The Age of Storytelling
understanding the narratives that influence posting
I’ve had the concept of this post in my mind for some time, but knowing how important it is to get this message across, it’s taken me some time to put it into words. Simply…
INSTAGRAM ISN’T A HIGHLIGHT REEL — IT’S BRANDING
What is shared online are only the things that can be shared.
My morning coffee, the book I’m reading or the industry update I post are not highlights of my life. They are vignettes of my day and expertise, wound together to connect with you in an intentionally curated way.
No one is around to take a photo of the moments I consider my true life highlights, which for me are the everyday ones, spending time with the people who I care most about (more on this in a separate post).
Everyone is telling their own story. The one they want to share with others. And that story…is their personal brand.*
This is the beauty of being present on social media — you get to decide which pieces of yourself you share, based on the goals you are trying to achieve.
When you start to pay attention to the consistencies, visuals and messages that are posted by an individual, you can start to see them as chapters of their brand story, rather than an overshare — or a flex — of their life.
Authors trying to sell more books will benefit from curating their accounts to feature their writing processes, rituals and their collection of published titles.
College seniors trying to get their dream career started will benefit from curating their accounts to feature their peaking professionalism, interest and willingness to connect in the target industry.
Business owners trying to heighten their consumer base will benefit from showcasing their life specifically as a business owner, combined with the value and quality of their products.
By curating your content, you control your narrative and attract like-minded followers. When you stick to your story, you build brand recognition, allowing these followers to become your people. And your people usually want to see you succeed, so they will be active participants in your journey to success (share your content, buy your books, pass your resume on, visit your storefront…).
I think the reason this concept has been in my brain is because I see so many people online advocating for digital detoxes and blaming social media as a ‘highlight reel’ for a lot of our personal insecurities. I get it, I really do, but I think a healthier fix is to shift the conversation and the lens through which we view others’ content.
Everyone is striving for something, everyone is telling a story — whether they are aware of it or not.
I encourage you to think of the accounts that are causing you to feel such stress. Maybe even pull them up, and try to figure out what their posting goals may be. It might lead to compassion for their hustle, it may make you laugh.
Take the break if you want to, but try to remember that someone else’s goals — and how they navigate towards achieving them — should not have a negative impact on you!
*This mindset is also applicable to non-business accounts. Personal accounts may be telling a more self-serving story, but I assure you, they’re still curating and storytelling.
Is this post helpful? I’d love to hear your thoughts.