Candace Nelson

I'll confess: fresh out of the corporate world, where it's all about teamwork, I fancied myself a lone wolf in the startup wilderness. I imagined it was just me taking on the world! But this "rugged individualist" approach was not as effective as I thought it would be. Just because you're a founder or leader running the show doesn’t mean you don’t need a community. As my friend Nina Westbrook, family therapist and host of the Do Tell podcast, says: “Communities offer us emotional support, companionship, and an opportunity to create shared experiences.” When overwhelmed with tasks, lean on your peers and mentors. Their guidance and encouragement can keep you motivated and focused on your thought leadership goals and more.

Before I left for my recent summer vacation, I set aside a chunk of time to create and schedule content that would auto-publish throughout my holiday. Using a social media scheduling tool, I maintained my online presence without being glued to my phone, letting me immerse in my international adventure while my brand continued to thrive back at home. Whether traveling or not, give yourself the gift of social media-free days to recharge. Instead of posting daily, set aside time for content creation, allowing more intentional engagement and community building.

If you are prone to procrastinating your hardest to-do items (guilty!) it helps to flip the script and knock out your hardest task first thing in the morning—a philosophy called "Eat That Frog." That feeling of accomplishment creates a rush of momentum that helps you crush the rest of your list and frees up mental space to focus on more creative and strategic endeavors, like thought leadership.

A few other things I look at.. Consistency is Key: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and informed. Leverage Analytics: Use social media analytics tools to understand what content performs best and why. Let these insights inform your content strategy. Be Authentic: Show the human side of your brand. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses and stories that convey your brand's values and mission. Monitor Trends: Stay updated on social media trends and platform updates to keep your content relevant and engaging. Collaborate: Partner with influencers or other brands that align with your values to expand your reach and bring fresh content to your audience.

Truly connect with your followers by creating content that resonates with them. Encourage interaction through questions, polls, and challenges. Authentic engagement builds community and loyalty.

Clearly outline what you aim to achieve through your social media channels—be it increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or enhancing customer engagement. Set specific, measurable KPIs to track these goals. This clarity will guide your strategy and help gauge success. This could by anything from engagement rate, follower growth, conversion rates, brand mentions, content reach, or collaborations.