Adapt or die. That is the name of the game when it comes to internet marketing, and especially social media marketing.
If you can’t keep up with the changing trends and demands of the social media landscape, then you won’t be able to stay relevant. Right now, changing with the times means placing more emphasis on stories. And there’s VERY good reason for this.
For the most part, internet marketing involves creating a brand and then selling products through that brand.
But while this might sound dull, keep in mind that the brand does not have to be a bland corporate one. You don’t need to have a fancy logo or to have some meaningless and hip name. Another option is to make yourself the brand. This is what’s called ‘personal branding’ and it’s a fantastic strategy for anyone that’s looking to promote a product online and that doesn’t mind putting themselves out there.
Thanks to tools like Social Media Stories, this is easier than ever before.
What is Personal Branding?
Personal branding means that you’re turning yourself into the figurehead of your business in a very public manner. This can mean either that you are the business, and you trade under your own name (it saves you money on trademarks at least!) or it could just mean that you’re featured front and center on your website and social media.
A good example of this would be the Smart Passive Income Blog, where anyone who reads the blog regularly will recognize Pat Flynn. Likewise, you have the Four Hour Blog where Tim Ferriss is front and center. These are examples of personal brands that have worked very well.
Of course, in the case of an influencer, the brand is the business. And the person is inseparable from that.
More traditional businesses should learn that they too can do something similar, however.
Social Media Stories
Social Media Stories are short form posts that users can post to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and some other accounts, and then disappear after just 24 hours. The idea of this is that it creates an immediate and urgent form of communication, and a much more real-time back-and-forth between the creator and their fans.
This is PERFECT for building a personal brand, as it allows you to effectively ‘invite’ your followers and fans into your routine, thereby giving them a chance to know the real person behind the products or services they’re hiring. This can drastically increase trust and drive many more sales.
Advantages of Personal Branding
One advantage of a personal brand is that it can make you famous. Sure, some people will see this more as a disadvantage, but if you’re the sort of person who likes the limelight it may well appeal.
Another advantage is that it gives your brand personality. This means that when you interact with someone on Twitter or Facebook, they’ll feel like they’re talking to an actual human being rather than just being the recipient of market speak. That in turn means they’re more likely to trust you to deliver your product.
It’s definitely worth considering including yourself a little more in your marketing and if you’re interested, pay close attention to the web’s big names to see how they’re making it work for them!
Failing that, find ways to give your business a human touch by using Stories to show the team hard at work, or perhaps enjoying themselves after a busy week with some drinks.
The Many Benefits of Social Media Stories
The benefits of Stories right now are huge and almost limitless.
Firstly, the position of the stories that we just mentioned – on both Facebook and Instagram, appear above all other content in large rectangular icons. This makes them very easy to see, and that helps them stand out.
And this has never been more important at a time when both platforms are de-emphasizing brand content in home feeds. The Instagram feed for example is now predominantly made up of the content that users show an interest in.
Conversely, Stories are shown in chronological order, making it easy for you to stand out.
Another big benefit of Stories is the short duration. This means a couple of things. Firstly, it means that you don’t need to worry about creating a beautiful image that is going to live on your page forever. If you want to post something quick and dirty, then this is the perfect way. If you want to post something off-topic, perhaps even a little off-brand, then this is the safest environment for that.
Another advantage of this is that it makes it more exciting for users. Users will typically act much quicker to view a Story because…
- It tends to be more personal in nature.
- They know they only have a limited time to see it. This leverages that powerful feeling we all know as FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out!
The best part about Stories, though, is the way in which they allow you to engage with your audience. Stories allow you to post about your day, to show your personality, and to reveal a bit behind the curtain. This is huge from the perspectives of the follower, as it allows them to feel that they know you and understand you a little better. This drastically increases the likelihood that they might buy from you, which is of course precisely what we’re going for!
The big advantage of Stories is not for increasing followers, but for building stronger relationships with those that already exist.
