The Power of Social Media Consistency on Building Your Brand

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The Power of Social Media Consistency on Building Your Brand

by Frederika Angus

“He’s there every morning,” I thought as a drove by the familiar white house with the large porch. “I wonder where he is. Is he ok?” I further wondered as I continued down the street.

He is the older guy that sits on his porch every morning, sometimes alone but often with friends, and waves to the cars and their passengers on their way about their daily travels. During the summer, I look forward to taking the (quiet) drive back home from dropping my boys off at summer camp. Not only because of the quiet, but also because this gentleman gives me something to look forward to.

You could certainly say that his wave to each passerby everyday is not such a big deal. Why would that be a highlight of my morning routine? I don’t even know his name!

Today our method of connection is a little different from that of generations before us. Instead of waiting for letters to be delivered from the postal service, we send emails. Text messages have replaced my personal favorite way to communicate with other kids in class, passing intricately folded notes containing instructions for the recipient to check a box “yes, no or maybe so.” Facebook and Twitter and other social media platforms have moved in front of sitting down on the front porch or gathering in the backyard to talk with our neighbors and friends.

The world we live in today has fostered our digital connections and that isn’t a bad thing. I sometimes hear the complaints of those who wish that things would go back to the days where things were simple and people actually talked and developed “real connection.”

Brene’ Brown states in her book Daring Greatly that “connection is why we’re here. We are hard-wired to connect to others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.

I propose to you that our  social connections help foster the meaning and purpose that we bring to others and also to our own lives. Connecting online through email, social media and via our smartphones expands the number of people that our businesses and brands are able to reach.

But what does social media have to do with the missing guy sitting on the porch that waves everyday?

Everything.

This gentleman has impacted my day by his consistency. And if he can do it with just a simple wave, how much more can your brand use social platforms to impact many more by showing up daily?

Your consistency is key when it comes to using social media to help your brand to be found, be heard and be profitable. Engaging with your fans is not a sometime thing but an everyday activity. Just like the man on the porch, when you show up consistently those that follow you come to expect you and a deeper connection is built. People begin to stop paying attention if you do not maintain a consistent presence. With all of the distractions social media, consistency helps your brand to break through the clutter.

Take some time every day to check your social media profiles, respond to fans, ask questions, and start conversations. You’ll build a brand that people can connect to and trust!

I believe in you!

Frederika Angus

Easy Steps to Build the Business of your Dreams

Easy Steps to Build the Business of your Dreams

by Frederika Angus

Many years ago, my husband and I had the privilege to build our first home. We had gone through every real estate book of available properties in our area and exhausted every web search for a pre-existing house. Nothing seemed to be exactly what we wanted, in the area we wanted, at the price we were willing to pay. Deciding to custom build a home from nothing to something took a huge leap of faith and much more patience. It was an amazing learning experience. What I learned from the year it took build our home, are the same lessons I have used to build my business.

Building starts with a vision.

Before a location is picked, before you can hang curtains, or decide on carpet or hardwood flooring, you have to see what the end result will be. You have to visualize the two-story home. Or maybe it’s ranch style. Imagine the big picture and the little details. Is it near a lake in the country or close to the action of the city? How big is the lawn?

Building a business is done in the same way. There must be a vision of what you desire to achieve. When you close your eyes and see yourself running a small business, what does your life look like? Are you working from your home or are you in an store front or office space? Do you want your company to remain small with you working alone or are you growing larger with multiple employees? Will your business allow you the flexibility to work less hours and make more money?

All of the answers to these questions will help you see bigger than the what’s currently surrounding you. Take some time to focus on where you want to go and don’t be afraid to dream big.

Once we “saw” the type of home we were looking for, we wrote down all that we saw. It became our guiding requirements when we met with different builders and viewed blueprints and floor plans. It saved us so much time in the beginning because we could easily weed out what designs, locations, and floor plans didn’t fit what we desired in our first home.

Now that you see you, your life and your business clearly, Write the Vision Down! I developed a practice about 10 years ago of writing every idea and inspiration, each desire and dream down. In some quiet moments, I could easily write 3-5 pages. If I read something in a book that resonates with me, I immediately jot it down. With the popularity of smart devices, I even record a voice memo if I’m driving or type out a quick note while waiting in a line that I can transcribe into a notebook later.

Amazingly, when I go back through and review my journals, I have accomplished so much of what I have written down. The majority of what I haven’t written down did not get done, and most of it forgotten. Let’s not leave your future success up to chance. Grab a journal or notebook, it doesn’t need to be fancy, and get that vision from your head to paper. Write as many details as you can.

You have the picture but now what?

 

The biggest choice we made in the design of our home was answering the question, “do we want to the master bedroom upstairs or downstairs?” So many builders were building master suites on the main level and I really wasn’t comfortable having my young children upstairs and being downstairs in the event of an emergency. Ok, I also was pregnant during this process and the thought of walking up and down the stairs to check on the baby in the middle of the night was not appealing either.

Blueprint to business

We had to go through several blueprints, or plans for our house to get the layout that fit us. It was the plan that made what we saw in our heads real. Your business has to have a plan. Don’t get caught up in all the technicalities of a business plan that is used to attract investors. There will be time for that later if you need to do it. At a basic level, just write what your business is, who is your product or service for, how you will reach them and make money. Include some notes around who your competitors are and do some projections for money for startup and how long it will take to recoup the initial investment.

Once we had a plan for our home we could begin actually building. As handy and knowledgeable as my husband is with construction, we understood that it was probably a good idea to not try to do the building alone. I can’t even imagine how long it would have taken to go at it alone. Thank goodness for great contractors and construction supervisors to help guide and manage the project along the way.

Who do you need to help build your business? Having support while moving your vision out of a dream state into reality is SO important. As wonderful and as great as you are, finding experts that have paved the way in areas where you aren’t as strong, will help you build faster.

The funny thing about building is that no matter what you are building or where you build it, the land isn’t cleared without FIRST having to make a financial assessment and then an investment. You have to be willing to Invest in Your Business and Vision. I’m not sure who said the best things in life are free. Most of the free things I’ve gotten have not been of a great quality. (With exception of this great giveaway I’m doing with the launch of the site. Enter to win the FREE Kindle Touch HERE ) You are not just starting a business. You are building a legacy of success and significance that will last for generations.

Take a real account of your personal finances and how you manage money now. How you handle your personal funds usually flows over into your business funds. Recognize any areas for improvement here because the risks are greater when it is a legal business entity.

Whether you are writing a check for website design, purchasing pens at an office supply store or taking training, change your mindset on the activity from spending money to making an investment. As a business owner, it is your job to make the best investments possible that will give you a return on your money.

Following these easy steps will get you started with building the business of your dreams.

Share a comment below with your thoughts. If you are looking for more support in building the business of your dreams and living the life you envisioned, be sure to join me on Facebook now and follow me on Twitter.

Talk to you soon!

 

 

 

Frederika