Tackling social media marketing with former Essendon star David Zaharakis

Lovethegv’s Social Fusion 2024 brought together Goulburn Valley business owners to learn how to grow their online presence.

Mr Zaharakis shared his expertise on social media marketing, as an influencer with over 70,000 followers and millions of views.

He shared tips on marketing, working with algorithms and the mutual value for businesses and influencers that comes from working hand in hand.

The shift from AFL star to social media ambassador might sound unlikely, but Mr Zaharakis says it was smooth and rewarding.

“For me, the transition from AFL wasn’t as hard, purely for the fact that I was already doing it when I was playing,” he said.

Football clubs encouraged players to join social media when Instagram and other platforms were just starting.

Mr Zaharakis said he was thankful he took the advice and strongly encouraged business owners to do the same.

“The saying is, ‘The best time to make a social media profile is yesterday,’” Mr Zaharakis said.

“You don’t get into social media influencing to get rich. It’s definitely a lifestyle, and an income stream that’s a part of a lot of things.”

“I find that everyone has a phone these days, everyone spends a lot of time online on a laptop or sitting at home on their phone.

“If you don’t do (advertising) online, you’re going to fall behind these days.

“So, I think it’s very important that (businesses) do it, but it’s important to tailor it with a strategy towards your target market.

“If you’re going to work with an influencer, or with brands, it needs to align with some kind of strategy. It can’t just be thrown out anywhere.”

Mr Zaharakis is now pivoting more towards triathlon content and preparing to take on challenges around the world.

His growing audience has pivoted with him, and now over 70,000 pairs of eager eyes worldwide are excited to follow his journey.

“(How I stay motivated) for me, is it’s fun. It creates a lifestyle where I don’t have to wake up and work a nine-to-five.

“I can train, I can compete, because influencing and that lifestyle is very fluid.”

Advice that stuck out, among many anecdotes and tips, was Mr Zaharakis’ emphasis on loyalty to a personal brand, and authenticity, to “push what you love”.

“Find something that you love, that you find creates joy for you, and then push that,” he said.

For businesses, that could be their products or services, the result of years of hard work and devotion.

“Push out as much content as you can. Growth could take 12 months, it could take two years, and it can be very slow to start, but you’ll get compounding effects on that.”