Authenticity is the Key to a Better Social Media Presence
Creating a better social media presence is every business's goal. Social media is a great way to attract a wider audience, curate your digital presence, and speak directly to your customers. Every business is different, and because of that, you will quickly discover that every business has a unique social media presence.
These differences in social media presence represent differences in strategies. Some businesses put a massive amount of time and effort into creating social media content, while others prefer a more spontaneous approach, posting when the urge strikes. While consistency is always king when it comes to social media, an overly polished presence or one that feels sterile isn't always right either. That will be especially true in the coming years.
At Legend Web Works, our team is always on the lookout for the newest trends in social media. Recently many of the top SEO and social media companies published their yearly reports on the next era or social media trends. These reports speak on a wide range of subjects from influencers to AI, and it can be hard to disseminate this information, especially if you are new to social media.
One recent report that our team loved was SEMrush's 2024: The Vision of a New Social Era. This report contained a wealth of information on the predictions of what is to come for social media in the future. In this post, we will focus on one part of the SEMrush report, how to boost social media rank with authenticity. We have distilled out key takeaway from the report and created this short guide so you can get all the information you need quickly.
Keep reading to learn more about how your brand can use authenticity on your social media accounts to boost engagement and attract new followers.
Creating an Authentic Social Media Presence
The reports are in, and the results are clear. Social media users are looking for authenticity when it comes to finding businesses to fit their needs. Customers are largely turning away from overly polished or sterile content. Posts by brands that tell users about who they are and why they should buy their product or service come across as cold and impersonal, and users resonate more deeply with user-generated content.
This is especially true for younger audiences. The SEMrush report found that Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) are interested in brands that start real conversations, share real stories, and create emotional connections with their audience. This often comes in the form of raw, unfiltered content often produced via video.
In the following sections, we will discuss the keys to attract younger audiences, and some ways to create more authentic content.
Using Authentic Content to Attract a Younger Audience
Many businesses are not sure how to attract young audiences to their brand. As younger people enter the workforce and start to contribute to the economy, businesses are seeking out their attention. Older business owners are not always sure what this young generation is looking for or what attracts them to a brand.
The use of authenticity in social media posts is one way to attract younger social media users. Gen Z is largely tired of perfectionism and flawlessness. They are looking for meaningful connections online, and they may be scared off by companies who come into their feeds with a sales pitch.
Instead, they want content from customers like them. This doesn't mean you have to hire an influencer to pitch your products; the opposite is true. It means that Gen Z consumers want to put a face to a brand, and they want to see that person experiencing your product or service.
This can come in the form of a testimonial from a real customer, a genuine post with one of your employees, and real people speaking to them via video. We will give you more specific examples you can try in the next section.
This type of content is appealing because not only does it work, but it is also cost and time-effective because it usually requires very little editing, few actors, and a little time to produce. These posts should be focused on storytelling and concise communication. That means you need to keep these short, get right to the point, and make sure they speak to your goal as a brand.
Next, let's look at some examples your business can try to give you a better idea of how to make genuine content.
How Your Business Can Produce More Genuine Content
As we said before, each business is unique. Because of that, it can be difficult to provide precise examples that every business can use. However, every business can start with the basics. Here are some ideas to consider, to get your mind working on how you can create more genuine content.
- Start with a video. Video is the easiest way to produce genuine content. It shows who you are and presents your content in a way that is easy for users to consume. What's more, today anyone can produce videos using their phones, making this medium more genuine.
- Try a behind-the-scenes post. Try making a post that shows a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your business. If you produce a product, this could be a sneak peek into how the product is made. If you work in an office, you might try producing a video that shows what your employees are working on. This type of video is especially relevant for builders, artists, and media producers.
- Skip the editing. This one may make you a little nervous. But don't worry, footage that looks like it was shot on your phone in an impromptu burst of inspiration is exactly what you want. If you have a loose idea for a post, make it right there and then. It doesn't get any more genuine than that.
- Don't outsource influencers. The last thing you want to do is hire some trendy influencer to read from a script. It is much better to use people in your company. This can even include top leadership. Many company presidents and CEOs are taking to social media platforms like LinkedIn to produce their own content. This can be a video or text post that talks about your business, some tips you have learned, or other useful information that consumers will find useful.
- Try a new platform. Sticking to the same social media platforms is a great way to build a solid audience, but if you want to try new things and reach a wider range of people, try platforms like TikTok or Instagram. These platforms allow you to produce different types of content, like short videos, that you can use to attract new users. How do you choose the perfect social media platforms? Click here to learn more!
Marketing in 2024 with Help from Legend Web Works
Trying to produce more genuine content can be a fun, yet intimidating, quest. Many business owners worry that they will do something wrong or embarrass themselves when they try to produce less polished content. But the truth is that many people want to see content that shows off some personality.
A post that shows that your company consists of real people with real senses of humor makes your posts more relatable. When posts are more relatable, consumers are more likely to form an emotional connection with your brand, and when that happens you make a sincere impression.
However, sometimes the best and most genuine social media content is created using outside help from a social media agency like Legend Web Works. Outside experts will view your business through an unbiased lens and will be able to identify ways that your business is unique. As a result, with a little help from the experts, you can make social media content that speaks to your target audience.
If you are curious about the difference Legend Web Works can make for your social media presence, click here to start a conversation with our team now!
Want more information about how you can enhance your digital presence? Follow Legend Web Works on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok!
If you are happy with the difference we have made for your business, please leave us a five-star review here!
