3 Lessons Brands Can Learn From Simone Biles

Photo: Gregory Bull/AP

ICYMI, last week, Simone Biles announced her brave decision to withdraw from the Olympics in order to put her mental health first. She opened up about the choice in an Instagram post, writing:

“I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn't affect me. But, damn, it's hard.”

Her honesty totally struck me—and it also got me thinking about all the lessons brands can learn from her bravery.

Here they are:

1. Just because another brand makes it look easy, doesn’t mean it is.

Do you ever look at your competitors on social media and think they have it all figured out? Maybe they have more Instagram followers, maybe they have that coveted Swipe Up, maybe they’re getting featured by huge, mission-aligned influencers you haven’t been able to land. 

Believe me—as a social media strategist for mission-driven brands I’ve been there. But the truth is you have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes of that brand, what they’re struggling with, or how much work it took them to get there. Just like Simone Biles makes it seem like the pressure doesn’t affect her, your competitors’ success on social media might seem like it came much more easily than it actually did.  

2. Put mental health first. Period.

Whether you’re a team of 1 or 100, you can’t succeed on social media without self-care. If you’re feeling burnt out, it’s going to be really hard to find the creativity for content creation or the energy to engage with social media followers in a way that converts them into customers.

So make sure you and your team take time for yourselves, just like Biles is doing right now. For example, pulling back on your posting goals during a holiday weekend or slow season is not just OK, it can actually help you boost your overall engagement. 

Need help implementing these strategies? Book a Free Strategy Call to start making impact on social media without the stress.

3. Use your platform to give voice to tough issues.

Simone Biles is taking an important stand not just for herself but for the importance of mental health overall. But that’s not the only issue she’s giving voice to. 

Back in April, Biles, already a 4-time medalist, revealed in an interview with Hoda Kotb that her love of gymnastics wasn’t the only reason she’d be returning to the Olympics. Biles is also one of hundreds of gymnasts to report being sexually abused by Larry Nasser LINK, the former team doctor for the United States women's national gymnastics team. So, she felt a responsibility to use her spotlight to hold USA Gymnastics accountable.

“I had to come back to the sport to be a voice, to have change happen," Biles told Kotb. "Because I feel like if there weren't a remaining survivor in the sport, they would've just brushed it to the side.”

This decision is another example of Biles’ bravery, but the truth is that she shouldn’t have to fight this fight alone. And that’s where your brand comes in. 

Yes, Biles has a platform, but as a mission-driven brand, so do you!

Your social media presence is a powerful tool for building awareness and inspiring action around the tough issues that matter most to your community—whether that’s sexual abuse, systemic racism, or the future of the planet.

Some of my recent Instagram posts speaking to issues I care about.

And, after leading social media for mission-driven brands, I know that building this type of socially conscious social media presence doesn’t have to come at the expense of your sales goals. In fact, using social media for social good can actually attract your dream customers and entice them to buy from you.

So, today, I want to ask:

What’s one important issue your brand can speak to on social media?

Want more tips like these? Sign up here to be the first to read my next blog post.