Engaging on Social Media with Brandy Henry, M.Ed.

It's great to be back! Thank you for listening. Yes!! This is a difficult time. It's normal to find it tough to know what to share, who to engage with, and how to get going every day. What can we do? One thing we can do is be a positive presence. This episode acknowledges the difficulties you're facing and give you some tools to move forward with the difficulties.

What would you like to hear on future episodes? Email me at brandy@engagingonsocialmedia.com 

Here are today's Tidbits and Freebies:

Hello! It's great to be back. 

In this episode, I dive into your purpose, the importance of your passion, and why it matters to share it on social media. I'm here to empower you, and I hope this episode helps you keep going! 

How's your business's digital presence? What is a business digital presence? If you're in business, you need a digital presence. You may have gotten away without one prior or the Coronavirus Pandemic, but now you've got to have a digital presence.  

Questions? Reach me at brandy@engagingonsocialmedia.com 

Are you a small business confused about what to say on social media? Are you worried you'll say the wrong thing or come across weird? I've got you! 

In this episode, I address how to comment on other's posts and what to write in your posts. I give you a 4-sentence 'formula' for your social media posts. You can do this! I'm excited to help.

You can reach me at brandy@engagingonsocialmedia.com

You go in. You do your business. You clean up. And, you get out.  That's how social media is like using the bathroom. 

BUT! There's a good side too. There's a well cared for bathroom where long leisurely baths can restore us both mind and body. 

Let's talk more! 

If you'd like to send me your ideas for episode topics, please email me at brandy@engagingonsocialmedia.com

Are you looking to social media for emotional support? Are you staying aware of why you're on social media and what content you are absorbing? I hope so! 

I want you to take good care of yourself. It's especially important that you care for yourself during this pandemic and societal restrictions.  You matter to me. How you approach social media matters to me too. 

Let's dive in. 

Social Media is different now. How we use it needs to adjust. In this episode, I discuss the three keys plus a flash-back bonus to navigating social media during the Coronavirus Crisis. 

The Three Keys: 1) Empathy, which is not pity or sympathy. 2) You're still an expert, but ya gotta pivot. 3) Different platforms still mean different delivery. 

Flash-back bonus: Planned and Flexible 

Your presence on social media right now matters! Why? Because you can make a difference during this time. You have the ability to be part of solutions. You have goodness in you. You have all that and more in you!

I'm here to help you! For many weeks to come, I will release more episodes than usual. It's my intention to help you be the best you can be on social media. Why? Because it's good for all of us to show up as positive and as helpful to the collective mood as possible.  This podcast is my part in that. 

LinkedIn is a great platform! It's calm. It's direct. It's about problem solving. But it's still about being human, being approachable, and understanding. 

At the time of this episode, we are all dealing with the ramifications and prevention methods of COBID-19. It's not easy. How can you be a shining light on LinkedIn and all platforms? Let's Talk!

What does it mean to own your insight? How do we even know what our insight is? And, how do deliver it on social media? Great questions!! I'm here to help. Let's dive in!

I'm starting a movement! Join me!! It's called LET'S DO BETTER! It's about showing up BETTER on social media. It's about being our best selves, rising above, stepping up, and being the change. Let's start now! Let's start with us! 

Are you struggling to stay strong with your message? Do you find bravery a fleeting feeling? I'm here to help! In this episode, I encourage, bolster, and help you with tips all on staying true to your message on social media. It's tough to show up with your truth, to make a positive difference, and stick with it. I get in. Let's dive in! 

 What is it to share truth? Your truth? And, why does it matter? It matters because you matter! It matters for your sake and for those you can help by sharing the truth you've learned, experience, and know. That's important! That matters!

Outsiders have a power that scares insiders. If you identify as an outsider, you see more because you've had to. If you want to bring what you see and know to social media to help others, I want to help you. 

Episode 34 is the first in a new series of Outsider Empowerment. Whoot! I'm here to help you share your insights, your truth,  and your message that will help others. Thank you for listening. 

