Leveraging Social Media To Boost Your Authority

In today’s digital landscape, establishing authority in your niche is not just about what you know, but rather how effectively you communicate it.

Social media platforms have become essential for cultivating and showcasing your expertise and authority.

In this blog, we look at social media platforms that can help catapult your standing as an authority in your niche.

 

Why Do You Need Authority?

Being an Online Entrepreneur means making your brand and reputation stand head and shoulders above your competition. This can be achieved through leveraging social media.

Currently, I have a following on X (formerly Twitter) of around 12k. This has been built up over the years of providing content that people wanted to see.

Twitter was the first social media platform used and fitted into my niche of wealth, income and lifestyle quite nicely.

Later, when I wanted to move my coaching business more towards online, it became necessary to have other social media platforms to help build my brand.

It was also essential to prove that I knew what I was talking about.

Today, when trying to attract new customers, their first step is to check you out on social media.

So, being active on social media is a major part of building authority and trust with your potential clients.

Find a Social Media Platform With Your Ideal Customer

There are so many social media platforms that being active on all of them is a full-time job.

When starting an online business the best strategy is to find where your ideal customer is likely to be.

For example, Facebook has been one of the best-selling platforms for my products and services which is reflected in my Facebook Page with a following of around 7k.

These are people actively interested in my content and ultimately become clients once I’ve built the know, like and trust with them.

Do your research and find the social media platform where your clients are most likely to visit along with the times they are most active. Now you know where and when to post your content for maximum exposure.

Create Content That Resonates With Your Audience

The best way to grow a following and to show you know your topic is by creating great content for your social media platform.

My chosen platform is Facebook where I have a business page and a business group.

Prospective clients can follow the Facebook Page and/or join the Facebook Group.

It is here that I showcase my business.

Each social media platform has a specific nuance that when used will help to grow the audience and customers.

Facebook is about providing proof that what you do works.

As a wealth coach, my business is focused on building online businesses and investing the profits into income-generating assets. However, the post that generate the best results are the ones that show lifestyle.

Lifestyle is the proof that what I’m doing works.

So, while I do post about the business, providing content that is valuable to the reader, what they most want is content showing my lifestyle.

This is where it is important to create a balance between providing content and providing lifestyle content.

Be Prepared to Pivot

What you want to provide to your customer may not be what the customer wants. Be prepared to pivot to meet the customer demand.

This website and business brand, The Online Entrepreneur, came about from customer feedback.

When I created an investment course – Zero to Millionaire, the formula was to build an online business and invest the profits.

Many clients struggled with the online business concept.

I found myself spending more time with clients to build businesses that I did teaching investing – my core topic.

In 2023, I started a newsletter as a way to assist clients in building their online business. Feedback revealed they wanted more help with online businesses so a coaching course and membership were created. The result – The Online Entrepreneur.

Your followers will tell you what they need. Be prepared to pivot and deliver what clients most want.

Build Your Email List

Social Media is great for generating followers but as an online entrepreneur moving followers to your email list is one step towards converting a follower to a customer.

Despite all the noise around online selling, successful entrepreneurs will tell you that 90% of sales come from their email lists.

To convert followers to an email list, offer something for free.

It needs to be so valuable the follower desperately wants it and is willing to give you their email address in exchange for it.

For my business, the most successful giveaways have been

• 60 Lessons Learned for Generating Wealth – a series of 60 emails with a lesson in each email.
• The Online Entrepreneur Newsletter – weekly newsletter with a tip and action steps for growing an online business.

These freebies have been successful at converting readers to paying customers.

As you build your followers on your social media platform, find an effective way to convert them to your email list.

Become a Credible Source

As you build content on social media, be consistent with information and content so you become known as the “go-to” expert.

Most people are afraid to share content on social media for fear it will be copied and promoted as someone else’s content.

Yet, it is a compliment to you and derogatory to the other person.

I have seen people copy my content but find they can’t deliver or can’t attract followers simply because they don’t know their topic well enough.

Everyone has an opinion. Content is written from that opinion. If someone else copies it, how can they deliver it because it is your opinionated content?

We all have biases whether we realize it or not. No one can copy your biases or opinions, they are what make you unique.

I had a client who decided they wanted their own business and used my content for their course. Was I annoyed when they did it? Yes! But I kept quiet and watched what happened. The result was they were out of business as quickly as they started as the content wasn’t original to them and they couldn’t back it up no matter how it was packaged.

Don’t be afraid to share content that establishes you as the authority on your topic. You are a credible source and that will quickly come to light.

Leverage Social Media to Boost Your Authority

Social media offers a platform for you to shine and be seen at the “go-to” expert in your niche. It helps you establish authority and trustworthiness.

Take the time to learn which platform your potential clients frequent the most.

Be prepared to learn the best strategies for that platform for creating content and growing your audience.

Then use it to its best advantage to leverage your authority and build your client base.