3 tips for a successful social media profile

Here at NK&A, we help our clients navigate the ever-changing social media world. We fine-tune social media profiles based on the desired outcomes and write strategies so that clients can experience the greatest possible social media success. But, what is it that makes a social media profile successful? The answer varies depending on who you ask, and what criteria you are using to measure. However, in our experience, there are 3 factors that will improve any social profile.

1. Be consistent with your brand. Do your social media profiles reflect who you are and what you’re about? Are the messages you are sending accurately reflecting what you want to communicate to the world? Many profiles miss the mark because they are inadvertently sending the wrong message. One example of this are profile pictures. Often people skip adding an image or have an outdated one. Ask yourself whether or not the visitors to your profile will get an accurate feel for who you are.
2. Offer something people want. On LinkedIn, post information that is of interest to those in your industry. On Facebook, share updates that evoke emotion or entertain. On Twitter, only tweet items that may have value for your followers. If success is measured by the number of individuals that visit your profile, you will find your success greatly improved if you consider your audience every time before you post.
3. Don’t be afraid to get personal. Visiting a social media profile is like stepping into someone’s life for a quick visit. Sharing carefully-selected bits of personal information can help people get a picture of who you are, and will intrigue them into returning, following, or sharing. For example, suppose you are setting up a social media profile for your accounting firm. Instead of stating that your company is over 100 years old, post a SlideShare that shows a history of your company in progressive photos, including team members, add some fun music in the background. Suddenly, the visitor not only knows your company name and what you do, but also sees that you have a vibrant thriving team. They now have a feel for who you are, and will be more likely to want to establish a relationship with you.

In the end, the success of your social media profile greatly depends on what you are trying to accomplish with it; and the purposes behind social media vary from individual to individual and business to business. But if what you are after is a greater following, greater visibility, and/or higher quality profiles, these 3 tips will get you much closer.