Social media is one of the essential tools for small business owners to connect with your audience, promote your services, and build your brand presence.
When I work with businesses and individuals growing their digital presence, one question comes up a lot:
How much should I share?
There are a few variables to answer the question, including a few additional questions:
What are your business goals?
Who is your audience?
What are your personal and business values?
What are you comfortable sharing?
What is important to keep offline?
Finding the right balance between personal sharing and maintaining boundaries is crucial for small business owners.
Since Covid, I’ve noticed people are sharing a lot more personal information on social media, including - surprisingly - LinkedIn. Is this a good idea? Is it helpful? Or harmful?
Let’s explore the impact of authentic sharing, oversharing, and the benefits of having some human vulnerability.
The Power of Human Vulnerability
While maintaining boundaries on social media is crucial, it's equally important to show some human vulnerability.
Here's why:
Authentic Connection: People connect with people, not so much businesses. Sharing your authentic, relatable experiences can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level, humanizing your brand and fostering trust.
Relatability: When you share moments of vulnerability or setbacks, your audience can relate to you. This can make your business more approachable and relatable, encouraging customer loyalty.
Learning Opportunities: Sharing challenges you've faced and lessons you've learned can provide valuable insights to your audience. It shows that you're constantly evolving and can be a source of inspiration!
Before sharing any personal content, take a moment to sit with it, make sure it feels good, then share.
Overstepping Social Media Boundaries
On the other side of the vulnerability coin is the “Vulnerability Olympics,” where there’s almost a kind of competitiveness behind sharing vulnerabilities which usually feels weird for your audience. Sharing too much personal information too quickly can also result in a “vulnerability hangover,” (Brene Brown) where you feel weird or gross after sharing too much.
Some other points to consider:
Privacy Concerns: Oversharing personal information on social media can lead to significant privacy concerns. Small business owners must be cautious about revealing too much about their personal lives, as this information can be exploited by malicious actors.
Unprofessional Image: Constantly sharing personal details or engaging in inappropriate conversations on social media can tarnish the professional image of your business. Remember, your audience primarily follows you for your products or services, not your personal life.
Overwhelm: Oversharing can also lead to social media fatigue among your audience. Bombarding them with too much information can cause them to disengage or even unfollow your business.
Finding the Balance
So, how can small business owners find the right balance between sharing and vulnerability on social media? Well in yoga world, we call this idea “sammelena,” or the mixing together of the ends of a spectrum. Meaning, on the spectrum of open vulnerability to fully guarded, find your middle ground.
Set Clear Boundaries: Define what you're comfortable sharing and what should remain private. Stick to these boundaries to protect your personal life and loved ones.
Pause Before You Post: Before hitting that "post" button, ask yourself if the content aligns with your brand's image and values. Will it resonate positively with your audience?
Share Purposefully: Share personal stories or moments of vulnerability with a purpose. What message or lesson do you want your audience to take away from it?
Engage Authentically: When responding to comments or messages, engage authentically. Show appreciation for your audience's support, and be genuine in your interactions.
Regularly Review and Adjust: Social media is dynamic. Regularly review your content and its impact. Adjust your strategy as needed to maintain the right balance.
Get the Free Guide
If you’re a business owner looking to find that sweet spot of sharing enough-but-not-too-much on social media, we’ve got you covered! Download our free guide, "Mastering Social Media Boundaries" to get expert tips and strategies for managing your online presence effectively.
Maintaining social media boundaries as a business owner or entrepreneur is essential for protecting your privacy and maintaining a professional image. However, showing some human vulnerability can help you connect authentically with your audience and foster trust.
By finding the right balance - or sammelena - and following the tips provided in the free guide, you can navigate the world of social media successfully and build a strong, authentic online presence for your business.
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