All Indian startups have a social media presence. Not many people are cultivating a brand there. Posting content is not building a brand and the two are typically very far apart, separating a page with a couple hundred followers from a page that is converting followers into customers.
Below, we’ve compiled 10 simple, no-nonsense tips to help you do just that.
1.Before making a post, you need to determine what you stand for.
When it comes to writing captions, make sure you know your brand’s personality before you write a single caption. Are you the kind of expert that’s friendly, the type of disruptor that’s bold, or the premium minimalist? Each piece of content should represent the same “voice,” regardless of the number of people involved in your social media.
2. Develop content pillars, don’t create random posts.
Random Posting yields random results. Choose 3-4 recurring themes, such as: tips for education, behind-the-scenes, customer stories and product features, and alternate between these themes regularly. This means your audience has something to look forward to (and to follow) on your content.
3. Create a visual system, not only a logo!
Your logo is one of your assets. The colors, fonts and templates your visual system uses consistently with your posts make your brand instantly recognizable as you scroll at 2x speed. If anyone can post a screenshot and immediately recognise that it is your post without having to see your handle, then you’ve done it correctly.
4. Avoid getting carried away by viral trends that are not in line with your brand.
Trending audios and memes may generate a bump for a short time but will be ineffective at any brand awareness unless it’s relevant to your business. Only select trends when they can be given your own unique touch.
5. Craft captions that earn saves and shares, not just likes!
Content that gets saved and/or shared is increasingly rewarded on platforms, not content that only gets liked. Provide captions that communicate, convey a mini-lesson, or a message to a friend or colleague.
6. Instead of posting regularly, post regularly.
Three posts per week, well-planned out, will beat seven rushed posts. Quality is more important than quantity, and being consistent with your timing is key.
7. Quickly respond to own comments
Most platforms have a first hour that is extremely important. An immediate response demonstrates engagement, and platforms are likely to share your content with more people. Establish a regular pattern of responding to posts in 30-60 minutes.
8. Celebrate people..
Whereas a well produced, faceless corporate post doesn’t seem to work very well, content created by the founder or team is always going to be better. A video of you making a decision or learning something is more trusted than another product graphic.
9. Place oneself at the service of others without losing their individuality.
English captions aren’t a requirement, but using Hindi, Gujarati or regional context where it will fit in naturally without sacrificing your brand tone, can make your brand more relatable to your local audience.
10. Monitor – What is working, NOT what feels good.
Other factors such as number of followers can be misleading. Look instead at saves, shares, DMs and visits to your profile; these are better signs that your content is proving to actually promote trust and drive more people to become customers.
The Bigger Picture
Social media branding is not a matter of quantity, it is a matter of quality; quantity of posts, consistency of posting, and visual identity people can relate with in a flash. The two things that most startups fail to get right are posting and branding, and that’s why two businesses with the same number of followers can have vastly different results.
At Apti Branding, we are here to help you start off building that consistency on day one content pillars, visual systems and a content calendar that really represents who you are, and not just a list of content ideas.
Want to ensure that your social media profiles are giving off your brand? Contact Apti Branding for a no-cost consultation and we will let you know where the problem areas lie.