Tips & Tricks

Are You Buying What You Are Selling?

Posted on by Lola Egboh

Marketing professionals are often so focused on crafting and sharing stories for clients or audiences that we forget the power of telling our own stories. Today, I had a reminder of the impact of personal storytelling when a gentleman complimented the pair of shoes I was wearing at church.

Apparently, he saw me from a distance and just had to come over to tell me he loved the shoes. Jokingly, he added that if he were female, he would have asked me for them. We laughed about it, and I reminded him that I co-own a shoe shop (yep, I do, alongside all the amazing marketing work I do). I also let him know that we would love to have his wife over to get some of our beautiful shoes. 

This encounter got me thinking about the power of unique stories and how important it is for marketing professionals to showcase their skills through their own personal narratives.

Read More: If He Fails, The World Will End.

The Power of Stories

According to a study by Dr. Jennifer Aaker at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts alone. This highlights the importance of weaving personal narratives into your content to capture and retain audience attention. 

Wearing unique shoes got the attention of a prospective new customer for my shoe shop. Similarly, adopting storytelling and content management principles for themselves can help marketing professionals attract interest in their skills. Essentially, they need to buy what they themselves are selling. 

Tips for Effective Personal Storytelling

  • Be Relatable and Authentic: Share genuine experiences and emotions to create a connection with your audience. This builds trust and credibility. A good story should be engaging and easy to read. Use a conversational tone and include elements of humor or surprise.
  • Identify Opportune Moments to Highlight Your Skills: Mentioning my shoe shop in the context of receiving a compliment about the shoes I was wearing was a natural sales pitch moment. Use your stories to showcase your expertise at the right time.  
  • Engage with Visuals: Visuals can make your stories more compelling and memorable. According to HubSpot, content with relevant images gets 94% more views than content without. 
  • Encourage Action: End your stories with a call to action. Encourage your readers to take the next step, whether it’s visiting your website, checking out your products, or engaging with your content.

The Impact of Personal Storytelling in Marketing

Stories are more than just anecdotes; they are powerful tools that can make your content more relatable and engaging. It also applies to your personal brand as a marketing professional. By telling your own stories, you humanize your personal brand and make it more relatable. A Nielsen study found that consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand they feel connected to. As a marketing professional, your stories can create that connection. Embrace your personal experiences, showcase your skills through them and let your authenticity shine through.

Of Regulators, Hacks and Cybersecurity: 6 Ways To Secure Your Company’s Social Media Accounts

Posted on by Lola Egboh

Today, I’m taking a look at something that’s extremely important but often overlooked: social media security. 

On Tuesday January 9, 2024, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had a nightmare scenario. Someone hacked its X/Twitter account and posted a fake announcement about approving a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). This false news caused a spike in the price of bitcoin before the SEC clarified that their account was “compromised”. 

Can you just imagine that?? Well, if it can happen to the SEC, it can happen to anyone. 

Practical Tips for Securing Your Social Media Accounts

As social media managers, content managers, and small business owners, we need to take these threats seriously. So, how can we protect our accounts and our brand’s reputation? Here are some tips to keep your social media accounts secure and prevent unauthorised access.

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

First things first: your passwords. Make them strong and unique. Mix upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using obvious passwords like “123456” or “password.” And remember to change them regularly. Using a password manager can help you easily keep track of the tons of passwords you need to maintain.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is your friend! Two-factor authentication is your friend! I really can’t say this enough. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, like a code sent to your phone or an authentication app. Even if someone gets your password, 2FA can stop them in their tracks.

3. Limit Who Has Access

Access to your social pages shouldn’t be like giving out pizza; only give access to people who really need it. Not everyone on your team needs full control. Set up role-based permissions so team members only have access to what they need to do their job.  

4. Keep an Eye on Activity

Regularly check your account activity. Look for any unusual or unauthorised actions. Most social media platforms have activity logs that show logins and actions taken. If something looks fishy, investigate immediately.

5. Train Your Team

Make sure everyone who handles your social media knows about security best practices. Regular training can help prevent mistakes that could lead to a breach. It’s not enough to have security policies, it’s crucial to check they are being followed.

6. Use Secure Connections

Yes, Nigerians tend to like free things, but avoid logging into your social media accounts on public Wi-Fi. These networks can be easy targets for hackers. If you need to work remotely, use a virtual private network (VPN) to keep your connection secure.

Conclusion

The SEC hack is a wake-up call. If a huge organisation like that can get hacked, small businesses need to be extra careful. Social media security isn’t just about protecting your accounts; a breach could lead to lost customer trust and revenue. By following these best practices, you can protect your accounts and your brand’s reputation.