World Social Media Day Special: Your Checklist To W[in] On Social Media!

It's World Social Media Day. Personally, the most special day for me. I've spent 12+ years in the Social Media industry. I was just 19 years old in 2011, and Social Media was merely 10 years old in India.

From being a mere United Nations Online Volunteer with Indian Dreams Foundation to being the Social Media Consultant at National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)INDIA during the COVID-19 Lockdown as a service to the nation. I've worked with startups and done corporate trainings at Fortune 500s. It doesn't end there. From being a Professor of Social Media to post-graduate students at Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), New Delhi to being the official Personal Branding Coach to aspiring models for Fashion Design Council of India x Wilderbee Talent Camp , I've learned that nothing gives me more pleasure than nurturing young minds and helping them grow in their careers. It doesn't harm to confess that my journey as a Personal Brand/Creator on Social Media wouldn't have been complete without the community and guidance of being selected for YouTube Creator Academy '15 and LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program '22.

Many say Social Media is a bane, but how do I see it like that?

It's not just given ME much to be grateful about, but it's allowed me to make a real difference in the world. From helping sponsor a girl-child's education to facilitating the rescue of over 100 lives in West Bengal during the Super Cyclone Amphan to fundraising for the underprivileged in the slums of Agra during COVID-19 to providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to be themselves, and yes, to many - not kill themselves, either, to helping amplify the voices of 5000+ individuals so that they can build their Personal Brand via Social Media and further make a difference in the world... How can Social Media be a bane?

I want Social Media to be for you what it has been for me, in a healthy, productive, profitable, and impactful manner.

Here's a checklist of 12 things (from my 12 years!) you must do to build that presence for yourself:

1. Understand your career + life goals. Build a Personal Brand on Social Media accordingly.
2. Dominate one platform, first. Then go to the next. This doesn't mean you are not present on other platforms.
3. I cannot emphasise on this enough: COMPLETE YOUR PROFILES!!! Your profile is like your "First Impression". It's even dicier if someone finds you through your content and likes it, and then they stalk you and due to your profile, you're a sheer disappointment.
4. Create for your audience. What problems of theirs are you solving? What are their pain points?
5. Create content in bulk. Please, nobody has the time to do this everyday. Not even full-time Creators. Schedule, thereafter.
6. Adding value doesn't mean losing personality or not having a perspective. Bring out your authentic side one post at a time. Baby steps.
7. Focus on building your niche. Talk about what you know. Age doesn't matter. Neither do followers. Share YOUR knowledge. Also, share your knowledge before you sell your knowledge. Provide before you promote.
8. Mix formats. Different people receive content differently. Either it's out of interest/choice, or considering the fact that 15-20% of the world's population is neurodivergent and may prefer something different to consume than your regular content. You know you could just refurbish your content - you don't have to create afresh!
9. Content creation isn't all. Community matters. Ask yourself, "What activities am I doing to connect with my audience?" Consider L!vestreaming, [in] Audio Events, regular polls and more!
10. Collaborate! Leveraging on others influence is a WIN-WIN-WIN! A win for you, a win for the collaborator, and a win for your audience.
11. Have an inclusive approach. This is 2023. Educate yourself about the way the world communicates now, in general, and implement it. For example, put your pronouns on your profiles, phrases like "ladies and gentlemen" are outdated and now considered offensive (use "Everyone") just like "differently-abled" is defunct and "disabled" is a more acceptable term. Also, we are leaders - not "women leaders".
12. Most importantly, in order to truly receive from your hard work on Social Media, it's important to truly give back. Don't forget to engage with your community's content, too!

The content creation journey on Social Media is a lonely one, especially in the beginning. You just have to find a way to show up, regularly. If you're checking the above list, and doing it consistently, I assure you that you will W[in] IT on Social Media!

My laptop crashed on the last Wednesday's night, and so I couldn't deliver this edition of The Social Brand last week. I had to buy a new one. Sigh. So, I'll be covering some highlights of the last 2 weeks in this segment.

I love the fact that the main theme of the past 2 weeks has been testament to what I preach: Personal Branding on Social Media. You'll see it... Let the rundown begin!

