I saw this quote from Brene Brown online recently and had a 'wow' moment. It really stopped me in my tracks especially as a small business owner.
I've realized that the more I let my unique personality and quirks shine through in my social media (especially my Instagram Stories), the more my audience connects with me. When I try to curate a perfectly polished persona, it feels inauthentic and just doesn't vibe with my brand & what i am trying to do for small business owners.
I know this is easy for me to say - Socials is what i do for a living BUT that doesn't mean i don't feel the effects of Imposter Syndrome, comparison and the whole WTF am i even doing moment's on a semi-regular basis.
When i first started Socially Flourished i knew i had to share the good & bad to really feel like i could connect with my audience & potential future clients ... that in itself opened a can of worms let me tell you!
I've found that embracing my natural self is what truly resonates with my followers. Whether I'm sharing a funny behind-the-scenes moment (burning dinner on the regular - not a domestic goddess), an honest reflection on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship (those WTF moments popping up regularly), or just a casual glimpse into my daily life, that personal touch is what helps me build genuine relationships & has allowed me to create a flourishing business that aligns with my work/life balance desires.
I've been having some great conversations online with fellow small business owners recently and they all have mentioned similar things - truely being themselves online has only been positive in their business. Both in bookings & cashflow.
I asked them all - how does showing up authentically in your business look for you?
Siobhan Johnson from Soliel Holistic Beauty shared that authenticity for her was being unapologetic for who she is & knows that her audience will see her in the supermarket & online exactly the same way. When they walk into her home salon based in Karratha they are met with open arms, in a safe environment & will have her undivided attention for that amount of time.
Tara Hansen from The Conscious Naturopath shared that her version of showing up authentically is regularly sharing educational topics. Her vision with her social media is to educate her audience and potential followers about the simplicity in natural remedies & ailments we may be feeling with simple ways to help releive those moments in life.
Lou Barkle from Plan & Do HQ's biggest piece of advice - not having a heavy rose coloured lens on life especially when sharing on your social media.
Having a balance of the good moments but also a sprinkling of the bad is the balance. Sharing 'perfection' all the time or 'bad' all the time can alienate your audience or potential ideal clients. Her words that i loved ....
Don't be too heavy on the sugar, don't be too heavy on the shit - find the sweet spot in the middle!
While these are totally different examples of business types and authenticity examples, i found the common theme to be - showing up as yourself.
So, tell me - how do you show up as yourself online in an authentic way or do you struggle to do this?!
Meg x
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