Listen in as I help my friend, DeeDee, define her social media message and create content from that message. 

Without knowing the heart of your message, or what I call Your Social Media Message/Mission, it's crazy hard to know what content to create and how to deliver that content.  That's what I help DeeDee do in this episode. I hope it helps you define the message you want to share and the content you want to create. 

Thank you for listening! 

Go LIVE! We hear it all the time. "I'll be LIVE on Facebook/Instagram!" "You should Go LIVE  to get more engagement."  But, why and how and when!?!? That's what I answer in Episode 32.  

By developing a system to get your best content out into the world, you give yourself a gift. That gift is results! In order to build your message, confidence, consistency, traction, and audience, you must have a system. In this episode, I walk you through how to do that. 

Where does the fuel for our message come from? What's the truth of our inner fire? This is tough stuff. It's tough to look inside and see why we're so passionate about something. It's often easier to bury it, ignore it, or justify not acting on it. Because it is so hard, I offer the history of my message to help you see the inherent value of yours. 

This episode is a deeper dive into what motivates, truly motivates, us and how to understand that truth within us vs react to or hide from. That's tough stuff. I hope by sharing my story, you can see how your story matters. 

What does it mean to add value when referring to content? What is valuable content? Why does it matter? These are the questions I answer in Episode 29. Let's dive in!

Thank you so much for listening. It's my honor and privilege to have your ears. My commitment to you is to help you get your message out to the world. You have value to share with the world. I'm excited to help you do it!

It's a Practicals episode. This week, I discuss the how and why of Tagging and Analytics. What do these terms mean? Why use them? And, how can we best use these features? Let's dive in!

Thank you so much for listening. I'm excited to help you on your journey of sharing your message. What you do, what you've learned, and how you can change the world all matter. They matter A LOT! It's my honor to help you do it. 

What is traction in social media? What is it for your message to gain traction? Let's dive in! I'm excited to explain it and help you gain your own traction!!

Imagine you're a teacher. You have one year to teach your message to an audience. How would you do it? What lessons would you create? That's your content plan. CONTENT PLANNING IS LIKE LESSON PLANNING. Let's dive in! 

What does it mean to set a social media intention for 2020? And, why does it matter? I answer both questions in this episode and offer a homework assignment. 

There are so many social media platforms! Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, YouTube, and More! Which one(s) are best for you? Where should you start? 

In this episode, I compare the various social media platforms to the personalities of a workgroup, classroom, or family. There's the very direct person, the very sensitive person, the one who questions everything, and more. I then offer a way of folding in one platform at a time much like you might fold a new friend or children into your life. Finally, I offer why one or two platforms done well is much better than spreading yourself thin on several platforms. 

Thanks for checking out my podcast and this episode. Do you use algorithms as an excuse not to share your voice on social media? Do you think there's some magical formula to master? Let's dive a bit into social media algorithms, and come out empowered. Let's not allow algorithms to be a mental block to showing up, engaging, and sharing your mission. 

In this episode, I discuss what I've recently learned about where AI is and where it's not, the mental blocks I hear so frequently that give away far too much of our potential to social media algorithms, and what you can do to work with algorithms. YOU GOT THIS! 

What do you think of Likes going away on Instagram? Do you wonder why Links are so tricky and used differently on each platform? And, why are Profile Visits more important than Likes? Let's dive in and answer these questions!

What's my Why? As Simon Sinek would say, what's motivating me to record this show? That's what I answer in this week's episode. And, guess what!?!? YOU are a big part of my why. Your voice is important. You matter. Because of these truths, how you show up on social media is important. That's a big part of my WHY. 

Today's TidBit/Freebie is how to tie the pictures on your phone to your why and into a social media post. 

Is it the algorithms? Is it politics? Is it censorship? What if the only thing most of us change is our own reactions to and we show up on social media? That might be frustrating or disappointing to hear, but it's also empowering. Let's talk about it! 

