Podcast Summary
Preparing for the Unexpected in Business and Growing a Successful Social Media Presence: Focusing on valuable content, staying authentic to your brand, and being strategic can help grow a successful social media presence. Preparation and automation are essential in business to handle the unexpected.
Being ready for the unexpected is crucial in business, as demonstrated by the use of SAP Concur solutions for automating finances. Meanwhile, growing a successful social media presence, as exemplified by Lydia Rose, requires a strategic approach, authentic branding, and a focus on providing valuable content. Lydia Rose, with her impressive Instagram following of over 3,000,000, offers insights into her journey of building a successful social media platform in a saturated market. She started by focusing on useful content and staying true to her brand, even when working with brands. The planning and creation of content is a complex process that often goes unnoticed, and it's essential to understand the importance of authenticity and strategy in social media growth. Lydia's background as a social media manager before becoming an influencer adds an interesting perspective to the conversation. Her expertise in the role allowed her to grow her social media presence in a strategic and scalable way. The key takeaway is that by focusing on providing valuable content, staying authentic to your brand, and being strategic in your approach, you too can grow a successful social media presence.
From Bedroom Blogger to Influencer: Lydia's Journey in Fashion and Blogging: Persist and adapt in the influencer landscape by focusing on different platforms, unique strategies, and collaborations.
Lydia, a successful influencer with a background in fashion and blogging, grew her following in a saturated industry by staying true to her niche and gradually transitioning from written content to video. Starting as a "bedroom blogger" during her university days, she began writing as a way to practice for her English language degree and eventually moved into social media management. Over five years, she built her audience while working full-time, eventually making the leap into content creation as a career. Her success story highlights the importance of persistence and adaptability in the ever-evolving influencer landscape. To scale as an influencer, she recommends focusing on different platforms and content types, forming a unique strategy, and collaborating with brands.
Starting a hobby can lead to a successful career: Pursuing hobbies and honing skills can be more attractive to employers than a degree, offering control, flexibility, and the potential for success.
Pursuing your passions and honing your skills as a hobby can lead to a successful career. The interviewee shared her experience of starting a fashion vlog while in university as a way to practice writing, which eventually became her full-time job. She emphasized that her experience as a hobby was more attractive to employers than her degree, as it showed motivation, drive, and the ability to set up her own business. The interviewee also highlighted that starting a career through a hobby can offer more control and flexibility compared to traditional routes. Despite coming from a working-class background and having a stable job, she took the risk and followed her passion, which paid off in the end. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of pursuing your interests and developing skills outside of the traditional educational and career paths.
Transitioning into freelance work with a safety net: Gradually build a financial safety net before making a career shift, address fears with loved ones, and prioritize practicality in your pursuit of passions.
Following your dreams and making a career shift doesn't always mean taking a leap with no safety net. The speaker in this conversation shares her experience of gradually transitioning into freelance work while building a financial safety net. She emphasizes the importance of practicality and creating a sense of confidence before making a full commitment. The speaker also acknowledges the fear and uncertainty that comes with entering a new industry and the importance of addressing those concerns with loved ones. Overall, her story highlights the value of a thoughtful and gradual approach to pursuing your passions.
Transitioning to new opportunities and embracing change: Embracing change can lead to personal growth and new opportunities. Creating structure and routines helps maintain productivity and focus during transitions. Video content can be a powerful tool for growing a social media presence.
Embracing change and adapting to new situations, even if they involve uncertainty and a departure from comfort zones, can lead to personal growth and new opportunities. The interviewee shared her experience of transitioning from a corporate job to self-employment and the challenges she faced in managing herself and her time. She emphasized the importance of creating structure and routines to maintain productivity and focus. Additionally, she highlighted the role of video content in the growth of her social media presence, which came about when she went full-time in that area. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of being open to new experiences, being proactive in managing one's own career, and being willing to adapt to new trends and technologies.
Creating relatable and useful video content on social media: Focus on authentic, everyday content, plan and schedule in advance, and adapt to changing trends and platforms for a successful social media presence
Creating relatable and useful video content on social media platforms like Instagram can help grow an account and reach a larger audience. The user in this discussion identified a gap in the market for more authentic and everyday content, and by focusing on providing value through video, they were able to build a successful social media presence. They also emphasized the importance of planning and scheduling content in advance, especially when it is themed around current events or seasons. This strategy not only makes life easier but also allows for a more cohesive and engaging feed for followers. Additionally, the user's adaptability to changing trends and platforms, such as moving from pictures to videos, was a key factor in their success.
