4 Social Media Lessons I Learned from Sir Richard Branson!
Posted 2nd March 2014 at 09:48 AM by JosieAberdeen
Chances are if You follow Fortune 500 billionaires, or if You were born anytime between the 1930's to the 80's and are into music, adventuring, entrepreneurship, You will have heard of Sir Richard Branson.
Branson is unique. With his good-looks, down-to-earthiness and his penchant for building successful companies on his non-conformist philosophy, he is one of the most likeable billionaires of our times.
Sir Richard Branson's career as a professional entrepreneur began in 1966 when he was 16. He had dropped out from school where, because of his dyslexia, he had had a tough time.
His first venture was a school magazine called, "Student". A certain indicator for future success, “Students “first run sold over 8,000.00 worth of advertising". This was 4,000 more than what he was given, by his father, as a 'downside' goal to determine if he had it in him to make the magazine succeed and to justify dropping out of school.
As the magazine continued to flourish, Branson, in 1969 used its success to start the iconic record flagship-Virgin- that he would become known for. Later in 1972 the third company, Virgin Records label came into being. Never one to sit on his laurels, one decade later, Branson expanded his growing empire into what would include a travel consortium.
A serial social entrepreneur even before there was a name for it, many of Branson's ventures were all about changing the way things were done. The magazine was to protest against the Vietnam War; the record label because record pricing in the UK were immutably decided by a few people and could not be altered. He changed all that. -The travel consortium which included Virgin Airlines, because, as he saw it- the service in the airline industry, was terrible. And later the financial industry [Virgin Money] because he thought that he could bring a sense of community and trust into a 'staid and boring' industry. He also wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of both employees and customers.
Throughout all his entrepreneurial adventures he always protected the 'downside'. In other words, should he need it, he always had an escape route. It was a sort of low-point threshold which he wrote into agreements and contracts [such as he did when he bought his first Boeing] and which he also used as a guide to help him decide when to abandon an idea.
In the forty plus years that Branson has been an entrepreneur he, like every entrepreneur, suffered losses and challenges. In 1992 he sold Virgin for 2.1 billion because it was losing money. It is said that during the signing and even days after he was so sadden by the loss that he was still literally crying.
Sir Richard Branson is a paladin both online and off. In terms of the latter he supports and contributes to many social initiatives [such as Control Shift a program for youth entrepreneurs], that is meant to make significant changes in people’s lives. In terms of the former, like many of his peers he has written several great books. But he differs from many billionaires because he sees the power and benefits of social media and therefore writes his own blog posts. As a blogger on LinkedIn he has over 3, million followers. The writer of this post is one such follower. In his blogs is a gamut of great advice. One piece that comes to mind is this: ‘whether You have one million followers or one, treat each person as if they are the only one. In other words treat each person as if they are special.
This is the 2nd installation for my yearlong series: "2014 Year of the Purpose-Led Entrepreneur". The purpose is to find the social media gems hidden within the subject’s life. As with the previous subject, Sir Richard Branson’s is no exception here too are 4 social media gems that can help up your, and my game. These are:
1. We all have disabilities. But we each are compensated in some way. For Sir Richard Branson though he was dyslexic he was also a great people-person.
Social Media Networking Lesson: Do not be limited by what You cannot do and what You do not have. Even if You are unable to spell or form coherent sentences do not let that stop You from communicating with your network. Write your thoughts in a word doc, edit [or get someone on Fiverr who can], copy and paste into your Twitter, Facebook or any other of your social places. Alternatively, You can create videos, podcast and slides, to get your message across.
2. Have a purpose and keep growing, keep moving do not plateau out or sit on your laurels. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin has over 200 companies and each is in some way or the other is making things better for people.
Social Media Networking Lesson: Have a purpose. And even when You meet your goal set new ones. So though your goal on Twitter maybe to have 1,000 follower when You get there set a new one. Take what You learn on Twitter and now do the same on Pinterest or on other social media platforms or on niche-specific hubs such as MosaicHub or WarriorForum etc.
3. Have a 'downside' goal aka an escape plan or a low-point threshold. Know when to call it quits.
Social Media Networking Lesson: If, for example, You are publishing daily blogs and are doing everything You can to grow your fan base but it’s just not happening know when to quit. Now by quitting I do not necessarily mean your business idea. What I mean is rather than daily blogs consider producing a super blog once or twice weekly. Use the rest of the time to produce other types of content or even to take the time to build relationships with people in your network.
Maybe have a #Tweetchat on twitter or provide ‘a Question and Answer live session on Facebook or on Google+. When people become interested in You they want to read your blog. Another strategy is -find niche-specific hubs where your tribe/target-market/ peeps are, become part of the community and take your blogs to them.
4. Even, as you expand and grow stay true to your ‘‘Key” purpose. The Virgin and other company groups/ consortiums owned by Richard Branson, though all do something differently, have one Key thing in common- They find what’s wrong with the industry and make things better by bringing their brand of community and humanity into the mix.
Social Media Networking Lesson: As You grow and expand your presence on social media platforms though each is different- example LinkedIn allows a certain amount of professional ‘primping’; Twitter- sharing pithy perspective; Google+ and Facebook- passions and Pinterest is all about eye pleasing pleasurable pursuits- populate and tie each together with that indelible thing that makes the Brand Called, You- You!
