Why Posting Off Brand Content Can Hurt Your Social Media Game

Have you ever followed someone online and thought you knew them? You liked them and felt like you had a lot in common with them. Their posts always either made you laugh or made you feel seen. And then one day, BAM. They posted something that made you question everything you thought you knew about them. You may have even stopped following them. This is what posting off brand content looks like. 

Why Posting On-Brand Content Matters

A consistent brand identity is crucial for success. Posting content that isn’t inline with your established image can not only confuse your audience but also undermine the trust you’ve worked to build with them. 

Overall, your brand is a direct reflection of who you are and what you stand for. When you have followers that engage with your content, they begin to create an understanding of what you value, your style, and your messaging. When you’re consistent in these elements, it can help create a sense of familiarity and trust that your audience knows what to expect. 

The Harm of Off-Brand Content

Off-brand content breaks trust with your audience and gets rid of any predictability they might expect to see from your account. Your audience feels safest when they can show up to your page and know what they might expect to see. 

To be honest, when you share off-brand content, it can really be quite jarring for your followers. It can make them question their understanding of your brand and potentially damage their trust in your authenticity. 

Especially in a crowded social media feed, you have minimal time and chances to gain your followers’ interest and attention. When you share off-brand content, it doesn’t just confuse your audience, but it may also lead them to unfollow you if they no longer feel connected to your messaging or find value in your posts. 

How to Stay True to Your Brand

A clear brand simplifies the content creation process and helps you build trust with your followers at the same time. Once your audience feels like they know and trust you, they are much more likely to engage with your content and invest in your services.  

As cliche as it sounds, create a plan. But before you even do that, make sure you have a brand foundation to lean on. In my Social Media Strategy In a Day Session, we focus on helping you build a brand you and your followers are passionate about. 

After one day, you’ll walk away with a brand foundation, and a social media strategy that will lead you to success.