By Deepanshu Bhatia
"Social media is just a buzzword until you come up with a plan." In the 1990s, few people imagined that everyone from a nine-year-old to a ninety-year-old would spend hours scrolling their phones. Today some people use social media only for memes, while others earn a living from it.
Stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Virat Kohli and Dwayne Johnson reportedly earn huge sums per sponsored post. The reason is not just follower numbers. It is the engagement and trust they have built with those followers. Anyone can build a smaller version of that influence by leveraging their network.
Why businesses care
Companies now set aside budgets for social media because it lets them reach their target audience directly and at low cost. That creates opportunities for individuals with an engaged audience and good content in a clear niche.
Four steps to leverage your network
- Choose the right platform. There are more than a hundred social sites. Pick the one that fits your content. A food blogger will do better on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook than on Twitter.
- Make good content. Ten thousand followers mean little if you post random material. Try to make each post a little better than the last, even if only one person visits daily.
- Share and measure. Once you have good content, share it widely and work on your engagement rate. Analytics tools show how your audience reacts, which helps you grow.
- Collaborate. Partner with brands and people in your field. Their audience sees your work, and your following grows.
Play it smart
Social media rewards people who plan. Random posting rarely works. For translators and language professionals, one smart move is reaching audiences in more than one language, which is where quality translation helps content travel.
