In today’s era of advanced technology and innovative communication channels, social media branding is a concept that seems to replace many of the traditional marketing solutions. The fact is that the right image may just bring you millions. Similarly, the wrong image may ruin your business or career before you even know what is happening. The role of social media in the success of a business venture or career cannot be overlooked or ignored.

There was a time when getting on the cover of a magazine was the way to move your career or business to higher rungs on the success ladder. Nowadays, every Facebook page can be the cover of a magazine if you know how to handle it right. The exposure provided by the social media networks can’t possibly be matched by other traditional media channels. As a result, whatever you exhibit on social media networks is what millions of people see. Once on the Internet, always on the Internet.

Social media branding is the way you display, promote and market your personal or business brand. It is a concept that you build and maintain using various social media marketing tools. Obviously, the first step to a successful social media branding, is setting up your profile as a business or as an individual. A complete profile can be an excellent tool to expand your business or to launch your career. But a complete profile is not everything. Additionally, you need to build a targeted and realistic profile making the best of your abilities or company values. It is highly important that your profile is accurate and incontestable. It is not advisable to post vague information or any information which leaves room for interpretation.

People look for information on the Internet. This is the whole purpose of the World Wide Web, and millions of pages floating out there have no other meaning other than providing FREE information. As a business, social media branding starts with giving out this free information about your specific activity. Remember that you are not writing in a magazine. You are writing web content and web content needs to be concise and relevant so that the reader remains on that page. Imagine how you scroll through content yourself. Do you actually take the time to read everything?

Social media branding is about building relationships. When you deal with potential clients face to face, you try to connect to those people. You need to do the same when you are networking. You are there to respond to people’s needs and you need to know and understand those needs before they do. You also need to carefully manage language because that is your means of communication. Videos and pictures may also prove helpful. Napoleon used to say that a picture is worth a thousand words. And he was right, as long as it is the right picture. Adapt your content, whether images or writing, to your audience. Imagine that you are in a restaurant. Would you dress and speak the same way if you were in a bar?

But the most important aspect of social media branding is perseverance. Branding on the Internet involves a continuous and permanent process which leaves no room for breaks. People love to be the center of attention. Therefore whatever they request on your fan page, which is mandatory, you must somehow fulfill. Whatever questions they have, you must respond. Whatever explanations they need, you must provide. And once you are caught up in this process, it is virtually impossible to stop unless you wish to ultimately ruin your career or business. Online exposure means online presence and unless you can do that consistently, you should not even attempt social media branding.

Social media branding is a delicate concept if you take it lightly and you regard it as a game. It is a very serious aspect of marketing and more importantly it is an aspect which can’t be erased once it’s there. Social media branding can help create successful businesses but, get it wrong, and it can ruin existing achievements and potential prospects.

Michael Bustimante is a Social Media Branding specialist and member of Stanford Who\’s Who Business Social Network

Michael Bustimante is a Social Media Branding specialist and member of Stanford Who\’s Who Business Social Network http://www.stanfordwhoswho.com

Author Bio: Michael Bustimante is a Social Media Branding specialist and member of Stanford Who\’s Who Business Social Network

Category: Business
Keywords: stanford whos who,social media branding,business social network