One of my favorite words of late is ‘authenticity.’ Being your true self. Being genuine. Being true to your brand. Being true to your audiences and your clients.
I’ve been asked twice in the past week, “Should we go after influencers with a huge follower base, to reach more people?” While doing so might bring you a pop on social, it likely will be short-lived. Are those influencers’ followers your core audience? Likely not. If you look at that influencer’s feed, does he/she post an ad for a different brand in his/her very next post? Sometimes this tactic works for companies, but oftentimes going smaller/deeper with hand-picked influencers lends AUTHENTICITY to you and your brand! And it leads to a longer-term, more meaningful relationship with that influencer and his/her contacts.
Interesting piece recently from Entrepreneur Magazine on authenticity called “Why Everyone and Everything on Social Media Is Fake.” Alright, the title is a bit extreme, and the author believes that the very nature of social media lends itself to us depicting “fake” lives, or ones that might be more glossy or happy than otherwise might be the case. While some might take this approach on social, I sure hope the majority don’t!
For me, being authentic is about being the real deal and about connecting. I’m really enjoying the Instagram posts that I’ve seen lately – most from RDNs – that start out “Hey, thanks for stopping by! Get to know a bit more about me! Did you know…”
Why put a fake persona up on social media? What does that get you once you meet your clients or peers in real life and they find you’re different than the person you had portrayed? I’m pretty certain that individuals and brands who value authenticity are able to weed out those who aren’t authentic. And to choose to unfollow if you wish.
Nobody’s life is perfect. Sure, there’s fun and purpose in posting the good times, the beautiful food, the adorable shots of our families and more. But just remember that when you’re looking at someone’s beautiful feed, that they have tough times too, just like you. I’m not saying you should share the good, the bad and the ugly unless you want to – but, just be you!
What does being authentic on social media look like for you?