Everyone has a social media brand whether they like it or not! From companies to individuals, your social media presence is becoming more and more important. And if you aren’t on social media, that tells people a lot about you as well! Social media levels the playing field: anyone can create and potentially communicate to vast audiences. Oftentimes the first place people go when researching a company or a potential employee is out to the web to see what they can find. Gina Schreck, social media guru and Chief Hooligan at SocialKNX, and all-around one of my fave people, was on the show this week, giving tips to both entrepreneurs and those employed in the corporate world. 

A few thoughts for those of you with businesses:

Be Social. Are you constantly spewing content without engaging? It’s important to spend time engaging with those who like your page or follow you on social media. People don’t just want to be marketed to. Some of the most effective marketing is done through building relationships with those connected to you. Also, spend time getting out into the social world and “liking” other people’s content. Spending time on others’ sites will draw them back to yours; plus, it helps you stay up-to-date on the latest industry information!

Build a Strategy. Get out there, try the different social media sites, and figure out which ones are going to work best for you and your company. Develop thoughts about what content you are going to provide and how frequently you will provide it. Are you going to write a blog? What other material can you offer? Make sure you are mixing it up between sharing your content and others’ content and including pictures and fun or inspiring quotes. You are there to provide value to your readers, not just push your product.

Write a Schedule. Develop your social media schedule. This means making time to post, schedule posts, and read other people’s content. Understand how much time you need every day to build an effective presence on social media, and schedule it into your time. This is free marketing dollars, so don’t take it lightly!

Jana Axline is Chief Project Officer at Project Genetics and the author of Becoming You. Through her leadership musings, she inspires audiences to grow as leaders and ultimately achieve who they were created to be. For more information visit Project Genetics.