I FEEL PRETTY; How to Create the “IT Factor” on Social Media

Renee (Amy Schumer), a woman who struggles with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy on a daily basis wakes from a fall believing she is suddenly the most beautiful and capable woman on the planet. With this new found confidence, she is empowered to live her life fearlessly and flawlessly. Did the synopsis give away the direction I’m going with this? I talk about the IT Factor in my free video series, but here’s a bit of a spoiler for you…

Social Media is a visual medium, whether someone is watching you in a video, seeing you in a picture or reading about you in a status update, you are creating the content which causes them to decide if you’ve got the “IT” that they want to do business with.

Therefore, it’s important that you be strategic with your posts. When Renee believed she looked hot, she acted with attractive confidence, she spoke from a place of truth. When she saw herself as flawed, she acted like a victim and said things she thought people wanted to hear in the hopes they would like her.

The reality is both of the personalities she projected were inside of her, she just chose to express them in different circumstances. Many people are far more confident on social media because they can “add a filter” or tell the story about the romantic date they went on (while leaving out the part about the heated argument they had at the end of the night because he drank too much.)

When you use social media for business purposes, the whole point is to project your IT Factor. Therefore, posts should be strategic, thoughtful, aligned with your brand, and the best expression of yourself.

And no, that is not inauthentic. If the CEO of a Fortune 500 company has a board meeting, she does not walk into the meeting room complaining about her husband’s infidelities and how she’s gained twelve pounds. She saves that for her best friends and therapist and gets straight to business, pushing the yucky stuff down. It’s called being professional.

Now, there is a new trend of transparency in social media, but don’t be fooled. These influencers of very consciously and beautifully crafting how their message is shared. They are NOT jumping on a FB live in the heat of an argument with their kid and bashing motherhood. Instead they are sharing a picture of their little ones in adorable outfits in fits of tears and talking about the struggles of motherhood in a relatable way.

Before you post or go live, ask yourself:

Is this something I will be proud of in 24 hours?

Is this sharing something helpful?

Is this entertaining and still portraying me in a positive light?

Will this reflect well on my business?

Will this hurt anyone if I post it?

A post doesn’t have to address each question. You’ll know which questions apply. The point is you want to portray yourself in the best possible light on social media to attract like-minded people who will want to do business with you.

Renee realized in the end, that the only thing that had shifted in her life was her mindset, there were no physical changes at all. Come form a mindset of confidence on social media… share the best you. Yes, it’s your highlight reel and that’s okay! Your close friends and family can be there for the outtakes.