Social media is the big buzz. We have been swept up in the currents of Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter. We can allow the currents to carry us into new connections, new business, and massive reach and visibility. Or we can get caught in the currents that sink our reputation.
The biggest mistake in social media is not realizing that social media is a presentation. That’s right.
Success on social media follows the rules of effective presentation skills.
Mistake one: Without purpose or focus. What is your goal? Why do you use social networks? What are you trying to achieve? Make new contacts? To promote yourself or your business? To the investigation? Reach new markets? To establish yourself as a thought leader? Find a job?
Mistake two: Without strategy, how will you use social networks? How often? What shapes? Frequent communication is better than an occasional post.
Mistake three: Talking to the wrong audience Who is your audience? Are you just collecting names or are you more targeted? LinkedIn is more business and professional. Facebook is more social and informal. For example, if you are serious about job hunting, you will want to use LinkedIn and Facebook.
Furnace error: Projecting the wrong image. I have read posts on how to work on a boring project for a client. You may know that your client is not one of your connections. But what about the people who recommended it? What are you telling them? People tend to let their guard down more easily on Facebook. It is inappropriate to talk about a nasty divorce, troubled kids, or driving while intoxicated. This is not a private conversation. Worse yet, is using someone else’s name in a survey. Eg “Do you think Jane Doe is pretty?” People do not realize that he is always on stage. Mistakes after a live performance can be forgotten. On social media, your mistakes live forever on the Internet.
Mistake five: No real message. What do you plan to say? How will you say it? What is the style and tone of your communication? Nobody is really interested in you watching TV. This type of joke is free of content. Add value and you will attract more followers. New blog posts, an interesting statistic, a link to an article, or even a thought-provoking quote or reference to a book will make you more interesting.
Mistake six: Hard Sell: Nobody likes a presenter who sells from the platform. It is no different on social media. If every post is an advertisement for your products and services, you will soon be disconnected. Let people know about your accomplishments, but don’t tell them to buy.
Mistake seven: Don’t build relationships. Many people put up a profile and never visit the site. Maximize your presence by updating your profile so people know what you are doing. Ask questions. Answer questions to establish your expertise. Invite people to connect with you and then stay in touch. Be a resource. Connect with others. A good presenter knows how to build rapport with the audience.
Nothing will replace face-to-face communication. But meeting in person can take a long time. Social media can be a phenomenal platform to build a reputation and communicate with the world.
Just make sure you know how to introduce yourself, your message, and your value.