So, here you are. You’ve arrived. You’re on Google+ and probably at least a half dozen or so other social networks. So what’s next?
If you’re here for a particular reason, maybe you’re a content creator, a brand ambassador or a marketer looking to gain exposure to your content, or you’re just here building your personal brand, it’s important to keep things consistent.
Think about the air pressure in your tires, if you have one under-inflated, two over-inflated and one at the right pressure, your car probably isn’t going to get the best gas mileage or keep you going in the right direction without a little help from you. Marketing yourself online is actually very similar.
First Step: Step Back. Take a look at your social media profiles. Are you using the same picture for your avatar? Are you easily identifiable? Do your profile descriptions even come close to communicating the same information?
If you have a few inconsistencies, don’t worry, it’s easy to fix!
Second Step: Get Serious. Once you determine that you want to start aligning either your business or personal brand, you’re going to need to invest some time into coming up with a great description, an easily recognizable and professional photo and similar handles or names. (Pro Tip: It helps to use the same handle or screen name on all of your networks so people can easily find you.)
Third Step: Share Across the Board. If you’re only sharing on one network, you’re missing out on a huge potential audience, those people that only consume information on other networks. Sure, Google+ might be the future of social networking, but you should probably admit that not everyone uses it and that you could be missing out on some key contacts within other social circles.
Start sharing your content on multiple networks if you’re a content creator. Maybe you won’t be able to have as in-depth conversations on Twitter or Pinterest as you would on Google+ or Facebook, but people will see your content.
Final Step: Don’t Give Up. Once you’ve taken the time and effort to realign your brand and create a consistent image, you need to start creating some consistent content. Now, I have a full time job, so I’m not the best example ofany of these things, but I know that they can help you create a successful digital identity and help you grow and expand your networks.
Share what you know, become the expert in your field and always communicate with your followers. If you keep it up, you will be handsomely rewarded. But remember, it doesn’t happen overnight…