Social Media: Tricks and Treats

Let’s be honest, if you’re like me, the idea of social media was scary at first. I mean, it’s one thing to publish a website, but it’s another to create an online presence that draws in people you don’t know and invite them to chat among themselves while you listen in. Of social media I often hear, ‘It doesn’t work in my industry’ or ‘I don’t have time for that’.  But what they’re really saying is ‘I don’t know how to get started and I’m a little scared.‘ Getting started can be scary. Social media demands transparency, which takes many of us out of our comfort zones. But, if you keep in mind the below five steps, perhaps we can move beyond the tricks and get to the real treats of engaging your customers where they are.

1.  Take it a step at a time – Find one or two sites that make sense for your business. Visit your local library and check out books that explain, in detail, how to make the most of those sites. If you’re still stumped, hire a social media expert. A photographer once told me that Twitter made no sense to her but she loves Facebook and Pinterest. In such a visual field as photography, the ability to post and pin pictures showcases her talent and expands her reach.
2. Don’t feel forced into it – This isn’t one of those bandwagon ideas. You can’t dive into social media just because everyone else is doing it. Creating engaging content that appeals to one’s emotions as well as reason takes work and a lot of time. The ROI won’t be immediate. If you go into it half-hearted, it will be obvious and you’ll become discouraged.
3. Watch your hook ups – Yes, you want followers, connections, friends etc.., but as a smaller operation, you have the luxury of doing what larger companies may not, getting qualified leads, not just some random dude with little to no clue of who you are or what you do. Block and SPAM features are there for a reason.
4. Keep it professional - Remember, your business social media should be kept separate from personal social media. Not everyone has pure intentions so exercise caution if posting specifics about yourself and family.
5. Make it fun – Take the pressure off yourself. You’re not writing a term paper. You’re having a conversation. Conversations tend to be imperfect and real. Let your personality come through and your audience will appreciate it.

This Halloween, my daughter, faced her fears. There is one house on our block that goes overboard every year with scary decor and she has always avoided it. But, this year was different. She slowly walked toward the boiling cauldron and creepy skeleton and knocked on the door.  She was welcomed by a kind neighbor with a handful of candy. She faced her fears and realized that it wasn’t so bad after all and she was rewarded greatly.

**Buzzworthy:  Harpeth Marketing. Steve Henke, President.