A study found that women business leaders are more optimistic than their male counterparts on the issues of revenue and growth. While this may come as a surprise to many, I am not shocked by the findings. I have always been a supporter of women in business, not only because I am a woman, but because I believe that the present generation of young women presents the highest chance to change the mostly male-dominated field of business. The "Women in the Workplace 2018" report found that only 1 in 5 C-suite leaders is a woman, and only 1 in 25 is a woman of color. Considering that the study stretched over a period of three years with the same consistent results, one can tell that the trend is nowhere near its end.
Women are equally as ambitious as men in the pursuit of a successful professional career, but after years of being paid less than men in similar positions and hitting the so-called glass ceiling, that ambition can wane.
But social media can help women break through the glass ceiling. It levels the playing field, since women can now network with anyone they want. And I know from experience that social media platforms can create effective networks for women in business and help solve such problems as marketing and advertising.
Personally, I am glad that women are flexible and courageous enough to leave the security of corporate cubicles for more freedom in entrepreneurship. My concern, however, is whether women have a level playing field when they leave employment for the freedom promised by entrepreneurship. According to the "2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report," women start at least 1,821 new businesses in the U.S. every day. This number is good, maybe even encouraging, but it is not enough.
Identify The Right Technology
As there are countless industries within the business landscape, so are there different technologies to serve each domain. As an entrepreneur, no one understands my business better than I do. That is why I can identify the needs of my business and, as a result, know which features and functions to look for when I am choosing the right social media platform to build effective networks on. It would be best if you did the same too. If you are too busy or think you might need help, it is OK to hire a consultant to do the job. Most companies spend 10% on social media consultancy, so you will not be the only one doing it.
If you're building a lifestyle brand, Instagram may be the best choice for you. If you're looking to do work for corporate or large agencies, LinkedIn is the best platform. To find which platform is best for you, identify your ideal avatar, and determine which platform they use the most.
Stay Relevant, And Maintain Quality
In a world where social media is used for almost anything, it is essential to establish your own space where respect and relevance rule. I have seen small businesses lose control of their social networks for various reasons. It is important to first lay out a groundwork that is punctuated by definite goals and a responsible team who will see to it that everything is under control. Losing control can be as simple as not keeping up with your social media to the point that you give the impression that you're not a concrete business, which could prevent potential leads from reaching out.
Perception is reality. If you portray inconsistency, irrelevance and low quality, your followers and potential leads will think you or your business have those same flaws.
Invest In Customer Service, Security And Scalability
To grow a network from a social media platform to the level where you have a community, you have to make an investment. Growth for any internet technology platform, not only social media, calls for investment in customer service, security and scalability. You will not always be in a position to deal with technical issues that arise on your social media platform. As such, it is advisable to hire a community organizer who can not only make sure that your community isn't ruined by a bad apple, but also act as customer service.
Plan ahead for when the community you are building becomes so big that you cannot keep track of the numbers. Put systems in place to accommodate the growth, as it will surely come.