• The BrandU #100DaysLinkedIn Challenge 3.0 completed 30 days/1 month today, and within the last two weeks, I've had my clients achieving great heights:

Chakrivardhan Kuppala , Entrepreneur and a Qualified Personal Finance Professional, was featured by LinkedIn News India for his post on "Hybrid Vehicle Sales Revv Up"

Anjali Gursahaney? , 维布络 's Senior Consultant, and a Happiness Coach got featured TWICE! Her first feature was in LinkedIn News India 's News Wrap on "What are your tips to develop confidence?" She was also asked to collaborate for Get Hired by LinkedIn News India for "Decoding Imposter Syndrome: How to cope with it?"

It also gives me great pleasure to share that Komal Ramani-Makhija , Entrepreneur and a Brand Strategist, has been given the LinkedIn badge for being a #TopConsultingVoice for her consistent efforts of providing value on the platform.

There is no greater joy for a Coach than to watch their Coachees achieve greatness. That is REAL success for me. If you're not following Chakrivardhan Kuppala , Anjali Gursahaney? , or Komal Ramani-Makhija - then do it now!

HAIL #GTribe!

• The Creator journey moves further for me, too! This month I got selected into the first cohort of the leap.club Creator Program, alongside some amazing #LICreatorAccelerator ladies like Mrinal Bhattacharya , Chaarmikha Nagalla , Mansi Mittal , and Suman Kher , and even my client Sana Talwar Chandhiok (HAIL #GTribe!)

leap.club has always been a valuable place for networking for me, and I say that as an award-winning Certified Master Networker. If you're a leap.club member, check out my content on the app and I'll see you at my Personal Branding + Networking huddles! Gotta give a shout-out to Ragini Das & Anand Sinha here for the great work they're doing.

• #PrideMonth was absolutely MAGICAL! Due to Social Media, I built relationships over the year with artists like Jay Anand (who this year I met more like a friend) and my co-interviewee Sushant Divgikr AKA Rani KoHeNur. Be warned: The "Noor picture" might arrive on your feed talking about "What's in a name?" (Great post idea, Gurnoor Kaur Behl !).

Apart from meeting them (and more!) and working the Art Table at the Tinder x Gaysi Family Queer Made Weekend, I also curated India's No. 1 Bar, Sidecar India 's Annual Pride Event for a 3rd year - Coming Out Crusades 2.0 with Anwesh Kumar Sahoo , Zubair Sher Singh Kalsia , and the renown Drag Queen, Hash Brownie, herself; followed by a Pride Party! I love how Minakshi Singh is a true ally, and has used her hard work + influence to create a positive impact in creating a more inclusive society.

• "What's in a name?" you say... It was an absolute treat to find my signature logo a.k.a. MY NAME on the Pride Cocktail Menu all month long for a 2nd year, alongside that of DIAGEO India 's Johnny Walker Blonde and Sidecar India . NOW THAT is why YOU need your own signature logo, because that's a GREAT WAY to build your Personal Brand!

The most engaging type of content on social media is short-form videos

Both brevity and authenticity are winning the day on social media, with short-form videos—typically less than a minute in length—capturing the attention of 66% of consumers. Highly shareable, these bite-sized videos are 2.5 times more engaging than longer videos, and 34% of consumers appreciate the more genuine nature of the shorter form.

Source: Forbes

I am fully aware that 6 months of 2023 have gone. But hey, look at the glass half full: 6 months are still left!

This week I asked Vivek Khandelwal , India's Top 35 Mentors NITI Aayog Official (Career Aspirants & Workplace Professionals) and my fellow LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Program '22 peer to help us out with his SUPER INSIGHTS!

3 Tips On Building A Consistent Personal Brand On LinkedIn

1. Position Yourself Appropriately: This means to be in awareness of your goals along with your target audience. This is also a learning process and thus be open to evolving
2. Bring In Your Authenticity: You don't have to be someone else and run for a higher no of likes. Those are transitionary - what will take you far is how aligned you are with what you are trying to do. Always share your thoughts - It is always about 2-way dialogue. Genuine conversations are always long-lasting
3. Never Get Into Comparison: The only one you need to compare is your ownself. It isn't easy however that's the reality.

Wow! If you made it to the end of this edition, I'm truly grateful. I know this one was long. In the process, I hope it added some value to you.

I truly want you to create a Personal Brand on Social Media for yourself that is healthy, productive, profitable, but most importantly - impactful!

If you learned something new today, do share in the comments below!

See you next week, my beloved #GTribe!