Most people think social media profiles are only for sharing content with the world. It is true to an extent, but not entirely. Social media profiles can help you market your brand or business. They are an essential component of a content marketing strategy and serve the purpose of increasing brand awareness. They help brands, businesses, bloggers, and influencers establish healthy relationships with customers or fans. Additionally, they allow you to interact with your audience and receive real-time feedback and suggestions.

However, in the presence of millions of social profiles online, it is challenging to stand out from the rest. But, with the correct elements and strategy, you can beat the competition and gain the attention of an online audience.

Following are the 13 key elements of a successful social media profile you must include for maximum exposure:

1. Social Media Profile Picture

One of the principal elements of a social media profile is your profile picture. It is the first thing your fans or customers notice and form an impression. Therefore, carefully choosing the profile picture is critical to ensure it has a positive effect.

If the profile is for a company, use the company logo as profile picture. However, display your picture if you are a blogger or influencer. But, in either case, remember to use the same photo across all social media platforms. Using different profile pictures across social media platforms may confuse your audience, damaging your popularity. However, the same profile picture across all platforms ensures your fans remember you.

While taking a personal picture for a social profile, consider specific factors, such as:

• Use a professional camera.
• Make sure your face is clear in the picture.
• The headshot is not too close or too far.
• Use color contrast to make your photo stand out.
• Use the brand colors (if you have one).
• The photograph must be recent.
• Ensure lighting is proper.
• Do not take a selfie for a profile picture.

2. Social Media Profile Display Name

The display name is what your audience will see at the top of your social media profile. It may or may not be unique. A display name should be your name or a business name. However, there are cases when you may opt for a pseudonym, such as if:

• You are known by another name.
• Your real name is already in use by someone else.
• You do not want to disclose your identity.

3. Social Media Profile Username and URL

Your social media profile username distinguishes you from other profiles. It is included in the URL, making it unique. You can choose any username, but what if people need help to spell it or it is hard to remember? It is, therefore, critical to choose a suitable username. A good username is:

• Short and simple.
• Easy to remember.
• Unique, and no other brand or brand has the same username.

Use the same username across all social media platforms, like the profile picture. The same username helps people find you on different platforms, increasing your visibility. It also helps increase brand awareness.

Remember, most social media platforms do not allow changing usernames. Therefore, think thoroughly and choose the username that best suits your brand or business. For example, the company name makes the perfect username for a company, while your name is the best choice for personal profiles.

4. Notable Bio

A notable bio is another element of a successful social media profile. A biography is a concise description of the owner of the social profile, which could be a person or a company. It introduces you to potential fans, customers, employers, and clients. It highlights your work, current position, accomplishments, educational background, skills, and interests.

We all know that most people have a brief attention span, so it is essential to write a notable bio to gain the audience’s attention. A notable bio can help form a long-lasting impression and achieve your goals. However, to ensure your bio stands out and enables you to attract fans, it is vital to learn how to write a notable bio.

How to Write a Notable Bio

Choose the right voice: The voice of your bio depends on your target audience. If your target audience is formal, write in the third person. However, if your target audience is casual, write in the first form. For example, if you are a marketer, write ‘Faiza is a digital marketer….’ instead of ‘I am a digital marketer….’.

Start with your full name: Many people forget to mention their name in the bio. Although your display name is visible on the profile, the bio should start with your name.

Do not exaggerate: An authentic bio that accurately represents you attracts more traffic and followers. Therefore, be honest when writing about your skills or accomplishments, and do not exaggerate.

Be concise: An unnecessarily long bio will likely make people lose interest. Therefore, take time and identify which information can help you achieve your goals and is relevant to your target audience. For example, if you are a blogger, focus on your experience rather than your education. However, if you are an influencer, focus on your hobbies and interests.

5. Links to Social Media Profiles Across Platforms

Whether you are an influencer or a blogger, leverage social media to achieve specific goals. One primary goal is to grow your fan base. You can grow your audience base by increasing your visibility, and your visibility will increase if you interlink your profiles. Therefore, add links to your profiles across social media platforms to help more people connect with you.

6. Your Website Address

Your website address is one of the essential elements of a perfect social media profile. It is because a website serves as a personal branding platform. If you have an online business, you must direct traffic to your website to drive sales. Or, if you are an affiliate marketer, your earnings can grow with the increased traffic to your blog.

Therefore, remember to mention your website address in your social profile to grow your customer base.

7. Contact Information

It can frustrate your audience if they cannot find a way to contact you. Your social media profile may also appear unauthentic. Therefore, you must include your email address, telephone number, or physical address that people can use to contact you. Moreover, ensure the contact information is easily accessible.

8. Social Media Profile Cover Photo or Background Image

Most social media platforms allow adding a cover photo or background image. It appears behind your profile on the main page and is bigger than the profile picture. However, not uploading a cover photo can leave a terrible impression and affect the performance of your social media profile.

For a successful social profile, a cover photo or background image should:

• Not cause distraction.
• Not be a stock image.
• Add value to your profile by showing your personality or brand.
• Contains little to no text.
• Include brand colors.
• Include product image or list of services.
• Not be a selfie or personal picture.

9. Social Media Profile Privacy Settings

Another essential element of a social media profile is privacy settings. Particularly for influencers, bloggers, and businesses, any mistake in privacy settings can cause the unavailability of information to your audience. Therefore, check your privacy settings and ensure they meet your needs and all necessary information is visible to your audience.

For example, it is ideal for a business to make all posts public to ensure maximum visibility. However, for a personal profile, you may hide some information.

10. Consistent Activity

Gaining followers on social media platforms is equally crucial as retaining them. However, keeping a follower takes more effort than acquiring one. It is because your audience wants to hear from you often. An inactive profile loses attraction, resulting in people unfollowing you. Therefore, it is critical to keep your followers engaged with consistent activity.

For a personal social media profile, you can share ideas, posts, or anything you think may interest your followers. However, with a business profile, you can share product updates, discounts, promotions, etc. Similarly, you can hold Q&A sessions or competitions if you are an influencer.

Another effective way to keep your social profile active is to respond to comments and initiate discussions.

11. Appealing Images

Appealing images can make your social media profile more attractive and appealing. However, it is wise to stay steer of the stock images. Share unique images that reflect your brand or personality. For example, businesses can share promotional or marketing materials. Similarly, bloggers can share valuable information as infographics. Several tools, such as Visme and Canva, are available to make professional images and infographics.

12. Timely Responses

A timely response is yet another element of a good social media profile. People who don’t hear from you in time may lose interest in your profile. Responding to comments or queries is essential, particularly for businesses or people offering services.

For example, your customers may ask about the price of a particular product and expect a quick response. However, you may lose a potential customer if you do not respond quickly.

The same is true for personal profiles as well. A timely response can help you build a relationship with your followers. For example, if you are an influencer, your fans expect an immediate response to their queries.

13. Call to Action

A call to action is another crucial element of a successful social media profile. Whether you are a blogger, influencer, affiliate marketer, or brand, a compelling call to action can help you achieve your goals. A call to action may prompt users to purchase a product, visit your blog or site, or sign up for a newsletter. A call to action is especially significant for those offering services or selling products but not having a website.

Including a call to action helps turn your followers into loyal fans or customers. For example, you can send promotional or marketing material to those who have signed up for a newsletter. As a result, your conversion rate and sales are likely to increase.

Conclusion

Social media profiles allow you to communicate with your target audience in real-time. However, they can only effectively achieve goals if they have all the elements of a successful social media profile. An excellent social profile can significantly enhance your visibility, growing your fan or customer base.