Back in 2014, I created Jadeywadey180 with nothing but a desire to share my passion for beauty with the world. Since then, my social platforms have blossomed into a thriving personal brand, business, and community that continues to propel my career and feed my soul! Now, I’m here to help you accomplish the same with my top five social media tips.
1. Cultivate a healthy relationship with social media
When it comes to the internet, setting supportive boundaries is good for our mental and emotional health. Even the U.S. surgeon general, Vivek H. Murthy, is calling for social media to include a warning label aimed at protecting young people.
As you build your social media presence, ask these questions to check in with yourself:
- What does my life look like offline? Is it full and vibrant, or does it need tending to?
- How much of my self-worth do I derive from social media?
- Am I spending more time reading comments and tracking likes than I am creating?
- Do I constantly compare myself to other people and accounts?
- Which ground rules can I set for myself to make sure that social media is working for me and not against me?
Think of your relationship with social media as the foundation for everything else, including the energy you bring to your audience, the quality of your content, and the sustainability of your mission.
2. Leverage social media as a way to foster community
From Instagram to YouTube, social media has allowed me to connect with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met! These interactions have helped me flourish both personally and professionally, providing inspiration and support along the way.
I encourage you to see social media as a way to find your people, not just your followers. This small mindset shift will allow your creativity to flow more effortlessly. Let yourself “geek out” over whatever lights you up — whether it’s a technique that transformed your routine or product that no one else seems to be talking about.
Create the content that you want to see, then allow your audience to find you organically. Engage with your followers by responding to their comments, holding Q&As, sharing links, and sincerely reciprocating their positive energy with your own.
3. Be mindful of burnout and addiction.
I started Jadeywadey180 in my early twenties — an impressionable time in anyone’s life. Moreover, since social media was still relatively new, I wasn’t yet aware of the side effects of being “chronically online.”
As my brand skyrocketed, I started to become more and more obsessed with meeting society’s (impossible) beauty standards. Between fillers and filters, it got to a point where I couldn’t recognize myself anymore. Mentally, I felt as though I’d been swept in the undertow.
Recognizing that this path was unsustainable, I made the decision to turn my life around. I reevaluated my relationship with social media and focused my attention inward.
All this to say: it’s essential to know yourself.
Understand your triggers. Recognize when your body, heart, and mind are telling you that something’s off balance.
Today, I can tune into my inner self and know what I need — without having to hit rock bottom ever again. It can be as simple as realizing I haven’t spent some time in Mother Nature. Or, maybe I feel disconnected from my cats. Those are both cues for me to slow down, put my phone aside, and nurture my spirit.
You might be wondering, “How does this relate to social media?” When you prioritize your energy, everything else comes more easily. Since transforming my life, my connections with my community are so much deeper and my engagement is thriving — all because it’s more intentional.
Put yourself first. I promise you won’t regret it.
4. Work with brands you love
One of the most fulfilling aspects of building a platform is the opportunity to collaborate with companies and products that resonate with you. When you align yourself with brands you actually admire, your authenticity shines through, and your audience can feel it.
Think about the brands you use every day, the ones that you’re already excited to talk about with friends and family. Start by reaching out to these companies through direct messages, sharing your appreciation for their products, and explaining how working together could be mutually beneficial.
Remember, it’s not just about the big names in the industry. Smaller, indie companies can offer unique opportunities for creative collaborations. Plus, these partnerships can feel more genuine to your audience, as they see you supporting emerging brands and staying loyal to your tastes and values.
5. Focus on organic growth
Organic growth is all about expanding your business or brand internally, as opposed to relying on external sources. When applied to social media, this looks like building your audience naturally through quality content, engagement, and community — rather than paid advertising or clickbait posts.
For me, this was all about asking myself, “What do I want to put out in the world?” From there, I let my audience come to me. There was no real “strategy” other than trying new things based on my passion and what I felt was a true reflection of my art. I put my blinders on and didn’t allow myself to fall into the comparison trap. This might come as a surprise to some people, but this was when I experienced the most views and followers.
Of course, there was a time when the blinders came off and I became distracted by the sparkly things like outward validation and benchmarking myself against other creators. I let other people tell me who I was and whether I was good enough. This was when I actually lost followers and, more importantly, my connection to my craft and purpose. Thankfully, I didn’t stay in that place for long.
Long story short, start organic and see where it takes you. I never paid to do any type of push. The truth is that if you start by paying and paying and paying (for ads and what-not), you’re never going to stop. Instead, invest in your own creativity and allow your art to speak for itself. The right tribe will stay to support you to the end.
Final thoughts
Navigating social media can be overwhelming, but with the right mindset and approach, it can also be incredibly rewarding. By following these five tips, you can build a successful and sustainable online presence that you’ll actually enjoy.
Keep creating, stay inspired, and stay connected to yourself. You’ve got this!
With love and light,
Jadé Marie