🧐 Did you know 77% of consumers shop with brands they follow online?

I went down a huge rabbit hole today on social media influences (not influencers), and how consumers shop and the stats are eye-opening! 👀

I grabbed this from www.exploding topics.com/blog/branding-stats👇

🧐 81% of consumers need to trust a brand to consider buying

🧐 77% of consumers prefer shopping with brands they follow on social media

I almost stopped reading right then because that was all I really needed to know to validate my suspicions.

Branding photos are NECESSARY to be a sustainable business in today’s shopping culture.

But…I kept reading a little further.

🧐 65% of consumers say a brands CEO and employees influence their decision to buy

🧐 55% of brand first impressions are visual

🧐 Gen Z’ers (1995 – 2012) mainly use IG to research brands

🧐 Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964)primarily use Google for their research

It’s funny, Gen x (1965 – 1979) weren’t mentioned, but since I am in that range, I would also say a little IG, a little Pinterest, a little TikTok, a little Google, a little YouTube….I think we are a very well rounded consumer. (That’s just my thoughts).

The other crazy cool stat I read was the likelihood of taking advice on a product through Word of Mouth. Good ol’ fashioned referrals….Jay Baer shared that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know directly!” This came from www.getambassador.com.

What does this all mean and why am I even typing it?

If you own your own business and haven’t had a Professional Branding Photo Shoot what are you freaking waiting for?

A Personal Branding Photoshoot isn’t a luxury or a vanity play, it’s NECESSARY for you to grow your business, stay in business and THRIVE in your business.

Your consumers WANT to know you. They want to know who they are supporting every time they click “Buy Now” or choose the service you provide or find a store that sells your physical product.

The easiest and most efficient way for them to get to know you is online through social media. Like it or not…social media is not just about sharing your most recent meal from a cool new restaurant…BUT…you know who is loving that you shared the pic of your recent meal???

The restaurant owner! Back to the stat about 92% of consumers shop based on word of mouth. If you aren’t online sharing your recommendations for other business owners, you are missing an opportunity to network with people that will refer you! It’s a beautiful cycle of love in the Small Business World.

So…do I think all your posts online need to promote other small business owners? Heck no! You need to put yourself on your own social media and let your friends, family and followers know what product or service YOU provide too!

Your cousin may not have a need for your service but they have a referral network on their own social sites, you are only a click and a share away from being added to their feed.

Make it easy for your friends and family and followers to share your business. Create posts that tell your story, share your message, show what you provide and SHOW YOUR FACE!

Let that “92%” stat work for you and create posts EVERY FREAKING DAY that can be shared outside of your own audience.

I’m NOT a social media manager, but I WILL help you create a catalogue of Personal Branding images that you can use on your social media and websites to stay present and current with your audience.

You can come to me with a playbook already mapped out with your vision and goals for your branding session, or we can brainstorm together. Sometimes just sharing a little bit of your vision for your business with someone can fuel a healthy conversation that you may not have considered.

Don’t be afraid to ask ChatGPT also. I don’t and won’t use AI to craft any messages, ever. I feel like authenticity is lost and AI language is so obvious it hurts. How I like to use AI is to brainstorm ideas and concepts that I may not have considered.

If you aren’t super tech savvy, that’s cool. Let’s chat about your Vision and your Mission and your WHY for your business and see what we can come up with for a fun Personal Branding Session.

Let’s do this!