“Be yourself!” they said. “Just be authentic!” If you’ve been around the world of social media at all in the past few years you will have heard that the “trick” to building a social media following and a brand that catches people’s attention is to just “be yourself”. Yeah okay, but what does that even mean?! If you’re like 70% of my clients then chances are the advice to “be yourself” can be both confusing and unhelpful.
Knowing who you are is, of course, a precursor to actually being yourself online. Which is exactly why a big part of the work that I do with clients is designed to help them uncover who they are as a brand so that they can show up confidently in the world and just “be themselves”.
So today, I decided to share with you some of my tips on how to cultivate your authenticity so that you can actually “be yourself” on social media.
Having a framework for sharing yourself and your work, especially when you’re just getting started, can be extremely beneficial and gives you the freedom to really let loose without questioning if you’re “doing it right.” So are you ready to figure out who you really are so that you can show up online and just be yourself?
Let’s dive in…
Firstly, investigate what’s appealing to you.
The things in your closet, on your Pinterest board, the people you follow on social media, the movies you’re attracted to and the things you most love to do, all provide insight into the vibe, the visuals and the voice of what’s appealing to you.
The problem is that many of us have not taken the time to explore our curiosity and really define what we’re most attracted to. Are you most attracted to high energy, bright colors and summertime? Are you more subdued and laid back? What colors, concepts and words most resonate with you?
Get clear on your preferences.
People who feel confident enough to just “be themselves” often have a very strong sense of what they prefer and they are able to articulate these preferences. Spend time bringing awareness to your choices so that you can begin to list out your preferences. What has your investigation told you about who you are and what most resonates with you?
How do you want to feel on a daily basis? What brings you pleasure? How much of yourself do you feel comfortable sharing with the world? If you can answer these questions then you are well on your way to authentically expressing yourself on social media and in your brand.
Do more of what you love.
In the big, crazy digital world that we now live in, it can be really easy to get so caught up in the hustle and the need to be absorbed in technology that we don’t make time for doing the things we love. And here’s the thing… When you do more of what you love you make room for inspiration.
Towards the end of 2017, I challenged myself to write 90 blogs posts in 91 days. I really believe that placing an emphasis on having more fun during that time was the main reason I was able to churn out so much content. When you have more fun, you have more things to write about. When you have more fun you naturally have more things to share about. When you have more fun, you become more of who you really are.
Slow down a little.
Ever found yourself so caught up in the rat race that you barely stop to think? Well, none of the tips I previously gave you will be of any benefit if you don’t set the intention to slow down. Many of my biggest breakthroughs in branding and business have come in the moments of silence that I carved out for myself throughout my day.
Whether you choose to create a morning ritual of meditation and prayer, a nighttime ritual of a long relaxing bath or even a simple commitment to sit on your back porch for 15 minutes a day, the practice of slowing down will allow you to reconnect to who you really are.
I promise you, that if you’re disciplined enough to slow down, do more of what you love and get clear on your personal preferences it will begin to feel so much easier to really just be yourself online.
Drown out the noise.
Falling into the comparison trap is an easy thing to do in today’s social media crazed society. When you’re constantly flooded with images and words of other successful brands you can start to lose sight of who you really are.
So make a conscious effort to spend less time scrolling and more time cultivating your voice. When you block out other opinions of what you should be doing, you make space for your own authentic self-expression!
Building a brand and a social media presence that is a reflection of who you really are is one of the most beneficial things you can do as a new business owner. I hope that as you take some of these suggestions for a test drive that you’ll feel inspired and one step closer to creating a brand and business you love!