Next Episode: Brandy's Why. Why am I driven by this topic, Engaging on Social Media? I'll fill you in next week. Thanks for listening. I truly appreciate you! 

You are always your brand. You are always showing others what it's like to work with you. For example, if you're rude to the barista at your local coffee shop, those around you see that. They may be lost forever as possible clients for you. Or, they may agree with you and be your best client ever. The same is true on Facebook. 

As we enter a hot political year, how do you want to come across to potential clients? What's your intention? Let's talk about it! 

Thank you for tuning into Engaging on Social Media with Brandy Henry. I really appreciate it. Episode 18 covers the basics of Instagram's Feed and Stories.  What's the Feed? How do I post multiple pictures or videos? What's Instagram Stories? These are a few of the questions I answer in Episode 18. I hope you find it helpful. 

Are you proactive or reactive on social media? Be proactive and cultivate the culture you'd like to experience on social media. Cultivate the VIBE you want, and it will be returned to you. 

In Episode 17, I offer you a foundation from which to build the experience you wish to have on social media. That's done from first deciding on the VIBE or Emotion you wish followers to experience when they engage with you through your posts or comments. It could be happiness, humor, empathy, encouragement, or education. You decide then grow that experience for your followers. They will then return it to you. That's how you can BE THE CHANGE. 

Anxiety: Worrying about events that have not and may or may not happen.  Yes, it's appropriate at times. But for many of us, we get stuck in anxiety. We worry, overthink, and project onto what others will think or not think about our comments, videos, and message on social media. It's enough to give up social media altogether. BUT WAIT!! Don't do that! You have a voice, a message, and a purpose for your presence and engagement on social media. 

In Episode 16, Overcoming Social Media Anxiety, I dive into how we simply cannot control how others will respond. What we can control is how we show up. What' most important, is that you DO SHOW UP and SHARE YOUR VOICE on social media. 

I discuss my friend, Joel Schueler's, new book, 'Love Your Fear: A Quick Self-Help Guide to Managing Anxiety' and how it applies to our anxiety over social media. It's a great, sincere, and helpful read. There's a link below. 

AND, there's more! This week's free Tidbits are SlideShare and Otter. WOW! What great tools. The links are also below. 

Lastly, YOU CAN TOO WRITE A BOOk. If you're thinking about it, do it. I offer insights as to why you are closer than you think to have a book out in the world. 

LINKS

Do you find yourself at a lost for words on social media? Do you get stuck wondering what to type into the comment section of posts? This episode is here to help you!! 

In Episode 15, How to Say It on Social Media, I offer exact quotes for the most common types of posts we see on Instagram and Facebook. Feel free to use my exact language, or, even better, improve upon what I offer. And remember, stay above the drama. You're worth it!

Engagers, be the one who changes the tone on social media! You and I can change the way we interact on social media. We can rise above divisiveness and drama. We can be the voice we'd like all of social media to be. Let's be the change. 

10-Person Challenge. Today, and over the next two days, I've challenged myself to follow, genuinely take an interest in, 100 new people. Can you do 10? I challenge you!! I think--I KNOW--that you can. Join me. 

As several of you learned, episodes 11 and 12 had the SAME audio. Not ideal!! ;)  This is the correct audio. Thank you for your patience.

It's practical advice day! In this episode, I offer 5 Practical Bits for you. 1) Voice Overs.  2) Turn off notification pop-ups, BUT do check them.  3) If someone screenshotted your comment or post.  4) Wait 3-4 days before checking your analytics.  5) How to bring someone back into your feed.

Thank you so much for listening. Truly!!

Episodes that end in 2 and 8, such as this one at 12, are now "Practicals on the 2s and 8s." Listen for 5 practical tips in these episodes.

This past Thursday, an amazing woman who finds people great jobs asked me, "But who cares about what I do?" What!?!? She finds people great jobs. That's amazing! Let's talk about that. 

In this episode, I help you see that what you do is interesting and matters. I want you to see how you can share that on social media. Listen in, and I'll tell you how. 

