Welcome to Someone Social! You’re definitely a Queen of all things social, so why don’t you introduce yourself to our readers by telling us about your first Instagram post ever?
My first IG post ever did not have a single ounce of strategy behind it whatsoever. I wasn’t using IG as a branding platform at the time, so it was me getting my hair highlighted and making a funny face if I recall. So original 😉
You’re a woman of many talents – walk us through some of your projects.
Within my blog JulieSolomon.net – I share a ton of free tips for influencers and entrepreneurs on branding, blogging, social media and PR. Each week I post a new tip sheet or bonus sheet for my readers to download that gives them immediate action steps to up-level their brand. I also run two courses; Pitch It Perfect, a customized course that teaches entrepreneurs, bloggers and creative pitch strategies and helps them land free PR for their business and thousands of dollars a month in brand deals. These strategies are the same I used to help my clients garner national media placements and over $1 million dollars in income and brand deals just last year alone. I also founded Conscious Connection, a six-week, one-on-one branding consultation program that teaches online marketing, public relations and branding to bloggers and influencers. CC is the must have for anyone looking for a rebranding overhaul. My latest venture, The Influencer Podcast, explores the secrets behind the careers of today’s top social influencers and industry insiders. I was honored to join the Top-100 list of iTunes’ Business Podcast Chart, peaking at #16 during the launch month.
You’ve been ahead of the curve every step of the way through the social media boom. What’s your advice for people looking to break into this industry while also standing out?
At the end of the day, it’s all about knowing exactly who your audience is and HOW you can best serve them. You figure out the “how” by learning to speak their language, connecting with them through relationship building and empathy, building trust and then being their solution provider. You stand out by being unique, not better. You grow by serving the community you already have, not focusing on just your scale. My course Pitch It Perfect does in to each layer of this in detail.
Between being a New York Times best-seller and now running a podcast, what is your work-work balance like, as well as your work-life balance?
It is a day-by-day practice. Some things happened in my life this year that made me focus on building a better system, routine, and practice in each day so I can show up in the world the way I’m truly meant to and live a better quality of life. I start every morning with a gratitude practice that stemmed from me reading the book The Magic. Practicing gratitude has been a game changer for my overall perspective on life and has allowed me to open new doors for my business. I also hired a Project Manager to “be my boss” and help me manage my team and all my tasks, and that has been extremely beneficial.
Where do you see the future of social media heading?
I think we are going to see more and more focus on engagement vs. scale. Numbers won’t matter as much as how engaged and strong the community of followers you are building is. We are and will continue to see a significant shift toward digital content being king.
What do you want to see more of in the online world?
I would like to see more of us rethinking our relationship with social media and our relationship with views, likes, retweets, mentions, and followers. Why are we showing up every day? Is it authentic or does it come from a superficial place? I know social media is capable of doing good things. I know it connects people to each other and the larger world and its causes. But, so much of it is filled with shame, judgment, and comparison. Each of us can do our part to make sure we are not part of this. Our life’s purpose can’t be racking up hundreds or thousands of likes.
What do you want to see less of?
Loop giveaways bought followers and pods – they hurt your engagement terribly in the long run.
Leave us off on a positive #SomethingSocial note – if you could Instagram anything from anywhere, what would it be?
Me and my husband on a private beach in Hawaii on a hammock just enjoying life, with my son making sand castles next to us.
Quick Rounds
Favorite Instagram account?
For My Soul – @notesontheway; for my business – @JasmineStar
Favorite social media platform? If we reached in your bag, we would find… iPhone 7 Plus, Honest Hand Sanitizer, HourGlass Lip Oil, Hermes Wallet, and some sort of toddler toy that my kid snuck in there.
Best LA spot to work from “home” at?
Soho House Malibu
One food for the rest of your life?
Avocado Toast with a side of street fruit topped with Tajin!
Follow along with Julie Solomon on her website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest.
Written by our Digital Specialist, Nora Henick.
Know someone you’d like to elect as our next #SomeoneSocial? Tweet us @somethingsocial or tag us on Instagram- @somethingsocial.
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