Why Should They Follow You?
You may have some beneficial content flowing through your social networks, but without a clear description of who you are or where your focus will be, it is guaranteed that you will lose out on potential followers at some point.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we all walked around with signs on our backs that make a statement about who we are.
Imagine writing about yourself in 280 characters or less on plain white paper in permanent marker, taping it to your back, and taking a seat at the counter in your favorite local coffee shop, waiting for someone to come talk to you based on what you have written.
Would you think twice about what is going on that piece of paper? Would you leave it blank, in hopes that you won't be required to engage in conversation?
Sounds silly or even somewhat absurd in terms of real-life, but this is exactly what you should be doing in your social networks, especially if you are looking to gain an increase in number of "Likes" or "Followers" and set yourself out there as an authority for your personal or corporate brand.
You may have some beneficial content flowing through your social networks, but without a clear description of who you are or where your focus will be, it is guaranteed that you will lose out on potential followers at some point.
Be Bold
Among your many social networks and platforms, your bio should work the same as a landing page.
On Facebook Pages, you can create a custom “Landing Page” that says whatever you want it to say or show to people before they ever click “Like” or sign in. Personal profiles on Facebook take you directly to whatever public content you set on your “Info” page before someone requests to be your friend.
For Twitter, your “bio” section of your profile is displayed immediately when someone clicks on your username to see who you are, along with three of your most recent tweets. Each of these areas are like that sign on your back. It is a good idea to track your competitors’ (or peers’) Twitter bios to get a better understanding of their strategy.
Are you increasing (or losing out on) followers because of your bio? It is absolutely acceptable, necessary even, to talk about yourself. Be bold, and don’t be afraid to make a statement that stands out.
State Clear Intentions
What do you want your social network to accomplish? Your goals will vary depending upon what type of profile you are establishing, whether personal or corporate (a business profile).
Will you be relational only for your personal profile? Will your corporate social network only provide links to promotional content? Should I follow you for the information that you will post or because of the type of person you are?
Ideally, you want to maintain a balance of all of the above, regardless of what type of profile you are creating. If you state clear intentions within your bio, you will capture like-minded followers or friends, as well as some who may simply be intrigued by your statement of who you are or what you have to offer.
Spark Curiosity
Creating a sense of intrigue does not equal empty space in a bio. Empty space is not mysterious, it is boring and will be overlooked. Good copywriting skills can make a huge difference because content matters in social media as much as it matters in just about any other channel.
Be unique and create a clear statement about how you see yourself, whether you are listing your passions, goals, interests, or roles. A good headline can boost your click-through, so can a well-crafted social media message improve your engagements and increase your following.
Bottom line, whether you realize it or not, people are checking you out… and they are looking to your bio section to find out if you are worth the time.
Image via Pixabay