Ever wonder what's holding you back from exponential social media growth? If you feel you're doing all the right things on social, yet failing to see any noticeable growth, don't throw in the towel just yet.
In the latest installment of the Brand Authority Podcast, I share a 3-step formula that will eliminate roadblocks, so you can quickly gain traction. Listen in!
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Highlights from episode 13
1. Commit to daily rituals
If you want to stay on track and ensure consistency, you must commit to daily rituals.
To do this, follow the Start, Stop, Continue formula.
It's a way to monitor what you're focused on, and assess what's working, and what's not.
Here's how it works:
START: These are things you need to start doing - the steps that will bring you closer to your goals. If, for example, your goal is to grow your authority online, you might read about the value of influencer marketing and decide to "START building a relationship" with social media influencers. The important thing here is that the 1-2 things you decide to START doing are all aligned with your objectives and key results.
STOP: These are things you need to stop doing: actions that aren't getting you any results. More than likely, you've fallen into bad habits. It could be daily to-do's, systems, or processes that used to work. And while you might be comfortable with them, it's time to determine if they're bringing you any closer to your goals. To get started, take a look at your marketing plan and write down the top 10 actions you're taking every day. Now look at whether they're making a difference.
Find actions that:
- waste time, energy, money
- don't directly align with company goals
- no longer produce results
For example, let's say you changed up your social media strategy. You decided to add 5 additional posting times, adding in more promotional content. Over the last month, you've watched engagement, clicks, and new leads sharply decline. After reviewing the data, you realize it's something you need to STOP and readjust.
CONTINUE: These are actions you're currently taking and should continue because they're working. Consistency is the key to any area of your business. So, let's say you started popping into social media every day to engage and interact with your followers, and saw your coaching leads increase significantly. You're building relationships, your engagement is up, and there's a lot of excitement around your brand. That's something you need to CONTINUE to do.
Source: Leading With Questions
Once you commit to the Start, Stop, Continue formula, now add a few questions to the end of each day. These keep you honest, focused, and on top of what's happening within your business.
- What did I succeed at?
- What needs improvement?
- What 1 thing will I improve upon tomorrow?
2. Tap into your audience and their NEEDS
You need to know your audience inside and out:
- What motivates and drives them forward?
- What’s important to them?
- What do they care about most?
Not sure? Take the time to get to know their NEEDS.
- Natural motivators
- Energy
- Enthusiasm
- Desire
- Story
Learn what motivates and drives them, what about your business they're enthusiastic and energetic about, what their deepest desires are, and the story you can share to create interest, awareness, and synergy. Use this knowledge to tailor your social media and content strategies to your audience.
3. Practice the rule of 3
The rule of 3 involves 3 C’s: Content, Context, and Clarity. These 3 C’s should make up the foundation of your content strategy.
Content
We’ve all heard the phrase “Content is king.” It’s the key to reaching your audience, getting noticed, and passing along your message. But not just any content. You must share content that resonates, provides value, and builds trust. Not only will sharing the right type of content helps you attract the right audience, it will turn them into leads, prospects, and buyers.
Source: Digital Marketing Profs
Context
Context is every bit as important as content when it comes to sharing in social media. It’s the glue that makes your brand stick, creating stickiness in the mind of your audience. Adding context makes your content relevant and relatable.
Clarity
Muddy, confused, and unclear minds don't buy, click, download, or take action. That’s why it’s so important that there’s clarity in the content you share. Remove ambiguity by clearly expressing what that next step is and what action you want your followers, fans, and readers to take. Never assume and hope for the best. Be clear, concise, and to the point.
Final thoughts
Don't let roadblocks slow you down or prevent you from social media growth. Commit to the process of assessing, adjusting, and consistently improving. When you pay attention to what's happening in your business, you can be bold in your decisions. It's boldness that will move your business forward and bring the momentum that leads to exponential growth.
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About Rebekah Radice
Rebekah Radice, co-founder of BRIL.LA, has traded narcissism for purpose. When not driving growth, you'll find her tricking family into thinking she's Emeril Lagasse - likely covered in marinara. The spotlight was fun, but impact is better. These days she's using 20+ years of brand brilliance for good.