Since its inception, social media platforms have propelled numerous careers – more so in the past year, especially due to some Covid-19 restrictions.
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat could push any idea, product or service to the eyes and ears of millions of people around the world, but only through consistently creating and uploading content to engage your audience regularly. Sometimes, all it requires is a viral video to take your product or brand to greater heights.
Local creative Betty Sibeso could not agree more, saying artists of this era need to have a strong online presence equating it as equally importan,t as their actual work.
“Social media, if done right, should work for you. Your followers become your marketing team. They share your content for you for more people to see. As an artist, this is the best way to get noticed. So as much as you may be creating for yourself, you should create for your audience too,” shared Sibeso. She is the creator of Namibia’s leading digital magazine, Monochrome Magazine, and the founder of design and creative agency, Beso Media. Sibeso contributed a piece titled ‘Building a Strong Online Presence for Your Brand’ to the National Theatre of Namibia’s compilation of perspectives in navigating theatre sustainably for emerging theatre creatives in the country. “Build a website and not any website, a professional one – one that speaks to you and your brand, that’s easy to navigate and one that shares everything you would want them to know, watch and see. More importantly, how they can reach you,” she advised.
Sibeso added: “Building a website has become easier. You don’t need to pay someone to do it for you, although I advise that you should if you don’t have an eye for these things”.
Just like one’s website, your social media pages too should include information about you and your work and/or offerings.
“However, it should be a space in which you create and put out more content than you do your website. It should technically drive traffic to your website,” she said while highlighting why branding is important.
“If you have more than one platform, make sure they are all branded the same so that it’s easier for people to find you. Use the same profile picture, the same handle/username, have the same information in your bio. Make sure your email address is readily available on your profiles.”
She added: “Work on a content plan. It should include a list of content types you will be putting out. Divide your content ideas under educating, entertaining and inspiring pillars. Your content should be able to cater for all three pillars, but not necessarily at the same time. Educating content can include you sharing how you create something”.
– psiririka@nepc.com.na