67: Social Media Strategies for Women Leaders

Sharon Ehrlich, host of Living While Leading, shares insights on leveraging social media for leadership impact. 

She shares her LinkedIn success, including doubling her clients and winning speaking gigs. She advises leaders to prioritize authenticity over metrics, stay aware of audience reach, and avoid comparing themselves to social media stars. Consistency in posting, genuine engagement, and selecting the right platform are key. Sharon urges leaders to express their unique voices and view social media as a tool for connection, not perfection. 

Click here to read the full transcript of this episode.
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Over my career, I have accepted various promotions in the corporate space.
Then, at a certain point, I realized that something was very wrong.

I was the only woman in the room. Perhaps there were other women out there experiencing the same. And perhaps those women needed mentors. So, I decided to walk away from my high-paying executive job and started Living While Leading.

High-performing women deserve to be supported through the unique challenges they face in male-dominated spaces.

This is where OWN THE ROOM comes in. You work hard to build your expertise and reputation. You may question if you’re genuinely being seen or heard in specific spaces. This self-doubt impacts visibility, erodes confidence, and affects how others perceive your value.

In your one-off OWN THE ROOM 90-minute private session, I’ll help prioritize individual goals and brainstorm actionable steps.

Then, there’s my 3-month coaching program: the LWL 4-step system. You get weekly tailored sessions for 3 months for 1 hour to help you reach your goals.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to invest in yourself. The right time is now. Work with me to unlock your potential and ensure you own every room you enter.

Click here to work with Sharon.
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Transcript

67 Social Media Strategies for Women Leaders

Social media is a powerful tool for leaders. It allows you to amplify your voice, expand your influence, and connect with people who need your message. However, it’s easy to get distracted by the noise, metrics, and comparisons. So, today, I want to help you approach social media with authenticity, balance, and strategy.

Let me start by sharing a personal story. 
 
Exactly 2 years ago, I was looking for ways to expand my reach as an executive coach and public speaker. My client base was growing steadily but not at the pace I wanted. 
 
That’s when I decided to take LinkedIn seriously. I started sharing insights about leadership, engaging with others’ content, and building genuine connections. Over time, my visibility skyrocketed. 
 
I’ve been invited to speak at international conferences and events, and my client base has doubled. 
 
That experience taught me that authentic social media presence and a focus on providing value can yield transformative results.

Now that you know what’s possible, let’s discuss using social media effectively while remaining true to yourself.

Find the full transcript and other resources for women leaders at LivingWhileLeading.com/67.

Overcoming Vanity Metrics: Focus on Real Impact

One of the biggest traps on social media is getting distracted by vanity metrics such as likes, reactions, and follower counts. To illustrate this point, let me share a story from one of my coaching clients.

She came to me frustrated because her most recent LinkedIn post had “only” 35 reactions and reached 373 people. She felt like her efforts weren’t paying off. I asked her one simple question: “When was the last time you had 373 people in a room listening to something you had to say?” She paused for a moment and then laughed. She immediately understood my point: her post and message reached many people.

It’s so important to maintain perspective. Social media gives you access to an audience you might never reach otherwise. Show yourself some grace and acknowledge that if you keep at it, the people who need to hear your message will find it.

Authentic Connection: The Key to Social Media Success

Your goal isn’t to go viral or compete with influencers. Your goal is to connect authentically with your audience, whether that’s 10 people or 10,000. Share your expertise, values, challenges, and wins in a way that reflects who you are as a leader.

When you focus on authenticity, your connections will grow organically over time. 

Avoid Comparison: Embrace Your Unique Leadership Voice

This brings me to another important point: don’t compare yourself to others on social media. It’s easy to look at someone else’s polished posts or massive following and feel you’re falling short. But remember this: there are rock stars on every platform for whom being on social media is their business. More often than not, they have a team of people supporting them. 

Maintain perspective. Your leadership journey is unique, and so is your voice. Focus on what you bring to the table instead of worrying about what others are doing.

Consistency Without Burnout: Creating a Sustainable Posting Schedule

Consistency is key in building your online presence, but consistency doesn’t mean overextending yourself or burning out trying to post daily. Commit to a posting schedule that fits into your life.

Maybe that means posting once a week or twice a month—whatever works for you without adding unnecessary stress. Quality always outdoes quantity when building trust and credibility with your audience.

Engagement Strategies: Building Relationships Beyond Your Own Posts

Another essential part of having a strong social media presence is engaging with others’ content, not just posting your own. On LinkedIn, especially, how you interact with others is as important as what you share.

Take time each week to comment thoughtfully on posts from people in your network or industry leaders whose insights resonate with you. Share their content if it aligns with your values or message. This kind of engagement helps build relationships and increases your visibility.

Platform Focus: Maximize Your Presence on LinkedIn

If managing multiple platforms feels overwhelming, don’t spread yourself thin. Choose one platform that aligns with your goals and audience and focus your energy there. LinkedIn is an excellent choice for many professional women leaders because it allows you to showcase your expertise while connecting with like-minded professionals.

Once you’ve chosen your platform, commit fully by showing up consistently and authentically.

Beyond Algorithms: Authentic Content Strategies for Leaders

Finally, and this is critical, stop trying to game the algorithm! It’s tempting to chase trends or tweak your content endlessly to boost visibility, but this approach often leads to frustration and burnout.

Instead of worrying about algorithms, focus on consistency and authenticity in your online presence. Share valuable insights from your expertise, tell meaningful stories from your journey as a leader, and engage genuinely with others in your network.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up today’s conversation, let me leave you with this thought: Your voice matters. Your experiences as a leader have the power to inspire and empower others—but only if you share them.

Social media isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. So step up, speak out, and trust that the people who need your message will eventually find it.

Remember, you’re the solution to claiming what’s important to you!