From brand collaborations to long-term partnerships: Influencer marketing has evolved from simple brand deals to long-term business relationships, requiring influencer management and legal assistance.
Influencer marketing has evolved from simple brand collaborations to more complex business relationships. When starting out, influencers like the interviewee monetized their content through brand collaborations, often beginning with gifted items. However, as the influencer's following and content quality grew, brands sought more extensive partnerships, leading to retainers and long-term contracts. As the influencer's business grew, they recognized the need for management and assistance with legal and business matters. Idea generation involves staying inspired by current trends and adapting them to the influencer's unique style and brand. Planning content around seasons and maintaining a balanced content pillar strategy ensures consistent growth and development of the influencer's brand.
Establish content pillars and analyze engagement metrics to refine social media strategy: Refine social media strategy by establishing content pillars, analyzing engagement metrics, and setting KPIs for each pillar. Focus on long-term brand growth, not just viral moments.
Being strategic in your social media content creation is essential for growth, especially in the oversaturated influencer industry. The speaker emphasized the importance of establishing content pillars and analyzing engagement metrics, such as saves, to refine and balance your content. She also recommended setting different Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each content pillar. While vanity metrics like likes and reach are important, it's crucial to consider the long-term brand implications and how each post aligns with your overall brand identity. The speaker advised treating your social media presence like a brand and regularly evaluating and adjusting your content strategy to stay relevant and distinguish yourself from the competition. Additionally, while viral moments can bring quick growth, they often come with a dip in engagement following the spike, so it's essential to maintain a consistent brand message and focus on long-term growth.
Staying authentic in a viral world: Focus on creating content that resonates with your audience, rather than constantly trying to replicate viral trends. Adapt to new platforms and find authentic ways to engage with your audience.
While it can be tempting to replicate successful content and chase after viral trends, it's important for personal and product brands to stay authentic and not get stuck in a less genuine version of themselves. The metrics of viral content can be alluring, but not all content that goes viral will benefit a brand in the long run. Brands should consider their unique value and focus on creating content that resonates with their audience, rather than constantly trying to replicate what worked once. Additionally, the ever-evolving social media landscape can be overwhelming, but it also presents new opportunities for growth. When a new platform emerges, it's essential to adapt and find a way to authentically engage with the audience on that platform. For example, TikTok offers a more casual and less restrictive environment compared to Instagram, making it an opportunity for brands to showcase a different side of themselves and connect with their audience in a new way.
Stay informed about new social media trends and experiment with them: Keep an eye on new features and platforms, align content with interests and values, try various content types, and maintain authenticity and consistency for a strong online presence
Staying informed about new trends and content types on social media platforms and experimenting with them can help creators find their niche and reach their audience effectively. The speaker suggests keeping an eye on what's new and popular, whether it's a new feature on an existing platform or a new platform altogether. They also emphasize the importance of creating content that aligns with one's interests and values, even if it doesn't perform well on one platform, as there may be an audience for it on another. The speaker also encourages trying out various content types and experimenting with different platforms to maximize reach and engagement. Ultimately, authenticity and consistency in content creation are key to building a strong online presence.
Embracing long-term goals and staying curious: Success on social media requires more than instant metrics, adaptability, and a curious mindset are crucial for a long-term career in the industry.
Success on social media goes beyond instant metrics like likes and shares. Passion and long-term goals are also crucial. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adapting to changes in the industry and staying curious about what's next. She shares her own career aspirations, which include building a loyal audience and making a living off her Instagram content. The speaker's strategic mindset and ability to identify trends have contributed to her success. She encourages an open-minded approach to the ever-evolving world of social media and media as a whole. Ultimately, her goal is to have a long-term career in the industry, growing with her audience.
Growing a successful online platform: Professionalism, Consistency, and Gratitude: Professionalism, consistency, and expressing gratitude are essential for growing a successful online platform and transforming individual and company performance.
Building a successful online platform requires a strategic approach, but also staying open-minded and treating it like a valuable career. The guest on this conversation has shared their personal experience of growing their platform and emphasized the importance of being professional and consistent. This approach can inspire others to replicate their success and create a fulfilling career online. At Reward Gateway, they believe that appreciation is key to transforming individual and company performance. By focusing on employee experience and expressing gratitude, companies can unlock the power of a motivated and productive workforce.
