Content is Relationship Building.

 

Sometimes we think of “content” as our weekly blog or the big piece of content we release. 

 

But it’s actually much more diverse than that!

 

 

Content is truly relationship building in the sense that it allows our audience to connect with us, to learn something from us, to experience something from us, and to get to know us better. 

 

Here are 7 opportunities you may not have considered as “content” to further build that connection!

 

1. Facebook Group Post Shares

Our Facebook groups often have regular theme days – a tip day, a promo day, a reflective insight day.

We may underestimate the value that contributing content into those conversations has. 

It’s an opportunity to share your wisdom and demonstrate the expertise you have in your area.  It allows other people who don’t know you or wouldn’t have otherwise encountered your work to see what you’re made of. 

It allows them to engage with you in a conversation.

 

2. Commenting in Group Discussion Threads

When we get into those conversations in Facebook groups, we can respond to others in the comments thread.

This includes not only comments on our own shared posts, but also participating in other threads as well.

If somebody asks a question, or if there’s a dialogue happening on a particular subject, and it’s an area you have some experience in, you can add some value and build new relationships.

(Obviously please don’t “hijack” someone else’s info / promo post with your own agenda EVER – I probably shouldn’t need to say that, right? LOL)

Even the people that are not directly involved in that dialogue will be scanning over the comments. 

I know there are plenty of times I have scrolled through others’ comments without participating, just because I’m interested to see what everybody else has had to say about it.

You may not even realize how many people are seeing your contribution and your responses in some of those threads.

 

3. Your Facebook Biz Page – Educational Content

You may be sharing to your Facebook page on a daily basis, or maybe even more frequently.

Perhaps you’ve crafted some helpful tips and suggestions to educate your audience.

It’s a fabulous opportunity to demonstrate to your audience that you know what you’re talking about!

We may underestimate the value of doing that regularly and consistently. Don’t forget that most people in your audience need multiple exposures, consistently, over a period of time before they can conclude you “know your stuff” and are someone they want to work with.  

Consider for a moment that somebody who does encounter you in a Facebook group and wants to check out more about your work will most likely go to your Facebook page first.  It’s a quick and easy glimpse for them into who you are and what your business is about.

And so all of those posts that you have – your videos, your memes, your graphics, your short quotes and inspo posts – all give them a quick snapshot of what you’re about, what you do, who you are, and how you help people. 

It’s an important (and often “first impression”) peek for them, and another key opportunity to present yourself to potential new and interested clients finding you for the first time.

 

4. Your Facebook Biz Page – The FUN

Another area we underestimate the significance of is with the FUN posts and content we share to our Facebook page.

When you’re very knowledgeable on a certain subject, it can be tempting to dance in that arena you’re most comfortable in.  But “all work and no play,” well, you get it.

It’s just as important that you have some fun posts, whether they are little conversation pieces, a joke, funny meme, or a picture of you doing something not directly related to your business work or usual content that allows people to get a glimpse into your personality.

Let them discover that you’re really funny, goofy, kind, awkward, heartfelt, silly, or have interesting hobbies.

Now they have a little bit more of a sense of who you are as a person beyond just who you are within your business, and this fosters a feeling that they know you a little bit, and begin to feel more comfortable with you and the idea of maybe eventually working together.

 

5. Convos with Colleagues

We also have our conversations with colleagues and other entrepreneurs.

Sometimes it’s a casual conversation, and sometimes it’s more formal conversation around what we do in our biz.

That relationship building is also a key component to building business and social relationships, and whether you’ve considered it or not, what you talk about is content.

Those types of relationships and conversations can lead to additional client interest or a referral.

Maybe the person you’ve chatted with doesn’t personally need you in terms of the work that you do, but they may know somebody else that does.

So never underestimate the value of having casual conversations that do or do not relate to your business and the work that you do.

 

6. Participating in Group Programs

Building off of those peer conversations, we may find ourselves in a group setting where we’ve signed up for a particular learning or growth purpose, but are also simultaneously building new relationships and forming friendships.

Participating in programs with other people is a fun way to make new connections and get to know new people.

Not only does it give you a great opportunity to build more professional relationships, but it’s a social outlet and an extremely gratifying way to gain social and business relationships with people who share something in common with you.

You might be surprised where some of those relationships can lead in terms of your business.

So here is something important to keep in mind: Everything you do in those environments is revealing who you are as a person and as an entrepreneur. 

Give yourself a little nudge to show up as the person and business owner you want to be known for. 

For example, it’s probably not the space to speak negatively about a difficult client or problem with another colleague. 

It’s probably not the right setting to vent about a client who was demanding or unsatisfied or anything you would not openly advertise to a potential future client, right? 

Those conversations should happen 1:1, never in a group, and ideally with a coach or mentor.  

Anyone in that group might one day be your future client, or if not them directly, their sister, friend, mother, partner, etc. might be, so show up in groups as the type of person you want to be thought of!

 

7. Everyday Casual Convos

I have been absolutely amazed in my own business about how frequently my ordinary everyday conversations have actually turned into interested clients.

This was something that took me completely by surprise when I first became an entrepreneur.

We may underestimate the value in ordinary conversation when we simply discuss – and I mean with absolutely NO agenda – what we do.

So again, to be crystal clear, I absolutely am NOT referring to dropping some planned elevator pitch to the poor unsuspecting guests at a friendly BBQ.

This is NOT some planned, prescribed, seemingly “accidental” sales pitch at the grocery store promoted by MLM’s and the like.

No, but I am talking about being amidst a causal conversation where you are not actually thinking about your business at all, and it happens to come up, and you talk about it.

I have been totally surprised at how frequently some of those conversations have turned into client work.

It’s a good idea to be capable of articulating your work easily, without those canned phrases.  Ha! 

Because out of natural interest, it will come up in conversation, and you never know when someone may become interested in you or your work, or know someone.

This really all comes down to the relationship. 

It’s really, really, really important though, that you are connecting and communicating for the sake of those things, and the business opportunity is more or less a happy afterthought.  (People can smell it, if it’s not!!!)

 

So the key takeaway is: Any type of interaction you have is in some way representative of your content, and there are many different kinds of content that go beyond informational content. 

Everywhere you are present with your voice is a form of your content, representing who you are both as a person and as an entrepreneur.

 

Freebie for You…

 

 

If you want to want to make your process for creating content EASY and seamless, you might enjoy my freebie, Your Magical Content Library. 

 

You can grab it here!