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Inside the Issue:
βοΈ Creating Social Proof Posts Without the Ick
β Fill Your Cup: Your Texting Crew
Hey there, Reader,
If you're new here, welcome!
I'm a content strategist & writer, but before that, I worked for 15 years in the corporate world as a digital marketer.
Creating content is my love...besides my two kiddos and husband.
I've been busy finishing up some LinkedIn profile optimizations and content strategies for two female CEOs this week. I seriously β€οΈ this work.
And...I get to end my week with a field trip with my daughter and cleaning the house for my son's birthday party π
All while trying to survive the beginning of a cold π€§
Good vibes welcome.
βοΈ Social Proof Posts (Without the Ick)
Every content strategy I help create for founders has a place for posts demonstrating social proof.
Why?
Because proof vs. promises stands up.
You can talk about what you do all day, but nothing compares to hearing about it from someone who has worked with you.
For example, this carousel post below was the nudge I needed to check out Sarah's offer...
And you bet her testimonials (or social proof) gave me the validation I needed to say yes.
(So expect some pretty big visual changes to this newsletter and my LinkedIn content in the next month. I can hardly wait!)
But let's go back to what you think about before you purchase...
Don't you look at reviews?
Do you go on other sites to check out star ratings?
I do.
I want to trust that my financial investment will solve a problem.
And your ICP (ideal customer profile) must also be reminded of this from you.
Here's what I'm doing to approach social proof posts without the ick...
(It can be done π)
Approach it as a story.
Yes, you could do this...
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Make a statement of working with [Insert client name] and what they do.
Talk about...
- Implementing this thing.
- Clarifying this other thing.
- Optimizing this additional thing.
And you know what's coming...
The result.
But should you ask a question if the person reading has a similar problem? (Yes, you could spark some engagement with a question.)
Then end with a way to contact you - comment "CLEVERWORD" or DM or something similar.
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And there's nothing wrong with this.
But...
Lately, I've been trying to take a different approach from what I heard on a podcast with Jasmin Alic, one of LinkedIn's top creators with over 296,000+ followers.
ββAnd he said this...
Don't ruin a perfectly good story trying to sell.
And I thought to myself...
"Ok, Jasmin, that's easy for you to say with how well you're doing, but all the little guys out here need to promote themselves."
But this is what he does...
π He sticks to a story while only using a sentence or two to show his credibility as "mini hints" of why to trust him.
Take this post introduction example:
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As a CEO, you're expected to stay on 24-7.
I've been managing teams for the last 20 years, and I know how excruciating it is to wake up at 4 a.m. and have to work until 7 p.m. on a daily basis.
Here are 7 tips....
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See how the one sentence squeezed into the beginning of this story boosts credibility more subtly?
Weave in the actual words of your happy client.
As a part of approaching social proof posts as stories, you can insert a quote from your ICP. But fit it in naturally.
Here's an example I did recently...
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What started with Mary talking aboutβ¦
- Shared connections
- Meeting off the platform for a coffee chat
- Revealing our struggles as moms building businesses
Turned intoβ¦
βHey Allison, Iβm interested in learning more about your LinkedIn content strategy offer.β
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Anytime you can grab phrases from the dialogue with your client, it can feel more relatable.
You instantly paint the picture of the scenario in your writing and make it more interesting for your reader.
I definitely have room to improve here.
End your social post with educational tips.
Providing educational tips shows you're trying to help.
The story and how you combine your expertise with your client's quotes can draw your ICP in, but leaving them with actionable advice is the icing on the cake.
And here's the end part of that previous post as an example to show this point...
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And yesβ¦Mary became a clientβ¦but also gained a life-long supporter with me!
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Creating the right content consistently is half of itβ¦and the other half is engaging.
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Proactively reach out and acknowledge their engagement.
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Make it about them β Ask sincere questions, wanting to learn more.
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Come at the conversation from a genuine place of wanting to help.
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Donβt be pushy.
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Donβt be weird.
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Be willing to listen:)
Include an image if you like.
You can include an image with your post.
I've been guilty of doing the quote with my client's image and their title...
Again, there's nothing wrong with this.
But...
I'm experimenting with text-only posts in the spirit of trying new things. (Jasmin said he's seeing improved reach on text-only posts π€)
At other times, I use Canva to pull out the transformation piece from the conversation for a graphic.
More to come on that as I test and learn.
Additional Questions:
Can you reuse old testimonials?
"Old" is relevant.
But the more recent testimonials, the better. (I'm thinking in the last year.)
If you're afraid of your testimonial being too old, that's your sign to reach out to recent clients you've worked with and get new ones π
Should you rotate through them every couple of months on LinkedIn?
How often you use them is up to you.
But I find approaching social proof posts as stories...
- Dropping a mini hint as to why to trust you
- Weaving in quotes from your clients
- Ending with educational tips
Makes it easier to publish social proof posts more often.
β Fill Your Cup: Your Texting Crew
Do you have a text crew?
I call it my texting crew because we've graduated from comment and DM-only status on LinkedIn.
We've also met in person for a coffee or at an event.
And I know these few folks are who I can contact when I'm having a hard day or can't quit swirling on what I need to focus on next.
This came to mind this week because I was working on a new monthly SEO report for a client, and one of these friends volunteered to be my second set of eyes.
And you know what?
He helped improve it and even found a big problem my client needed to fix.
When building a business, you need these individuals who are just a text away.
I'm grateful for these few folks. And it had me reflecting on how they fill my cup on this journey β
Ok, talk to me. Was this issue helpful? Send me a quick reply and let me know. I respond to every message!
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Talk soon,
How I Can Help You:
βFollow me on LinkedIn if you aren't already so you can get daily posts! I love to engage there:)
If you're a founder or CEO looking to expand your LinkedIn profile and presence, I'm here for you!
I have 3 Tiers of LinkedIn Package Options:
- 45 min. consult meeting w/ customized DIY checklist
- Full LinkedIn profile page optimization w/ content strategy
- Profile page, content strategy, and 12 posts/month for 3 months
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Let me know your need. I just want to help you achieve your dreams!
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