We all fall into the social media trap. We set up our profiles, our accounts, our content, then we get some friends, fans, followers, and likes. Things pick up a bit, but they never seem to turn the corner. We get stuck in the hundreds when we want to reach the thousands, the tens of thousands, and eventually the hundreds of thousands.
The reason is a simple one: when it comes to social media, the vast majority of us would rather shout than share.
What do I mean? When you are actively working your social media presence, do you act this way:
1. You shout about your own profile.
2. You shout about your own product.
3. You shout about your own blog.
4. You shout about your own links.
5. You shout about your own comments.
You are a one-way shouting and streaming machine. All that shouting leads to way too much noise online. And you wonder why you might get frustrated and why you are not getting the visits to your sites that you thought social media would bring you. To truly achieve your goal, you need to change the way you approach your social media strategy and act this way:
Share other people’s profiles with other people who will be interested in them. Do not underestimate the power of connecting two people together on Twitter through an introduction or tagging a Facebook profile on your feed.
Share other people’s products. Start a community and invite people to talk about what they are doing in the community you have initiated. Let them take the lead. You are just the moderator of the discussion, and they are the generators of the content. They, not you, take the stage.
Share other people’s blogs. If you read something you loved, share that with others. Share it immediately. Say that you loved the content of the piece because you actually did. Your stream will respond if you keep finding great content for them.
Share other people’s links. Similar to blogs, allow your readers, followers, fans, and likes to post their relevant links to your pages. Not only will it create the open environment you are striving for in social media, it will also add value to your own content.
Share other people’s comments. This one is key: You have to respond to all the comments you receive anywhere you receive them, whether they are on your blog, on your social media sites, or in your inboxes. You must always be someone who wants to converse with the people who want to talk with you. There are so many distractions online that when you find those seconds of true connection, savor them. Always be replying.
Need an example? Go to this blog called The First 99 People to Follow on Twitter. It is what sharing is all about. That blog, written by @HilzFuld, captures the essence of being a sharer and not a shouter.
So, remember: It’s always more fun to share with everyone.
Hit it, Mr. Jack Johnson.
Really appreciate your comments. You had me on the first point about helping people connect. I’ve been successful at growing my LinkedIn group, LinkedUp Grand Rapids, to nearly 6,000 members simply by helping people connect.
Social media is about people connecting and sharing information, ideas, concerns, dreams, wishes, passion, etc. Shouting, as you so succinctly point out, simply doesn’t work in this environment.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the comment. Great work on your part. Hope you are engaging with your network as well.
Boy, you really nailed it. There are so many ways to be “a good egg” on social media. Which will pay you back in spades. I hardly ever promote myself or what I do, and yet the community around me will leap at a chance to give me a shoutout when I need it. Why? Because, like you and @ginidietrich and @justinthesouth, @foiledcupcakes, @jeffmello, @nancymyrland… people who help people are the luckiest people of all. Very happy to know the likes of you folks.
And we are very lucky to know you!
That is so true we all need to share what we find so other people could have a chance to see what you like
Thanks, bro. Peace.
Spot on advice, Julio! Couldn’t agree more. A year into my Twitter experience, an industry heavyweight discovered me and tweeted “is it my fault that I didn’t know this entity existed or Tim’s fault for not getting the word out?” Though not clear to me then, the answer is clear now – “you FOUND me!” I just needed to be patient, which IMHO, is the key to following the advice in your post. I’d throw consistency in the mix, too 🙂
That is an excellent example. Much appreciated!
[…] a follow up to our well-received post, Share, Don’t Shout, we will be focusing on real case studies on Twitter and Facebook that prove that it is all about […]