Freelancers’ feelings about social media are all over the map. Take the quick quiz below and the read what your answers say about your relationship with social media…
Issue #3: 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: Magnet or Madness?
𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂: 𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝘇
Which of these statements best describes your relationship with social media?
1- I love it.
2- I thought this was supposed to help my business – nothing’s happening.
3- It’s been great for reconnecting with people I know.
4- I’m not sure it’s for me.
5- I’m just starting to learn about it.
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝘇 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀:
𝟭- 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝘁. You’re off and running with social media. But do you have a plan for using it as a professional? How do you want to influence others?
𝟮- 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀. You understand how social media can help your business, but building trust takes time and focussed effort.
𝟯- 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿. You’ve mastered the relationship side of social media. Now add a professional focus: Where can you do the most good and be the most successful?
𝟰- 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱.You haven’t decided whether social media is for you. Is there any social media space where you’d feel comfortable at some level of engagement?
𝟱- 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿. Maybe you’ve been reading about it and talking to other freelancers about their social media practices.
Where you fit on this spectrum might depend on where you are in your freelance career, your comfort level with technology – maybe even what day you’re asked. Some have abandoned blogging for the speed and agility of social media. Many use it as an amplifier for their other online marketing.
This article will help you figure out an approach that works for you.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: LinkedIn – You can post your profile, contact info, links to your website, blog, and other social media, and testimonials about your work, and you can join discussion groups. If you don’t have a website, it’s a way to be findable online.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Wishu – You can post your profile, services (that can be on-demand booked), post portfolio posts, connect with clients, and like-minded peers. It’s perfect to find work, network, and if you don’t want to put time in social media.
𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Instagram – You can post your profile, contact info, links to your website, and sportfolio posts. Connecting with like-minded people (not so client acquisition based).
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸?
Since social media marketing costs so little and can reach so many, it has potential for freelancers. Although, it takes time and there are no guarantees of success. Social media does fit freelancing because it’s based on personal connection – somethoning freelancers have in spades that bug companies struggle to emulate. The keys are being authentic and being in control of the process, from choosing the tools to using them.
𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗗𝗢𝗦
1- Do have a policy and set goals.
2- Do find your markets, and build slowly.
3- Do share the best, and learn from early adopters.
4- Do ask questions.
5- Do give, but help people commit or buy.
6- Do make a schedule.
7- Do regular review results.
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