I have a new Facebook page and I want to talk to you about it. Phasing out my current page and starting a new one was an idea that I tossed around in my mind for quite a while, probably knowing all along that I had to do it. As each day passed and as more people “liked” my old page, I saw that I was getting deeper and deeper into something that I didn’t want.
I always tell clients that it is very difficult to learn social media with just a few training sessions and that understanding social media is an ongoing process. Ever since I brought my business to the social space, I’ve spent hours each day learning, not only for my clients but also for myself. I knew that I had to bite the bullet and apply my knowledge to my own business.
As many of you know from following me on Facebook or by reading this blog, I really liked the term “Social Media Lifestylist.” I feel that I’ve outgrown it or it just isn’t a match for me anymore, though. Unfortunately, Facebook only allows you to change the name of a page if you have fewer than 200 “likers” and it only lets you change the vanity URL once. I had to make a choice and there were only two options. I could keep doing what I was doing or make a very large change by starting a new business page. I decided to go with the latter and am committed to rebuilding.
I’ve received a lot of questions about why I made this choice so I want to be authentic and explain.
- When I first started social media consulting, “hip” titles were trendy. I went with that flow and chose “Social Media Lifestylist.” The “cool” factor is no longer as relevant. People are spending money less frivolously and want something more serious, even if it’s JUST in the words. My content and my business aren’t changing but the title of what I do is being altered as a result of the knowledge that I have gained over the past few years. I think that using “Social Media Consultant and Trainer” is a more timeless option.
- I got a speck tired of discussing what my vision of “Social Media Lifestylist” is. I made a YouTube video explaining it and I wrote a blog post about it almost two years ago. I understood, though, that the questions would increase as my audience increased. I wanted to put a stop to that. I probably waited about a year longer than I should have but I eventually took the plunge and set up my new page, Lauren Huston – Social Media Consultant and Trainer.
- Would anyone think to search for “Social Media Lifestylist” on Google? “Social Media Consultant” has more strength with regards to search engines. Facebook business pages are indexed on Google so the words that I use are very important. This was a huge factor for me.
I really had to do this but felt quite overwhelmed by the thought of it. So far, I’m very happy with the transition and I’m extremely thankful to the loyal members of my audience who “liked” the new page so quickly. Your support means a lot to me. If you haven’t been over to the page already, I encourage you to make a visit and “like” it. All of the hyperlinks in this post will lead you to my new home on Facebook. If you really want to make this gal smile, go ahead and share the page with your friends.
I know I’m not the only one who has taken on big transitions like this. What have you done that initially seemed like a daunting task? Did you dive in head first immediately or did you drag your heels a bit? How did the change work for you?
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