When it comes to social media, authentic content really is key.

There’s no denying the immense power of social media as a tool. There’s an estimated 3.2 billion+ social media users worldwide. That’s a lot of people! 

So if you’re not using social media to grow your business, you’re missing out.

However, it’s not enough to just be on social media anymore.

If you want to truly connect with your audience, you need to be genuine in everything you do online.

Here are three ways to show up on social media more authentically.

Why Does Being Authentic on Social Media Matter?

Before we get to the how, why does creating authentic content really matter? 

When it comes to social media, people are drawn to authentic content. They want to connect with real people, not faceless brands. 

So if you want to connect with your audience, you need to be honest and transparent.

But being authentic isn’t just about connecting with your audience. It’s also about building trust.

By being open and genuine, you’re more likely to create content that is valuable, relevant, and engaging for the people who follow you.

Being authentic when using social media can help increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website or brick-and-mortar store, and even boost sales of products and services. 

Sharing content that is genuinely helpful or interesting to others in an honest and open way creates positive feelings about your brand.

This can make potential customers more likely to purchase from you as they believe they’ll get an honest product or service experience.

Three key tips for sharing authentic content on social media

So, now we know that authenticity on social media can help create meaningful connections with current followers while increasing the chances of attracting new ones.

But how do we show up authentically and create truly authentic content?

1) Don’t try to be someone you aren’t.

One of the biggest mistakes people make on social media is trying to be someone they’re not. 

They see all these amazing, perfect lives on Instagram and start to feel like they need to seem like they have a perfect life too. 

But that’s not authentic.

People can see through that, and they’ll lose trust in you.

People want to know the real you, especially if you are a personal brand or service provider looking for clients.

This doesn’t mean you show your messy kitchen or start talking about family troubles online – far from it! 

There needs to be a balance between being sincere and still being professional and developing a positive image of yourself and your business.

Instead, think about how you can put across your personality in your content.

Write how you speak, share pictures that aren’t heavily edited, and don’t lie or distort your messaging. 

2) Stay true to your brand and brand values.

Staying authentic also means staying true to your brand and what you stand for.

If you haven’t already written out your core values somewhere, it’s a great exercise to do. 

You don’t have to share them all publicly, but it is helpful to have them as a reference to check against when reviewing your business to see how aligned your actions are with how you’d like to be.

You can share these values in your content.

Either literally by creating a post about your values or as a foundation behind each post as a benchmark.

For example, if you have a green business that values sustainability and environmental responsibility, it wouldn’t make sense to post pictures of yourself eating meat or using plastic products because those things aren’t aligned with who you are as a person or business owner.

If people know what to expect from you, they’ll be more likely to stick around. 

Being clear about what you stand for allows for stronger, meaningful connections with your followers. 

Before creating your next piece of content, think about your values and whether it accurately reflects who you are as an individual or as a business.

3) Engage on social media with authenticity.

And, of course, you want to be authentic when engaging with others on social media as well. 

People can see through insincerity and flattery, so don’t do it just because you’re trying to build a relationship or network. It’s shallow and unlikely to lead to anything meaningful long-term.

Instead, engage authentically by offering thoughtful feedback and genuine praise when appropriate. If someone shares something that resonates with you, let them know!

Don’t engage just for the sake of it. Put aside dedicated time to write thoughtful comments that will stand out.

Being authentic on social media is vital because it builds trust. And when people trust you, they’re more likely to do business with you. 

So if you want to connect with your audience and grow your business, start by being authentic on social media. 

Just be real, be you, and the people who resonate with you will find you and stick with you.

Do you struggle with social media and showing up authentically? Let me know in the comments.