It is EVERYWHERE – you can’t get away from it. We know what the next-door neighbour of our old hairdresser we met once at a BBQ was having for dinner last night. We know that Cousin Wendy, twice removed, likes to have two viennese whirls with her afternoon coffee. Social media usually is a series of gloating pictures and vague words to incite emotion or interest. We all have had Facebook or Instagram rants when we see something that annoys us and makes us want to throw our phones across the room. Perhaps you don’t personally use social media at all, but you may be considering it for your business. Used in the right way - to educate, promote and inspire - it can be an incredibly valuable and positive tool, not to mention a great way to get more online exposure. Many businesses rely on social media to be seen and to get their brand recognised and, especially in this unsettled economic climate, there is an intense pressure to reach target markets for our slice of the shrinking pie. 

So, what do people want to see? (Top tip - no one wants to see #blessed). How can you promote your business authentically without selling your social media soul to the devil? It doesn’t matter if you run a million-dollar legal firm or own a small retail unit – people want to see the business’ values, beliefs and personality. What do you believe in? When you employ someone to work for your business, what values are important to you? Show you are reliable as a business, that your customers can depend on you, that you will do what you say you are going to do! Look at your mission statement; your social media should reflect all the things you set out to do when you envisioned your business right at the start. It should show your customers your future aspirations. 

Obviously social media is a fantastic place for businesses to advertise, promote campaigns and offers, and announce product releases, but in between all that - and running through everything you post - should be an agreed-upon and predefined brand voice. Take some time – listen to your employees and tap into your self-awareness and determine what that might be. If you need some help, just book a consultation with us. We can help you to establish a social media presence and maintain it, so your business represents itself authentically and positively online. 

Oatly - Swedish Oat-drink company, Oatly, have garnered a huge following from their dry, sarcastic and frankly weird social media posts and product packaging. If you can pull it off, humour can be extremely impactful!