What Perception Does Your Social Media Give About Your Brand?
It’s a new year and many of us are reviewing our marketing strategies for the new year…or you have already done so. Social media has become a large part of how brand’s market themselves and/or how they connect and engage with their customer base. Because social media gives viewers a perceived snapshot of a brand (this applies to individuals/personal accounts too), I think it is important to periodically review your accounts from a viewer’s perspective as well as a marketing perspective.
I periodically scroll through my timeline on my Facebook, news feed on Twitter, Instagram feed, etc to look at things from a viewer’s perspective. I look for the different things I look for as a user when I decide to follow a brand. Sometimes I feel that I would not follow myself based on what I see. This is primarily because of the speed of change within social media. The criterion I may have had 6 months ago, may no longer be the criterion I have now.
I ask myself, what perception would I have of me if I was someone else viewing my profile and my posts. Sometimes I think positive things, sometimes I think negative things. Here are some of the questions I ask myself:
- What is the overall tone of my posts? (too sarcastic, snarky, positive, boastful, etc)
- Am I billboarding too much? (post after post of self advertisements)
- Am I providing any value? (specifically to my audience or in general)
- Are people wanting to connect and engage with me?
- How prompt are my responses?
- What visual representation of my brand am I giving? (photos)
- Am I talking to people? (or speaking at them)
- Would I follow me?
- Would I unfollow me?
- Do I appear spammy?
- How am I perceived at a glance?
- If I were following me, what would I think about me?
Depending on how I answer some of these questions, I may work to make some changes. Sometimes I am unsure and I will ask a few peers for their opinion of me based on my social media profiles alone. I think it is good for brands to not just review the numbers/statistics and strategy, but also review the perception that is being presented from a viewer’s standpoint.
Colleen Eakins is a dynamic and creative individual that possess a knack for great design. With over 15 years of experience in the field of graphic design, Colleen is able to effectively brand her clients with great design pieces. Her motto is: “Anyone can make a pretty picture, but is it effective? Will it make your customer buy your product or use your services? My design tries to answer with a YES!”
