How To Create Authentic Relationships In A Digital World

Kailynn Bowling, ChicExecs Co-Founder and Co-President, shares her five tips on how to create authentic relationships in a digital world on Forbes blog.

Authenticity has always been important for brand promotion, but we use the word so much these days that few people know what it means to be an “authentic brand” in 2021.

Fortunately, digital relationship-building will still be the status quo moving forward. However, brands need to try different strategies, approaches and platforms to make deep, meaningful relationships in a digital-first environment.

If it’s time for you to stand out in a sea of “authentic” content, follow these five tips to build more authentic digital relationships at scale.

1. Be social.

Using scheduling tools such as Buffer or Hootsuite may have been enough to promote your brand five years ago, but today, brands have to be active on social media at all times.

Digital marketing is a two-way conversation. Your brand needs to engage with its followers to see meaningful connections.

2. Stand for something.

Nobody wants to read stuffy, boring content. Jazz up your digital marketing with a little personality. That means injecting your voice, values, mission and opinions into the brand. In other words, your brand needs to act like a human.

3. Admit your mistakes.

You’re building a human brand, and that means your brand will make mistakes. Instead of trying to cover it up, own up to your mistakes publicly. While this might seem to invite a PR firestorm, it’s the best way to weather corporate mistakes.

4. Highlight your followers.

The best way to get your followers to notice you is to notice them first. Authentic relationship-building starts on the follower level, so turn your followers into the heroes of your social media, email, website and more.

5. Be on the right platforms.

It’s tempting to promote yourself on Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter and everything in between, but that’s a recipe for marketing burnout. Authentic brands only promote themselves on platforms that their customers already use.

Read the full blog here.