Be Your Own Advocate
It’s been awhile! And I’m sorry about that, but sometimes life happens. However, I feel like the world of newer social media pros is in desperate need of some tips around being their own advocate for content, their domain and on behalf of the audiences they manage. Quite often I hear professionals discussing how they haven’t had success being able to post new and relevant content or coming up short on getting buy-in from leadership. Don’t worry, this is an area I excel in! Does that mean I always get my way? No, of course not! Even the best pros will hit roadblocks here and there. But, with the right tips and tricks you’ll hear “no” a lot less often and find far more mutual respect along the way. So let’s get down to business!
Get data savvy! Your leaders are more inclined to say ‘yes’ when what you’re doing is supported by DATA. Data driven decisioning making is what I stand by, and when you’re able to point to a set of data, you’re able to see for yourself that the idea makes sense. If it’s supported by clear reasoning then you’re on your way to being able to advocate that this idea will work. So, what kind of data are you looking for? Customer data is always a good start! An example of this would be when you are suggesting promoting content related to a product or service. Researching into customer query data over the last week, month or year and confirm that your customers are interested in this subject matter. Always give your audience what they want and need! In turn, you will find better engagement with your content and improve sentiment across your channels. You can use web data like Google Search Console if you do not have in-house customer data sources. If you’re not great at analytics, sometimes a simple social media survey such as an open ended “tell us what products or services you’d like to hear more about” will help you provide some sort of data about user interests.
Get to know your organization’s strategic goals like the back of your hand. Your leadership reports to someone: an oversight agency, a board of directors or simply an army of customers. It is very easy to do what has always been done and often leadership doesn’t like to take unnecessary risk. Fair enough. However, if you can point back to the strategic plan as a reason for doing something then you’re positioning yourself for more thoughtful consideration from leadership. An example of this may be a strategic goal of being a premiere employer. If you’re suggesting content that showcases more of your employees working, or sharing more internal awards externally - you may be able to work in supporting the strategic goals into your content planning.
Be confident! It goes without saying that confidence is key in advocating for yourself but know that when you suggest great content that benefits your audience then you’re advocating for their needs too! Own your domain and own your ideas. If you have a reason and you know why you’re making the suggestion, then confidence will be second nature. The more you are able to provide concrete reasoning and data to support your suggestions then you will find that the need to frequently advocate will lessen. Never be afraid to provide a follow-up report. This is the “thank you” of the social media world because it showcases to leadership the return on the investment of the post(s). It may also showcase your own value as an amazing social media pro who makes incredible decisions.
Hopefully these tips will help you in advocating for your content and, in turn, your audience. Happy posting!
