By, Alicia Kollmar MS, OTR/L
Next Level Mentor
alicia.kollmar@gmail.com
In the process of starting and building your business it can be easy to get wrapped up in the advice from professional marketers or other therapists. While there are people who share valuable expertise, it’s important to consider your personal vision and style when it comes to implementing their advice.
Do You Need to Follow All “Professional” Advice?
When I read Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk, a well-known book about using social media to establish your brand, I could not imagine using X (formerly Twitter) in the way he recommended. He suggested being on it so frequently that I didn’t think I would have the time and energy for it. But keeping posts to the short phrases that X is known for, especially in a way that would be engaging to my potential customers, is not easy for me. Some people can do that well, but I didn’t feel like I could do it naturally and decided that it was best to stick with Facebook, where I felt more comfortable to be myself and could more easily decide which expert advice would work for me and which wouldn’t.
Who Are You? Silly, Serious, or a Little of Both?
When you are writing or speaking for your business it’s important to use your voice while considering the needs and style of your audience. Do you tend to speak formally or more casually? Yes, you want to sound professional, but do you always have to be serious? You may actually attract the clients you want if you tell a joke if that’s in your nature. In the online world we have more flexibility to change between silly and serious than we used to. Some businesses use very formal language (e.g. “login to your account”), but others may get creative, like one of my accounts used to do (e.g., “Please vow to do something nice for yourself today and then log into your account”). Which style fits your personality better? Don’t be afraid to be more casual if that’s who you are.
Being Authentic in a Video
If you are making videos it takes practice to do them so that you sound natural. Practice as much as you need to so your personality shines through! On live social media videos it can often help to think of yourself as having a conversation with a friend so that you show who you are. And if you make a goof by mispronouncing something or tripping over your words then acknowledging your mistakes often makes you relatable to the audience, so they can connect more easily with you; and connection is what you want! Mistakes are normal and show your authenticity.
Also keep in mind that if you are following a formula it’s not likely to come across as genuine and your clients may not take you as seriously.
Being Yourself Can Bring in the Clients You Want
Who are you and what are your values? What clients do you want to attract? When you are authentic you attract the people you want to serve and it makes it easier for them to find you.
Go be your wonderful authentic self so that you can serve the people you want to serve!
