Written by: Hanna Hermanson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
If you’ve used social media for business over the past 10 years, I’m willing to bet you’d describe your relationship with the platforms as “complicated.”
And it IS complicated. You follow the rules. You post consistently. You include a CTA. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, you can’t figure out why. But here’s the thing. In 2023, you need more than just: content pillars, you need a more comprehensive marketing STRATEGY. And you need every post to be a part of a bigger system. You want more sales. And social media is not the problem. OR the solution. But before we talk about that, let’s ‒ briefly ‒ take a trip down memory lane.
Back in the Old Old Days (Before Digital Marketing)
What did marketing look like before Mark Zuckerberg took the world by storm? My great grandpa (who was a milkman) would tell you that “word of mouth” was the 1 thing to leverage – do a good job & be friendly. If he were lucky, he’d get an ad in the local newspaper or a 10-second jingle on the radio.
“Milk – Babies Cry For It!” But for the most part, he relied on RELATIONSHIPS to grow his reach. If he knew there was a way to quickly gain more followers/customers/milk lovers… he probably would have been all over it. But he was serving his local, loyal community. And his only competition was the milkman on the other side of town. By the 1950s, of course, everything had changed. Companies were selling their products on a national scale, billboards were everywhere, and televisions were blasting their one-size-fits-all commercials. Marketing quickly became an expensive endeavor. And the “little guys” were pushed out of the ring to make room for corporate big-wigs (“Got Milk?”).
The Birth of Social Media
Along with the widespread use of computers and smartphones came the birth of social media… and social media marketing. Brands and businesses began creating profiles to engage with their customers.
And all of a sudden, the playing field was leveled – EVERYONE (including the “milkmen”) had access to a global marketplace.
Facebook ads became hawter than HOT, and “influencers” were born, inspiring everyone to dream about going viral overnight. It was “cutting edge” to be on social media to promote your business. And it was easy to stand out. Which meant… people actually listened.
Social Media Marketing Today
Buuuttt after a while, too many people got on the same boat. And all of a sudden, social media was FLOODED with marketing. CTAs started falling on deaf ears, and engagement on “value-rich” posts plummeted.
(sound familiar?)
But here’s the good news.
As we head into 2023…something really cool is happening. The marketing scene is shifting (once again!). And these days, marketing is all about connection, collaboration, and relationship-building.
Email marketing is *bigger* than ever. And referral networks are everyone’s best friend – which means my great-grandpa’s “word of mouth” strategy is making a comeback (like low-rise flare denim)!
Why is this shift happening NOW? Feminine energy is rising. And it’s leaving pushy “bro-marketing” tactics in the dust – including those “work with me!” pitches on social media. End result? Social media is no longer a place to pitch. It’s a place to (gasp) be SOCIAL.
Social Media Marketing Tips for 2023
“But wait…does that mean that social media marketing is dead?!?!” Not entirely. It’s still important to develop an online presence in order to: inspire, connect and create (yayyy!). But the thing is…social media itself no longer enrolls people into high-ticket programs. Instead, you should be treating social media like a modern-day “business card.”
It’s a place to show up with joy, personality, charisma, and YOU-ness.
It’s a chance to build momentum and excitement.
It’s an opportunity to funnel your audience towards *shiny* freebies and *sexy* lead magnets that will get them one step closer to working with you (i.e., on your email list).
Drop the “work with me!!!” vibes and the “you have a problem” pitches…and simply give your audience a dose of your (super cool) energy. Show up because you WANT to show up. Not because you HAVE to.
Where to Market Your Business in 2023?
OK, so if we’re no longer SELLING on social media…where do you market your business? This is where IPAs come into play. Beer? No…I’m talking about Income Producing Activities. Things like:
Writing a book
Starting a podcast
Jumping on other people's podcasts
Speaking at events
Doing a “signature talk” for a mastermind group
Running a workshop
Develop value-rich lead-magnets
These types of opportunities allow you to build RELATIONSHIPS with people and help you leverage a larger network of potential clients. Your social media marketing acts as a support to the BIGGER strategy of connecting with people…human-to-human. Social media is your vehicle – not your destination.
Refining Your Own Relationship with Social Media
Ready to shift your relationship with social media so that you have more time/energy to pour into your *new* marketing strategy? Many of us are ADDICTED to social media. But NOW is the perfect time to start creating space. Start by delegating your social media content creation to someone else. Hire a team member, and give them the tools to make your social sing! Support them with photos, videos, and brand inspo. Then BREATHE and let it go so that you can focus on those IPAs. Next? Install a News Feed Eradicator ‒ this handy little tool removes the most addicting part of Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks ‒ the feed ‒ and replaces it instead with an inspirational quote. You can still use the other functions, as usual. You just won't get sucked into the scroll hole. Lastly? Set boundaries for yourself around social media use. Establish a time limit, or set a certain time of day for checking your apps. Want a (friendly) wake-up call? Take a look at your phone’s screen time stats, and notice how much time you spend on social media. A healthy break may just give you HOURS of time back every day!
Go ahead! Market your heart out!
The point is…2023 is the *perfect* time to start leading with your heart. Everything is energy, and in a world where consciousness is steadily rising, your VIBE is the thing that will attract more clients to your doorstep (not your sales social media pitches).
Use social media as a jumping-off point – a place to have FUN, and let your freak flag fly! But please…whatever you do…stop using social to sell!! Everyone is over it, and (hooray!) now you are too!
And hey, if you’re curious about working with a marketing agency to help you pull all the puzzle pieces together…reach out to me! The Done For You Marketing team is all about helping clients develop a Feminine Marketing Funnel in order to grow and scale their business!
Hanna Hermanson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Hanna Hermanson is the founder and CEO of Done for You Copywriting for Coaches. As a life and business coach for years, Hanna gained deep insights and intuitive knowledge about what motivates people to take action. Hanna and her team of expert copywriters combine these insights with creative copy strategies to scale coaching businesses and help transformational leaders get back into their zone of genius. Hanna's work can be found in Forbes, Thrive Global, and her book “Dream Life is Real Life” on Amazon.
When she’s not writing or strategizing, she can be found carbo-loading for half marathons or frolicking on the beaches of Mexico with her husband and labradoodle.