It's practical advice day! In this episode, I offer 5 Practical Bits for you. 1) Voice Overs.  2) Turn off notification pop-ups, BUT do check them.  3) If someone screenshotted your comment or post.  4) Wait 3-4 days before checking your analytics.  5) How to bring someone back into your feed.  

Thank you so much listening. Truly!! 

Episodes that end in 2 and 8, such as this one at 12, are now "Practicals on the 2s and 8s." Listen for 5 practical tips in these episodes. 

Are you taking an interest in others online? Do you see how social media is like in-person networking, a neighborhood BBQ, or your neighborhood cafe? It is! When you're at such gatherings, events, or local places, do you take the time to ask questions about the people you're meeting? I sure hope so! Social media is the same thing but in digital. YOUR CHALLENGE IS THIS! Be GIO. Take a Gorilla Interest in Others for a few weeks. Report back to me how it goes. I'd love to hear!

It's my tenth episode! What a milestone!! Thank you for being a listener. In this Tenth Episode, I break down how Introverts have distinct advantages on social media. Did you know that I'm an introvert? If you're an introvert too, you are likely more thoughtful, more intentional, and more likely to know when to take breaks. I also discuss the flip side of these skills: overthinking, hiding, over socializing.

Is the fear of being yourself motivating you avoid engaging? Are you afraid that engaging will take too much time? If you answered yes, or even a reluctantly whispered yeah, this show is for you. It's time to show up and engage. In this episode I give you concrete tools for being yourself as well as explain the financial savings and rewards for doing so. Best of all, it won't take over your life! 

Thanks for listening. I appreciate you.

Reach me at henry.brandy@gmail.com

Do you want to create and post video but keep putting it off? Are you being too hard on yourself? This episode is for you! In Episode 7, I give you insights to creating video on your phone including lighting, where to look, video length, and, most importantly, accepting yourself and putting your audience first.  

Do you have a mission statement for your social media platforms? Have you thought about how you want to show up or for others to feel after interacting with you on social media? In this episode, I discuss the importance of knowing WHY and HOW you show up on social media. It's important. Take a few minutes with me to write a social media mission statement. 

I'd love to read your mission statement on a future podcast. Share it with me at henry.brandy@gmail.com 

Do you feel obligated to respond to haters? Do you feel bad if you block someone? Please don't! It's your platform! I encourage you to block anyone who gives you any inkling of icky-ness. In this episode, I urge you to remember that it's your platform, that there are people looking to get a rise out of you, looking to dump their issues on you, and you don't need to tolerate nor respond. Block them!

EBOOK on the way! I'm working on an ebook to help you engage on social media. Thank you to all of you who responded to my Instagram post asking what your biggest challenge is engaging on social media. I really appreciate it! You inspired an ebook. 

Do you have any thoughts for a future show or questions for me to answer in the ebook, please let me know. You can reach me at henry.brandy@gmail.com 

In this episode I discuss leading as a role model. I answer three questions. 1) How are you engaging on social media? Allow your team to see what you're doing, how you respond to comments and direct messages, and what you're posting. 2) Are you meeting your team members where they are? In the last episode, I encouraged you to define what you expect from your team regarding social media engagement. In this episode, I invite you meet your team members where they are and develop their social media engagement. 3) What else can you do to help your team? Get to know Canva, and share a weekly image your team can post. Focus on one platform at a time. And, lastly, I offer you a plan for helping your team get comfortable with creating video content. Thanks for listening! 

If you're a team leader, how do you lead your team in social media engagement? It's a lot like a group of new roommates all with their own definition of a clean kitchen. You're leader. You must define it. In this episode, I discuss three aspects of social media engagement for team leaders. I hope this helps. 

Do you have questions about this episode or for future episodes? Email me at henry.brandy@gmail.com 

Hi There. Thanks for giving my podcast as try. I'm here to help! Engaging on Social Media is just as important if not more important than posting to social media. You must show up. In this episode, I introduce my podcast and present an argument for why you must engage.