In today's world, social media is indispensable for anyone who wants to build a brand. And every year brings its new updates. So if you’re a freelancer, influencer, or businessperson, you need to keep pace with its changing landscape. And here’s a twist… social media marketing isn’t just about posting random stories, reels or quotes. To build and shape a brand identity, you need to foster community engagement. You’ll have to establish a trustworthy connection with your target audience. Strategy, authenticity, and consistency are the fundamentals of social media marketing. Suppose you talk of the most famous social media sensations of India, such as Bhuvan Bam, Ashish Chanchlani, or Akash Gupta. In that case, all have built a community of fans. They’ve always maintained consistency. Building a brand on social media isn’t something you’ll achieve overnight. But surely by following the tips that I’m gonna share below, you'll start seeing results soon.

Guide to Create Your Social Media Brand

1. Create a Vision for your Brand Before you head on to make your social media page a dumping yard, wait and think about what you want to be known for. Do you want to show your tech skills or build a fashion brand? Your social media should be a reflection of your long-term goals. Remember that social media can raise your brand’s voice and convey messages that even your logos or long texts on your website couldn't convey. 2. Find which Social Media Platform will be best for you Not every social media platform is the right fit for you. To select the right social media platform, analyse your business goals and then find where your target audience spends the most time. For the visual storytellers and businesses like a café or fashion brands, Instagram works the best. For educators who create long-form tutorial videos, the best platform is YouTube. 3. Profile Optimization Studies show that about 6.7 different social accounts are used by an individual every month. So, social media platforms have a land full of waste social media pages. To stand out, make sure that your social media account is updated and well-optimised. Your social media page is just like another business card. Delete any old waste accounts. Add all details like profile picture, name, bio, and contact information. Give only authentic and accurate information. These small details are crucial to grow on social media platforms. 4. Leverage your Contacts You may be amazed to know how many connections you already have across different platforms like LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, and others. Allow contact import or sync. You can start your social media marketing from them. 5. Don’t Forget to Create a Content Calendar Managing a social media page is just like managing a small business. You need to strategically plan in advance how you want your audiences to perceive you. Decide on a theme and make a content calendar. It will show what will be posted on a daily basis on your page. Therefore, a content calendar will help you stay consistent in posting. Through your content, you should educate, inspire, entertain, or solve a problem. You can also showcase your personal experience. This will reflect your expertise in the field and will eventually help gain trust. 6. Set your brand’s voice, image and tone. While you remain consistent with posting, it is also essential to maintain consistency in how you present your ideas. Find the voice that goes best with your brand type. For instance, if you wish to become a motivational guru, then an inspirational and energetic voice can define your style. The posts that you add reflect your creativity. You don’t need to have any extraordinary graphic skills, but basic knowledge of design fundamentals. Whether or not your post attracts audiences depends on its color, typography, and imagery. So, create a brand style that connects with users across various digital channels, from social to emails. Another aspect that needs attention is adjusting the tone. Based on audience preferences and platforms, the tone of your content also needs updates. Make a comparison of the tone of posts shared on LinkedIn and TikTok. While in the former case the tone is more professional and formal, TikTok is more casual, energetic, and playful. So, know your channel and adjust the tone accordingly. 7. Leverage AI This is the age of automation dominated by AI. Tools like ChatGPT or Jasper can help you with content ideas. Scheduling tools like Buffer and Hootsuite can be used to plan posts. Insights and analytics tools will keep track of what’s working. 8. Engage with your Community Social media, by its very name, justifies its the beehive for social bees. You should respond to your comments and also like posts shared by others. Engage with your audience by asking them questions and sharing feedback stories. Join social groups on Facebook and LinkedIn and share your thoughts or products with them. Once you become a group member, join in discussions and never be afraid to drop your suggestions. Build your own community. 9. Collaborate with Influencers and Micro-influencers Collaboration accelerates credibility. It’s a great way to boost awareness of your brand. Influencer marketing has become quite popular in recent years. You no longer need to run after celebrities or mega influencers. You can work with micro-influencers. In fact, micro-influencers are known to bring 60%+ engagement compared to mega influencers. Even small brands and start-ups include collaborations with micro-influencers in their social media marketing strategy. You can find the right influencers for you using tools like Meltwater and Brandwatch. 10. Analytics Your social media performance needs continuous lookouts. Some posts might perform better than others. You can track its performance using analytics. Find out what your audience likes the most about you. Is it educational carousels or motivational posts? Plan your content calendar accordingly. Your brand’s success through social media marketing will come from your consistent, long-term efforts. It may sound too much in the beginning, but it’ll open doors for endless opportunities for you. Follow Digital Whopper for more such informative content.