Staying Authentic IN the Whirlwind of Social Media

With so many people competing for space in the digital sphere of social media, how do you keep up while staying authentic to yourself?

Scrolling through IG have you ever come across that gorgeous, picture-perfect family shot, where the four kids are sitting upright in their color coordinated matching outfits, hot cocoa in hand, just sitting and smiling together? 

Little did you know that it took 50 times to get that “perfect” family shot because little Johnny wouldn’t stop crying, or Timmy just didn’t want to sit down, or Suzy threw her hot cocoa at her sister because she pulled her hair.  This is the REAL story that these picture perfect moments aren’t sharing with you. 

So how do you reconcile the conflict between your REAL self and IDEAL self?

Here are five tips for how to create a positive impression AND be authentic on social media:

1. Post Authentic photos - present the good and bad aspects of your experiences in a balanced way, that’s an accurate reflection of reality.

2. Cultivate a feeling of joy for other people - when a Facebook friend posts about something good that is happening to them, instead of just clicking the like button, write a 1-2 sentence comment that’s a bit more personal.

3. Be clear about what you’re using social media for - think about how you can be both authentic AND leave a good impression on those who take a quick glance at your feed.

4. Pair self-promotion with expressing gratitude to others. For example, “Just made the most amazing meal ever. I am so thankful that Chef Dave showed me how to make his Nana’s Special Sauce.”

5. Keep a balance between personal sharing and sharing things that are interesting, useful, or humorous. Try to mix up your social sharing so that you’re letting people know what’s going on with you, as well as connecting your friends and family with content that's funny, useful and surprising. 

And just remember, if it’s too good to be true… then it probably is.  Cheers to authenticity and staying true to yourself and your brand. If you ever need guidance, we’re here to help keep you on a straight path. Just send us a DM @ingroupcreative.