So, you’ve just finished making your social media content for your business or work account, and are wondering what is next on your to-do list.
Have you thought about what you’re going to post on your personal profile? Having a strategy for your own social media account is more important than you might think, especially if you’re a business owner, marketer or freelancer.
Keep reading to learn how creating a strong personal social media account that enhances your work!
For Business Owners: Building Trust Beyond the Brand
Business life is 24/7 and at this point there may not be a clear line between you and your business, but that’s exactly why posting it on your personal account makes sense.
In today’s competitive market, customers are increasingly drawn to the authentic, personal touch that small business owners can provide. By showcasing your journey, values, and day-to-day operations, you humanise your brand, making it more relatable and trustworthy. Leveraging your personal profile to share business insights and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work helps you network and build stronger connections with customers and supporters.
It is also an excellent way to bring traffic to your brand’s page. Essentially, you’re making your brand account the primary channel and your personal the outreach channel. Also, if it doesn’t fit your niche to post a lot of personal business related content to your brand’s page, doing it on your personal profile is an easy way around this.
Small business owners whose personal accounts act as an extension of their business are standing out at the moment. Brittney Saunders (@brittney_saunders, founder of @faytlabel) and Brooke Vulinovich (@brookevulinovich, founder of @socialclubcommunity) are fantastic examples of people doing this!
Of course, this isn’t a must do for all business owners, and it’s up to you how much business related content you wish to share, but we have been seeing a recent rise in success for business owners adopting this strategy.
Content ideas for Business Owners
- Business challenges:
- Film a face-to-camera video chatting about a struggle you had to face when you first started your business, one you recently overcame and how, or if you want to get super real, even one you’re battling with now!
- This type of video will work really well as an Instagram reel, TikTok or Instagram story.
- Live Q&A sessions:
- Host a live or a share question box on your story where people can add questions about your business, industry trends, or personal experiences as a business owner.
- Sneak peeks at new products:
- To make this feel extra exclusive, post these in your Broadcast Channel or Close Friends List.
- Thought leadership:
- Post your opinions on industry trends, future predictions, or insights on the direction of your business sector.
Tip: Tag your business’s account as a collaborator in relevant feed posts, because this can encourage people to click on its profile and engage with your feed.
For Marketers: Showcasing Your Social Media Expertise
This is important for all marketers, but especially social media managers. Making your personal account’s content as polished as accounts you manage shows your talent and skills.
Many employers check social media profiles during the hiring process, especially for social media management roles. If you prefer to keep your personal account private this shouldn’t impact your ability to do the job, but it’s important to be aware of. If you choose to include social media handles on your resume or LinkedIn, make sure they reflect the professional image you want potential employers to see.
Frequent engagement with your personal account is also another opportunity to keep up with trends you can use for work. The content you consume from personal accounts is likely to be different to that of client’s accounts, but this means you can learn about trending topics in different niches and see how they apply to your work accounts.
You can also use your personal account as a testing ground for new content ideas, formats, or strategies. Experiment with different post types to see what resonates with your audience. The insights you gain can then be applied to client accounts.
If you work with influencers, brands, or are a UGC creator, share these experiences on your personal feed. Highlighting successful partnerships not only gives credit to your collaborators but also displays your ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
Content ideas for Marketers
- Document your journey:
- Share personal reflections on your career growth, the challenges you’ve overcome, or the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
- Promote your work:
- Don’t be shy about sharing your successes! Whether it’s a campaign that exceeded expectations, a public speaking event, or a published blog article, promoting your achievements on your personal account can boost your professional reputation.
- Behind-the-scenes videos:
- Share a time-lapse or short video clip of you setting up for a shoot, brainstorming ideas, or editing your content. This gives your audience a glimpse into your creative process and the effort that goes into your work.
Tip: Before sharing any work on your personal social media, check with your employer if it’s okay as some businesses have strict social media policies.
Freelancers: Crafting a Personal Brand That Sells
As a freelancer, you often have to be your own marketing team.
Potential clients may look at your social media to see if you’d be a good fit for them. Plus, lots of client acquisitions are done through social media too. Posting about your work makes you seem more credible and passionate.
Having a strong social media strategy also helps with brand visibility and showcasing your work. A micro trend we’ve seen gaining traction lately is the development of engaging content in a series format. Create a themed series that you post weekly or bi-weekly to showcase your expertise and creative process. For example, you could do a “Monday Moodboards” series where you share the inspiration behind your latest projects, or “Freelance Friday” where you highlight a favourite project you completed that week. This consistent posting not only builds anticipation among your followers but also demonstrates your ongoing commitment to your craft and gives potential clients a peek into your creative world.
Content ideas for Freelancers
- Client testimonials:
- There are many creative ways to share engaging client reviews. One method is turning them into detailed case studies, highlighting the problem, solution, and results. Another is posting before-and-after scenarios, or personalised thank you notes to clients with their testimonials.
- Freelance tips and tricks:
- Show your experience and build connections with other freelancers by sharing your insights on the industry.
- Add to story templates:
- Have you ever seen a story post with an “add yours” button? Lots of freelancers take part in templates to share behind-the-scenes, current projects, games and more. They’re very engaging for your audience and you can also see others who have added to templates, so it’s a great way to explore like-minded people and network. You can even make your own template!
- Personal hobbies outside of freelancing:
- A lot of freelancers do work in areas they’re passionate about, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share other interests you like to do in your day-to-day life!
Ready to start creating a strong personal social media presence?
All of these content ideas above can be used whether you’re a business owner, marketer or freelancer. So, get your phone out and start recording or taking photos, and remember the classic saying: “everything is content!”
If you have no idea what content you should be sharing, or feel like you aren’t seeing a return of investment for the time you’re spending on it, check out our newly released Setting Up A Smashing Social Media Profile Workbook! This workbook breaks down every area of setting up your social media account, and how you can use them together to help your business grow. If you already have an account up and running, you can use it to give you a refresh of updated social media features.
