The Fatal Conceit – Vanity Business Posting

The Fatal Conceit – Vanity Business Posting

Are you guilty of it in the training or provider space, I know I have been?

Now, before you google it – that term vanity Posting is not in the dictionary (not yet at least). Although the title isn’t a thing , it does have a ring of truth to it, right?

I was recently asked by a client about my thoughts on my oppositions self-promoting posts – is it Ok or Not?

Vanity Posting is personal or business marketing you do that strokes your ego and feeds your vanity, it makes you feel good rather than bringing value like more business to you, or more importantly worth to your audience.

Is Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook turning us all into vain and attention-seeking narcissists, or were we that way to begin with?
The numbers tell a powerful story of self-obsessions. There is more than 80m photographs uploaded to Instagram every day, more than 3.5bn ‘likes’ every day, and some 1.4bn people (20% of the world’s population) publishing details of their lives on Facebook.
It is interesting to note; diagnoses of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) have risen sharply over the past 10 years: the rate of increase is comparable to the rise in the rate of obesity.
Has it to say that most of us would not describe ourselves as a narcissist but as someone using available technology to further his career and keep up with expectations
It’s easy to kid yourself that the posts you are currently doing compared to others is the good type and not vanity-driven at all.

Nevertheless, my social media feeds are loaded with self-assertions. Boast posts typically begin with phrases like “I am so humbled to…,” “I am so proud to…,” and then go on to describe an achievement immodestly.

“Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves” Benjamin Franklin

Me, My, and I – All of Us.

Posts with too much “me” “my” and “I” are doomed to fail and a huge mistake. It’s a flawed approach to your message.
It’s hard enough to capture readers’ attention in this age of content overload. You may have only seconds, in a world where attention spans are as short.
Don’t put customers off by making your message all about “Me” “I” and “My”.”

Recently, researchers at two prominent Universities studied the effect of bragging on the audience. Here’s what they found: “When we engage in self-promotion ourselves, we tend to overestimate others’ positive reactions and underestimate their negative ones.”
In real life bragging doesn’t work, in fact we don’t like it; therefore, why would it work online?

More so, try to understand that readers care most about themselves, just as you and I do i.e. One question is always on a readers’ minds, “What’s in it for me?” (WIIFM?)
Your readers are guaranteed to be interested in it, because it’s all about them and what they need.

It’s natural to want to feel like you’re good at something and have other people see that. However, don’t be the peacock flaunting and boasting colourful impressively sized feathers, fanned for display purposes.
As if not enough already, it then shakes its extravagant tail feathers, to ensure that it is even more so known and seen.

Reader First Content

It’s possible to sell yourself with authenticity and integrity.
Reader-first content gives you a solid foundation for your message. Readers want to read it, because it’s possibly about them and not all about you and yours.

Ask yourself, in this post how will your readers and or their companies benefit from reading your post? Or does it provide a guarantee on nothing except your bank account and/or ego?
Through posting either educate and/or focus on building strong, meaningful relationships that impact others and put you on top of their list when opportunity comes.

BTW – you are not doing good if you brag about doing good

The Key to the Engagement Door

In professional life it’s essential to take credit for your achievements; it just has to be done right — here’s how.

Rather than the standard ever used post of “Another successful course run for…” Write your story where your role or your company’s role is not the plots all conquering lead, more so it’s the loyal sidekick that aids and abets the hero – someone else.

Have the integrity to provide the real tools with which they can improve and become that hero in the story. To use a movie idiom; in Shawshank Redemption your Red, not the innocent yet incarcerated lead, Andy Dufresne.
In the Karate Kid you’re not Daniel the karate kid, your Mr. Miyagi, the sensei who prepares Daniel for life, rather than just learning the martial art. You are their Professor Dumbledore to Harry Potter.

If your posting about the last course, you ran – then ensure you’re the mentor who enables your student heroes to succeed. Thrust your students into the spotlight, where they belong. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to show who you’ve helped with your product or service.

Monologue vs Dialogue

In the end it’s about credibility. A third-party endorsement is far more influential and believable than tooting your own horn.
If you’ve provided value to them, chances are they’ll be happy to talk up you or your business – after all, you’ve earned it.

In this, your performance will testify for you.

Be careful that accomplishments and achievements should not make us blind toward others; their needs and interests or requirements.

I suggest that we all addressed – ‘All is I’ and `I am All`

Dean Hawkins