How do you keep your brand voice positive on social media?

Audiences are extremely aware of being marketed to, and can spot an ad from a mile away. When brands can target their audience segments with content and copy that doesn't sound pandering, try-hard, or too earnest, they can excel. This leads to the topic below, which focuses on authenticity in the social space.

In a world where humans crave being understood, brands need to know their audience like the back of their hand. Their behaviours, motivators, stressors... it goes beyond demographics. When a brand can nail down how it communicates to its target audience, loyalty is inevitable. Once you have loyalty, it's game over.

As a former teacher, I learned that it's essential to speak the language of my students. The same principle applies to social media marketing. If you want to connect with your audience, you need to understand their interests and how they communicate. For example, I worked with a life coach who wanted to reach a younger audience. We started by listening to what the younger audience was interested in and how they communicated. We then tailored her social media posts to be more informal and engaging. As a result, she saw a significant increase in engagement. So, how can you use social media to connect with your audience in a more meaningful way?

Knowing your audience is the cornerstone of effective communication. It means understanding their interests, needs, and pain points. This knowledge enables tailored messaging that resonates, fosters connection, and builds trust. In a world saturated with content, audience-centricity is the key to standing out and making a meaningful impact.

Understanding your audience can never go out of style when it comes to keeping your brand voices positive, I mean audience are why we do what we do. Getting to know more, their feelings, what resonates with them among other things would help brand create contents that best work them across platforms.

It is so important to be authentic and transparent. People can more easily relate to someone who has flaws, trips over their tongue while speaking, has the same up and downs and they do. I try to find the humor in a lot of situations, always looking for the Silver Linings, and I find people are more open to conversations when they see that positivity and realness.

I once helped a career coach who wanted to be more transparent with her clients. We started by sharing her own story of how she overcame challenges in her career. We also shared stories from her clients about how she helped them achieve their goals. After a few weeks, we saw a significant increase in DM inquiries from potential clients. As a former teacher, I learned that it's important to be honest and transparent with my students. The same principle applies to social media marketing. If you want to build trust and credibility with your audience, you need to be authentic and transparent with them.

In light of the rapid advancements in automation and AI, there is an ever-growing demand for the fundamental facets of human interaction - genuineness, consistency, and authenticity. As someone who has witnessed the proliferation of technological innovation, I firmly believe that focusing on building deep, meaningful relationships is essential in a world where machines are increasingly replacing human tasks.

Authenticity and genuine insight shine through. I’ve always had the notion that people can sense the BS through multiple factors. Be true to yourself, the ideas and experiences you have, and the information you are trying to convey to your audience.

Transparency is a big factor when it comes to showing your target audience that your team is only human. Sharing what works and what doesn’t goes a long way when it comes to building trust and loyalty!

As a community manager, I know that answering negative comments can be extra challenging. I started my online career by answering difficult questions and comments from an online support group for mental health. These comments were often personal and emotional, and it was important to be sensitive and understanding in my responses. When I worked with an online shop that received negative comments, I made sure that I addressed them head-on. I often use this simple formula: acknowledge the comment, apologize if necessary, and explain your side of the story. Be sure to be polite and professional, even if the commenter is not.

I think any brand can pretty much make or break their reputation when it comes to their responses. To both positive and negative feedback. The best way to learn would be to learn by the example of a great role model. Think Taylor Swift. Think what your favorite celebrity (considering they're a good person) would do in a bad situation i.e. tackling a hater. Remember that kindness and generosity goes a long way.

Response to all. Not only to negative comments. Even, appreciate positive comments, ask for feedback. For negative comments - start politely. Make it professional the way you response, giving them a sense of solution and finally, a way to approach you in case it needs special attention.

The digital world is awash with voices clamouring for attention, but true positivity can slice through the cacophony like a hot knife through butter. Here's how you'd go about it: Aim to listen more than you speak. Monitoring what people are saying about your brand allows you to chime in with timely and constructive responses. But it's not just about handling complaints or concerns. Congratulate customers on milestones, thank them for their support, and even jump into threads where you can add real value. This proactive listening approach not only keeps the brand voice positive but can turn even the most ardent critics into brand advocates. Ensure that your brand voice isn't just positive; it's positively magnetic.

