content based on factors such as who their audience is, where they live, how they consume content when they consume content and on what devices they consume content.

      Nowhere is that push more evident than on social media platforms, where the opportunity for meaningful interaction is nearly limitless. In fact, recent studies have found that three-fourths of all consumers are much more motivated to buy from a company that not only knows their name but also makes recommendations based on previous purchases.

      The big question is, how can a business successfully harness the power of personalized content to drive social media campaigns that create more engagement and subsequently lead to more conversions?

      The answer lies in developing strategies that will help you better understand your target audience and then tailor your content accordingly.



      Know Thy Target Audience

      The first step in creating personalized content on social media is to know your target audience.

      Many businesses fail because they never understand which group of prospective buyers would be most interested in their products and services. For example, if you’re selling accessories for luxury cars, targeting teenagers probably isn’t wise, given that with a few exceptions, they have not achieved the status or income to own that particular class of vehicle. Similarly, a company that sells a new type of skateboard probably wouldn’t want to target people in their 60s, because that demographic isn’t likely to be interested in hip skateboards so that they can attempt death-defying stunts.

      Brands are increasingly using customer personas and customer avatars to identify their target audience and to understand their wants and needs, as well as the problems they need resolving. Once you understand who you are targeting, you can better understand what type of content your audience finds most appealing.



      Know Thy Platform

      Social media platforms are becoming incredibly segmented. So trying to create homogenous content that will perform well across all channels is a herculean feat that typically doesn’t deliver the intended result. Only once you truly know your target audience can you better identify the types of content that will appeal to them and which social media channel will be most instrumental in helping you reach them.

      If you were the owner of the skateboard company referenced above, you would probably want to distribute your personalized content through Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, since all three are popular with teens and millennials, where visual imagery like videos and pictures perform well.

      If you had taken the time to properly identify your target audience, you may have considered sending out video invitations to people to test your new skateboard for free, which would’ve been limited to people you had identified as most likely to respond to test-run events based on surveys, questionnaires and/or comments on social media posts. In this particular example, personalization would target a group that is highly motivated to test out a new skateboard, which, in turn, would increase the likelihood of them raving about their experience through social media. And don’t forget about the bonus here: Exclusive invitations would make each recipient feel much more connected to your brand.



      Engage Thy Audience

      Another thing to remember is that you can’t create personalized content on social media by simply relying on customer personas.

      To truly make your audience feel connected to your brand, you have to communicate with them directly on social media and find out what they want from your company. What problems are they having that your products or services can solve? What type of content do they crave that you aren’t offering? In the digital age, virtually everyone is accessible, and it’s your responsibility to build personal relationships through active communication and engagement with them.

      When people feel that their voices are being heard and when you validate their concerns through direct communication like email, live video and social media messages, you are building valuable relationships, one person at a time.



      Personalization Is a Life-Long Process

      People change, needs evolve and companies that don’t maintain communication with their target audience will lose the personal connection that makes people loyal to their brand. Personalization is an ongoing process that has no expiration date, so it requires constant analysis about how well your business is connecting with your target audience. Fortunately, there are many social media metrics that can provide you with valuable information regarding your audience’s engagement level, clicks, shares, likes and social media comments.

      The goal of personalization is to make your existing customers and prospects feel a powerful connection to your business and, in so doing, cement the trust that is the cornerstone of a profitable, long-term relationship.

      Guest Authored By Jon Clark. John is Founder and CEO of New York City digital marketing agency Fuze SEO and Co-Founder of Nomad Coffee Club. Follow Jon on Twitter.





      "The goal of personalization is to make your existing customers and prospects feel a powerful connection to your business and, in so doing, cement the trust that is the cornerstone of a profitable, long-term relationship..

      When people feel that their voices are being heard and when you validate their concerns through direct communication like email, live video and social media messages,

      You are building valuable relationships, one person at a time.." -JonClark



        • Authored by:
          Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBr@nd.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO  where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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        Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA
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