Facebook is still the most popular social media platform, with two billion daily users… So why not ... [+]
Cultivating your personal brand is essential in today’s workplace. Your personal brand is your unique signature. To be successful, you need a strategy that includes a presence on the platforms where your target audience hangs out. That’s not every single platform. It’s usually just one or two.
Facebook is the most popular social media network in the world, with more than two billion daily users, up 5% since 2023. The only two most visited websites ahead of Facebook are Google and YouTube — both search engines. Males between 25 and 44 make up 49% of Facebook’s audience. Facebook is the leading platform for making purchases — 63.5 million people made a purchase through Facebook in 2022. Instagram was second. More importantly, 19% started their shopping search using Facebook.
If your personal brand includes selling a physical or digital product or service, Facebook is a great place to be.
Here are a few secrets to getting the most from Facebook for your personal brand.
1. Post consistently.
More than how often you post is how consistent you are. Most agree posting several times a week is sufficient. SocialPilot found the best times to post are between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning and at night and between 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon on Wednesdays and Thursdays. HubSpot recommends posting two to four times a week on Facebook with a focus on content rather than the time of day. Hootsuite suggests 8:00 am to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Determining what to post poses another challenge and should be based on your branding strategy. Facebook allows you to post text, images, and videos. Keep your posts relevant to the industry you’re in and the brand you want to build, but don’t be shy about sprinkling in some personal bits. The beauty of social media is the ability to share your personality with your target audience. Think of your content as pillars (in essence, different themes you write under). Here are a few suggestions that should help spark your creativity:
- The Storytelling Pillar. Write contents about “lessons learned” in your industry or job. Just make sure not to sound spiteful to others while you do it, and to provide actionable steps people can take because of your learnings.
- The Future Trends Pillar. Identify future trends or challenges facing your industry and make educated predictions. Predictions have a great way of sparking conversation, which is ultimately what you want.
- The Teaching Pillar. Every industry has a set of frequently asked questions. A great example is: How to get started in [insert industry or niche]?
- The Behind The Scenes Pillar. Have you ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” Well, chances are that others are asking the same question. So, give your audience a glance into how you do your job and what your work and day actually looks like.
Be conscious about sharing too much outside of your personal brand narrative. This can be confusing. When you share a personal story, tie it to your personal brand or industry when possible.
2. Engage within your community.
Always respond to comments and messages related to your posts. You don’t have to glue yourself to your mobile device, but you should check for comments regularly or set up notifications on Facebook. Facebook also allows you to manage comments by user, prohibited words, and profanity filters. You can rank comments by most likes or replies to help shape the discussion that ensues from specific posts.
The Facebook community is bigger than your followers and friends. Groups within your industry and Facebook users at large are all part of your community. Join groups in your industry. Respond to comments left in group discussions. Establish yourself as the go-to expert in the group by offering helpful advice without asking for something in return — avoid shameless advertising. There’s a time and place for that, so follow the rules of the group.
3. Use Facebook Live.
Digital marketer Neil Patel describes Facebook Live as a new version of reality TV. Leverage this feature! Encourage your followers to turn on Live Notifications for your page. Facebook will automatically send a notification when you go live. If your Facebook live events are pre-scheduled, Facebook will notify viewers 20 minutes before the broadcast begins.
Facebook Live lets you engage in real-time with your audience. It can increase exposure to your brand, build relationships, and establish you as a leader in your industry. Facebook Live also gives you the opportunity to show your human side — you are more than your business, and if you can find a common thread with people in your target audience, you will create a stronger connection.
Facebook is a powerful platform to build your personal brand. And because Meta owns both Instagram and Facebook, you can easily cross-post between the two to streamline your efforts. In fact, you can share your Instagram reels on Facebook once the accounts are connected.
Follow these guidelines as part of your overall personal branding strategy on Facebook. Use the resources available to you … and be consistent.
