These days, seeming “real” online is basically everything. Everyone wants to show their true selves on social media for their business, on YouTube, or whatever platform. If a business seems honest, people want to spend money. That really makes sense, right? But what happens when trying to be relatable actually backfires or even costs a business or person something in the end? A lot of people overlook this stuff.
Seeming Ordinary Hurts
A lot of marketing experts claim the average person is more likely to buy from a business that “gets them.” Being relatable also means not seeming perfect. If they never mess up, people won’t believe you! If a business tries too hard to be relatable, it suddenly feels fake again.
Sharing too much personal information, for instance. Some think that they can show their personality to the customers and start sharing their personal problems for attention. Suddenly, that professional account sounds like a weird personal diary that no one asked for!
Oversharing For Attention
The big risk with being relatable is showing too much or getting caught up in drama; nobody likes getting into drama. This could happen at the executive level; let’s say the board decides to get political on Twitter. Even if some people like it, other people won’t, and this will end up costing the business.
Worse, the things that are posted can backfire and affect future plans. A company wanting to be casual says the wrong thing and faces a massive backlash, with nobody wanting to work with the company. That’s an example of how things can turn around really fast for companies and really hurt how much they can earn.
Protecting Your Image Online
So, how could you be “real” online without the risks? The truth is, it is really hard! When a business is trying to build a presence on the web, remember that they often need to grow your audience carefully; nobody wants to look like they are just randomly getting followers.
For those seeking to build an authentic viewership, it’s also important to note that building a legitimate presence also means putting careful focus into posting great content. Some companies take a shortcut by spending money to quickly appear popular, just to get things off the ground. While buying followers or views can be risky, the SocialWick platform may allow the company to enhance engagement without the risks.
Keeping It True Yet Still Smart
Decide what needs to be shared early on; that’s important. If you’re willing to give up freedom with your business account on Instagram, then draw a red line of topics that will never be touched. Just keep in mind that it needs to be done really clearly. Always think twice about what is posted; if one post could be understood differently, then rewrite it. This way, customers understand the real thing that you meant.
There’s also a cost to always agreeing with and supporting current trends. If a company always follows whatever’s most popular, people may get tired. Instead of seeming relatable, it looks like the company will just do anything to get attention. What are their actual values, anyway? When a brand loses its own sense of self, it loses real fans in the long run. Then the business might ask, “Why aren’t people talking?” or, even worse, people start talking badly.
Final Thoughts
Being authentic is important, but you must be smart when being authentic. In the end, it’s important to take care if you want to stay safe and connected in the long run. This process can be complicated, although it’s ideal that businesses have realized that this should continue no matter what.