Building Your Brand Beyond Social Media
3 Ways to Shift Your Mindset Around Constant Changes
I’ve been meaning to write this newsletter for months now. So many things have happened in my personal life since the last post. However, I came to see how are you doing? Really? Life has been “lifing” lately.
It’s rare to see my social media feeds—across *all* platforms—buzzing about the same topic (the clock app). So, as your brand strategist (and unofficial therapist), I’m here to encourage you to do three things:
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1. Take a Deep Breath
First, don’t panic. Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and take a deep breath. Inhale: “Everything is temporary.” Exhale. Inhale: “The only constant is change.” Exhale. There is no one way to do things.
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2. Build Your Community
As a millennial, I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of countless social media platforms. When I saw the recent news, my heart skipped a beat. And yes, I found the first screenshot of the pop up message through my niece of all people! Grieving the potential loss of a platform is valid. Many of us have lost content because it was stored in drafts or on a single platform that vanished or became inaccessible. I’ve been there too. But here’s the thing—I’ve never put all my eggs in one basket (or in one social media platform).
But as a brand strategist, I’ve been saying this for years: social media platforms are someone else’s house. You’re a guest. You don’t own these spaces. That’s why I always recommend building your own email list and creating an online community that you control.
So whether you’re stepping away from certain apps or exploring new platforms, here’s my advice:
- Update your security settings.
- Back up your content to a reliable cloud server.
- If you’re joining new platforms, stay social and introduce yourself!
As for me, I’m practicing what I preach. In early February, I’ll be relaunching the online SLD (See Life Different) Community. Why? Because we still need to build our digital footprints, and we all need a supportive community that’s on the same wavelength. Plus you’ll have access to a library of content relation to content creation, storytelling, and mental health. Stay tuned for more details! As I settle into my new apartment, I’ll be sharing more about my experiences navigating the intersection of old-school and new-school marketing (podcast versus word of mouth, advertisements versus personal invitation, etc).
This season, I’m all about meaningful, real-life connections—especially as likes and followers, and monetary currency fluctuates across platforms.
So In Summary:
Focus on creating connections that matter.
Build your digital presence on platforms you control (your own community and email).
Stop lurking. Start sharing. This is the time to embrace your personal stories.
P.S. I’m booking speaking engagements for 2025!✨
Love to share on branding, marketing, mental health & DEIAB. Interested? Email me! zaakirah@zaakirahnayyar.com