Peace + Much Love
I Am Wishing You Well
Namaste
Sincerely
Josie
/\o
Branson is unique. With his good-looks, down-to-earthiness and his penchant for building successful companies on his non-conformist philosophy, he is one of the most likeable billionaires of our times.
Sir Richard Branson's career as a professional entrepreneur began in 1966 when he was 16. He had dropped out from school where, because of his dyslexia, he had had a tough time.
His first venture was a school magazine called, "Student". A certain indicator for future success, “Students “first run sold over 8,000.00 worth of advertising". This was 4,000 more than what he was given, by his father, as a 'downside' goal to determine if he had it in him to make the magazine succeed and to justify dropping out of school.
As the magazine continued to flourish, Branson, in 1969 used its success to start the iconic record flagship-Virgin- that he would become known for. Later in 1972 the third company, Virgin Records label came into being. Never one to sit on his laurels, one decade later, Branson expanded his growing empire into what would include a travel consortium.
A serial social entrepreneur even before there was a name for it, many of Branson's ventures were all about changing the way things were done. The magazine was to protest against the Vietnam War; the record label because record pricing in the UK were immutably decided by a few people and could not be altered. He changed all that. -The travel consortium which included Virgin Airlines, because, as he saw it- the service in the airline industry, was terrible. And later the financial industry [Virgin Money] because he thought that he could bring a sense of community and trust into a 'staid and boring' industry. He also wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of both employees and customers.
Throughout all his entrepreneurial adventures he always protected the 'downside'. In other words, should he need it, he always had an escape route. It was a sort of low-point threshold which he wrote into agreements and contracts [such as he did when he bought his first Boeing] and which he also used as a guide to help him decide when to abandon an idea.
In the forty plus years that Branson has been an entrepreneur he, like every entrepreneur, suffered losses and challenges. In 1992 he sold Virgin for 2.1 billion because it was losing money. It is said that during the signing and even days after he was so sadden by the loss that he was still literally crying.
Sir Richard Branson is a paladin both online and off. In terms of the latter he supports and contributes to many social initiatives [such as Control Shift a program for youth entrepreneurs], that is meant to make significant changes in people’s lives. In terms of the former, like many of his peers he has written several great books. But he differs from many billionaires because he sees the power and benefits of social media and therefore writes his own blog posts. As a blogger on LinkedIn he has over 3, million followers. The writer of this post is one such follower. In his blogs is a gamut of great advice. One piece that comes to mind is this: ‘whether You have one million followers or one, treat each person as if they are the only one. In other words treat each person as if they are special.
This is the 2nd installation for my yearlong series: "2014 Year of the Purpose-Led Entrepreneur". The purpose is to find the social media gems hidden within the subject’s life. As with the previous subject, Sir Richard Branson’s is no exception here too are 4 social media gems that can help up your, and my game. These are:
1. We all have disabilities. But we each are compensated in some way. For Sir Richard Branson though he was dyslexic he was also a great people-person.
Social Media Networking Lesson: Do not be limited by what You cannot do and what You do not have. Even if You are unable to spell or form coherent sentences do not let that stop You from communicating with your network. Write your thoughts in a word doc, edit [or get someone on Fiverr who can], copy and paste into your Twitter, Facebook or any other of your social places. Alternatively, You can create videos, podcast and slides, to get your message across.
2. Have a purpose and keep growing, keep moving do not plateau out or sit on your laurels. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin has over 200 companies and each is in some way or the other is making things better for people.
Social Media Networking Lesson: Have a purpose. And even when You meet your goal set new ones. So though your goal on Twitter maybe to have 1,000 follower when You get there set a new one. Take what You learn on Twitter and now do the same on Pinterest or on other social media platforms or on niche-specific hubs such as MosaicHub or WarriorForum etc.
3. Have a 'downside' goal aka an escape plan or a low-point threshold. Know when to call it quits.
Social Media Networking Lesson: If, for example, You are publishing daily blogs and are doing everything You can to grow your fan base but it’s just not happening know when to quit. Now by quitting I do not necessarily mean your business idea. What I mean is rather than daily blogs consider producing a super blog once or twice weekly. Use the rest of the time to produce other types of content or even to take the time to build relationships with people in your network.
Maybe have a #Tweetchat on twitter or provide ‘a Question and Answer live session on Facebook or on Google+. When people become interested in You they want to read your blog. Another strategy is -find niche-specific hubs where your tribe/target-market/ peeps are, become part of the community and take your blogs to them.
4. Even, as you expand and grow stay true to your ‘‘Key” purpose. The Virgin and other company groups/ consortiums owned by Richard Branson, though all do something differently, have one Key thing in common- They find what’s wrong with the industry and make things better by bringing their brand of community and humanity into the mix.
Social Media Networking Lesson: As You grow and expand your presence on social media platforms though each is different- example LinkedIn allows a certain amount of professional ‘primping’; Twitter- sharing pithy perspective; Google+ and Facebook- passions and Pinterest is all about eye pleasing pleasurable pursuits- populate and tie each together with that indelible thing that makes the Brand Called, You- You!
Peace + Much Love
I Am Wishing You Well
Namaste
Sincerely
Josie
/\o
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