We are in the middle of our 10 in 10 series on Social Media and today we wanted to focus on consistency.  Most companies have become hyper-sensitive to being consistent in their branding efforts.  From their colors and font to visual messaging most of us have our clients right in line when it comes to branding consistency.  However, consistency is also important in the social media world.

Everyone talks about how the new year allows each of us to start with a clean slate.  We can make a resolution to lose weight, get in shape, or become a better person.  The same can be said for our social media activities as well.  The new year brings the opportunity for us to change some things about our online identity in much the same way as we do offline.  In that spirit we have compiled a list of the top 5 consistency builders in social media:

1. I will be consistent in Username/Branded URL – Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are the linchpins of social media.  Each of these sites allow their users to have a branded url.  (www.twitter.com/USERNAME, www.facebook.com/USERNAME, www.linkedin.com/in/USERNAME)  Your journey to consistency should start with having the same username on each site.  Facebook and LinkedIn are very responsive to helping businesses claim their trademarked/copyrighted brand usernames if they are currently taken.
2. I will have consistent imaging. – All social media sites (let me know if you find one that doesn't) have a small area on each page for an image.  Your image should be consistent among all of the sites.  Since many social media sites do not allow additional branding opportunities on their sites, your image should be consistent to allow people to instantly recognize your brand when they see your fan page or profile.
3. I will post on a regular basis. – Social media marketing success doesn't just happen overnight.  I am sure we have all heard about people that hit it big with a viral video, but if you take a look, the majority of them have many, many other videos.  Bloggers have long known that posting on a regular basis keeps their readers coming back.  We should take this approach with all of social media.  It won't help your brand to have a page and then ignore it.
4. I will not bite off more than I can chew. – It is important to be consistent, but that can easily become unmanageable if you start with too much at once.  If you decide tomorrow to do one podcast per week and you travel 3 weeks a month that probably isn't realistic.  It would be great to have a podcast every week, but if your listeners show up and you don't post for two or three weeks, they won't be back.  Start with a monthly podcast and nail it each month.  Then move up to bi-weekly.  Being consistent sometimes means starting slow and building up.
5. I will rinse and repeat. – When you read the back of the shampoo bottle it says, "Lather, rinse, and repeat."  Consistency in social media is the same.  You need to do all of the things mentioned above and then do them again, and again with all of the social media that you manage.  The very definition of consistency.  Once you can get the hang of being consistent, then your influence online will grow and grow.

Okay, what did we miss?  Anything you have to add on being consistent?  Let us know!