Yes, it’s happening. Brands and people and groups and everyone else is starting to flock to social media this year. Gone are the days where people were just intrigued about social media, we are now seeing more use of social media and it’s going mainstream. Now everyone wants to pitch you. And there lies the problem.
If you are a brand, the moment you start to pitch and sell, you’re toast. You might as well not even be on social media at all. People will tune you out.
So, for those brands that are savvy enough to understand this and more importantly, spend time to show their personality and allow their base to contribute to the discussion, or better yet, LEAD the discussion, we offer you these tips to stand out:
1. It’s not about YOU, it’s about THEM. This one is hard for many brands to understand, since they are so used to pushing things out. If you want to stand out, allow your base to participate 100%. Always. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And make sure you are responding.
2. Feed your base value and content that will keep you relevant, but don’t do it every 5 minutes. Find your focus, your purpose, and stick to it.
3. Be a moderator of the discussion. Use all the tools to track what people are saying about your brand, and make sure you are involved. Remember: a moderator doesn’t censor discussion, but allows it to occur.
4. Make your social media time a “job.” Most everyone associates social media with fun, but at some point, all brands need to understand that this is a job that allows you to create a more direct path to your base. Treat it as such, but you can have a little fun with it as well.
5. Once in a while, stir it up and stand out above the crowd. For example, here’s a crazy idea: dedicate one whole day of the week to just responding to everyone who connects with you instead of promoting what you are doing. Make a big deal out of it. Have fun with it, and who knows, you might get more interest and see your base grow.