By responding to negative comments in a constructive and empathetic manner, you demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and can often turn a negative situation into a positive one.

I once worked with a life coach struggling to create positive content for her LinkedIn account. She was struggling to come up with positive stories to share. So, I created a content strategy that included stories about her clients' successes. The response was amazing! Her followers were really inspired, and her engagement increased significantly. I know that it's important to focus on the positive. When I was teaching, I would often share stories of my students' successes to inspire and motivate them. When you share positive stories on LinkedIn, you're helping to create a more positive and professional environment online.

Stories resonate. Our brains are wired to love a good story. When you share positive outcomes, you're not just broadcasting your wins; you're cementing your brand into the emotional memory of your audience. Stories also work as social proof. Testimonials, awards, and milestone celebrations add weight to your value prop. Positive stories also create a halo effect. Showcasing them can act as a buffer, counterbalancing negativity that may otherwise tarnish your reputation. So go ahead, showcase those 5-star reviews, post that glowing testimonial, and yes, humble-brag about that shiny award. You're not just patting yourself on the back; you're handing your audience the emotional compass they need to navigate towards trusting your brand.

In the world of business, there's a tried and true method that never fails to strike a chord with potential customers – adding positive testimonials from satisfied clients. There's a certain magic in letting others narrate the success stories of your services or products. It's like having an army of advocates who enthusiastically vouch for what you offer. These testimonials aren't just mere words; they are powerful instruments that can immediately instill a sense of confidence in those considering an investment in your services or products. Their endorsement carries weight because it's based on personal experience, and it transcends the boundaries of mere advertising.

You're not a faceless corporation; you're a collective of passionate individuals united by a common mission. Share behind-the-scenes looks into your company culture, celebrate team milestones, and highlight charitable activities. These authentic snippets make your brand relatable and set a positive tone without coming off as artificial.

Sharing positive stories is an excellent strategy to maintain a positive brand voice on social media. Positive stories act as a counterbalance to negative comments or criticism. They help maintain a more optimistic and inspiring brand image. Positive stories can inspire and motivate your audience. They demonstrate that your brand has the ability to bring about positive change or results. Incorporating these positive stories into your social media content strategy can help create a more uplifting and inspiring presence for your brand. It's a powerful way to connect with your audience on an emotional level and build a community of loyal supporters.

On the contrary, I believe that simply sharing words that *sound* positive isn't enough. Empathy is a crucial part of ensuring a positive experience. Example: You buy a shoe from a shop. You go home and you see that the sole is torn. You take it back the next day exasperated. How would you prefer the shopkeeper respond: a) Smiles and says: I'm sorry for the inconvenience, let us change the pair. b) Looks apologetic and says: We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience, let us change the pair. As a way to make it up for this mistake, we are offering you a 20% discount on the next item you buy. Rest assured, we will go to the bottom of this. We hate wasting our customer's time. Yes, #B is what we want because #B sounds authentic.

While maintaining a positive brand voice is valuable, it's also important to ensure that it aligns with your brand's identity and values. Authenticity is key, and positive language should be a reflection of your brand's genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for its audience. By incorporating positive language into your social media posts and responses, you can contribute to a more uplifting and engaging online presence, ultimately benefiting your brand's awareness, loyalty, and satisfaction.

The worst mistake we can make is to use social networks to "spread our message". The most important function is to listen and learn from what they tell us, what they say about us, about the competition, and what kind of conversations they have. Keep in mind that the same people may behave differently on different social networks. And we must learn the code of each social network by being smart users of them.

In a world where people are bombarded with negative news every other minute, positivity definitely get attention and provides a breath of fresh air. Hence, any brand that seeks to engage & create TOMA must learn to tell stories that helps the reader consider challenging situations/experiences while redirecting them until they arrive at positive outcomes Here are simple ways to keep your brand voice (personal or professional) positive -Imagine talking to a 5 year old and actually 'speak' like that -Write the way you talk -Infuse authenticity and passion into your content -Write in an upbeat manner, same way you would speak when you are excited and happy -Celebrate small wins and encourage your followers to do same Stay #creative