Be Fluid With Your Social Media Brand

by Molly Jo Realy @RealMoJo68

Who are you, really? Are you just a God-loving, cat-cuddling, coffee drinker? Or is there more to you, more to your writing? Maybe your manuscripts are full of prose you want to share with the world, but you also enjoy baking for your family and neighbors.

My point is, there’s not just one, two, or even three aspects of you. The many people in your world see the many facets of you. Like a diamond, shining in all your hard-pressed glory. The viewing angle determines the color and intensity reflecting what’s inside.

Consider your social media brand in the same way. Yes, you need to maintain some consistency and familiarity. But when you change, as we all do, even ever so slightly, your brand should adjust to the new you.

Last year I went from being just a Southern Girl in Southern California to also being a Bohemian Hurricane. I can’t tell you how many nods of understanding that one received. I didn’t change my brand, I adjusted it. And, in a few years, I’m sure I’ll do it again.

If you’re not attracting the audience you want, ask yourself why not? Ask your closest peeps how they see you. Does it match up with who you want to portray? If not, create a list of what’s missing and find a way to add them to your brand. Of course, you don’t want your brand to be overwhelming or chaotic. Pick a few elements and develop them.

A few years ago, a friend called me a human LEGO. It stuck [no pun intended]. So now when I network, I throw that out there. People remember me for being able to remember them and connect them with others. [Oh, let’s not even talk about the LEGO sets I’m starting to collect because of it!]

Remember, your brand is your personal message of how you want people to see you, and who you want to attract. It’s not an itemized list of every personality trait. Use hashtagged words in your Instagram and Twitter bios, but only two or three. Anything more looks like a highlighter gone rogue.

If you’re still not sure how you should brand yourself, look at how others are doing it. Pay attention to your mentors and follow suit. There are over 7.4 billion people in the world. Chances are some things are going to be familiar. But there’s only one you. So put your personal spin on your brand and watch your audience grow.

Remember: You always have something to say. So say it well, and say it personally. And don’t be afraid to change your tone now and then.

Your turn to speak: How do you brand yourself, and how often has it changed?

With a Southern drawl and a thunderous voice,

~Molly Jo

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Be fluid with your #socialmedia brand - @RealMoJo68 on @EdieMelson http://ow.ly/jANF30itu9t #writing (Click to Tweet)

Don't be afraid to change your #socialmedia tone - @RealMoJo68 on @EdieMelson http://ow.ly/jANF30itu9t #writing (Click to Tweet)

Molly Jo is a writer, editor, social media ninja, and producer of the weekly Firsts in Fiction podcast. She has been featured in children’s magazines, on blogs and devotional websites, and her short stories have earned her awards and scholarships from nationally acclaimed writing programs. She is the founder of New Inklings Press and author of The Unemployment Cookbook: Ideas for Feeding Families One Meal at a Time, and other books available through her website and on Amazon.

Her current work in progress, NOLA, is a location mystery set in New Orleans and is scheduled for publication in late 2017.

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and her blog, Frankly, My Dear . . .