My Love, Hate Relationship with Social Media: By an Introverted Entrepreneur
I started my business in 1999 when there was still AOL dial-up for internet service. Social media was not a thing and cell phones with cameras and awesome pixels were unknown of! I know I am not the only one. We have come a long way in business and technology in the past 30 years; the world has made tremendous strides.
Now that we are decades into it, it has been sort of difficult to navigate my business to keep up with what’s trending. The world of communications has become digital. I do not know if it’s me being an introvert that contributes to my love/hate relationship with social media but keeping up with it hasn’t been one of my strong points. I am not dolled up all the time to capture these moments where I am ‘marketable’ and I spend a lot of my free time at home, not thinking about being out and about to catch the next photo opportunity to post on Instagram or Face Book. I am rarely on social media and do not desire to share my life with the world. I love my privacy, free time and minding my business.
How does that play into my business? How does that play into a time where we as entrepreneurs are supposed to be connecting on a personal level with followers? Does it hurt my business to not be visible and transparent online? While it is important to show authenticity of who you are, I believe there should also be a balance.
With the world going under quarantine in 2020, social media became a necessity for the world. Businesses, schools and other institutions now had to navigate curriculum, work and information online! Whether via video streaming, live videos or zoom meetings social media was needed! Without it we would be lost during this unprecedented time.
While I sometimes hate social media and go weeks without posting anything concerning my business, on the flip side of the coin, it has been a great way to connect with other business owners and glean from them as well.
Here are a few ways to stay connected and consistent without having to engage online every day.
Have a Weekly or Monthly Production Day
If you’re like me, and rarely want to be seen – pick a day where you’re feeling extra cute and block out some time to record all of your content for the month. Make a production day each month and put it on your calendar. You can even change your outfits or simply wear your brand’s t-shirt for each video.
Start a Podcast
Start a podcast where you can connect often without having to be seen. You can re-use this content on other platforms. This is great for introverts because you don't have to be "seen" - just heard. LIVE podcasts are great, but if you're still a bit unsure then pre-recorded is the way to go.
Find Your Beloved Platform
It is also important to find the social media platform that works for you. Every social media platform has a culture, and you should know what culture you want to market to before you go into it. For example, Face Book is more connecting with friends and family. Its algorithms connect you with family and people you may have grown up with, and even those that live in the same city or area as you. This platform may not be so good if you are trying to connect with people outside of your immediate surroundings. Instagram on the other gives you some of those same connections and more. With Instagram you have an opportunity to connect with celebrities, influencers, and brand ambassadors on a personal level. Your target market opportunities also increase with the use of hashtags on your posts.
Scheduling Tools
Schedule your posts ahead of time. Facebook has an easy-to-use scheduling tool for business pages. Hootsuite is also a great platform the post to multiple social media platforms simultaneously. Take a day out of the month to schedule posts. These will post on the set date and time you choose automatically. Now you can go about your day, while you are still engaging with your target audience.