Social Media : Who To Follow, Who NOT To Follow.
In response to Google’s new Live Search feature (which they are currently unrolling), I threatened to write more about steps that you and your organization should be taking to launch a social media campaign. I first wrote about knowing your corporate story and getting your team members (staff) on board. This is a crucial step, so if you didn’t catch it yesterday, check it here first, then stroll on back.
Social Media Tip: Guilt By Association
After you know your story, you should know who you are going to associate yourself with and share your story with. Social media involves a great deal of ‘following’. Oftentimes, we get greedy and just want the quantity of followers, not the quality. Following and allowing the wrong people to follow you can deter you from getting your message out to the “RIGHT’ market as well as push any quality follower you have away as junk gets posted on your various social walls.
When determining who you wish to align yourself with considering the following:
1.) Where would your customers / prospects be hanging out? Would the majority be on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs? Have an understanding of your demographic, know where they hang out and BE THERE.
2.) It’s ok to follow your competition. You can learn from them, know what they are up to, and even engage them in dialogue. No, I’m not crazy, it isn’t like they aren’t following you or keeping an eyeball on what you are doing with your web site, your blog, etc. Following your competition and engaging them in dialogue is exactly what the Internet was meant for… the exchange of ideas and information.
3.) Follow your idols, leaders in your industry etc. This is important, If you love Seth Godin, follow Seth, the fellow followers of Seth will note that you are a Godin follower and follow you. Now you have like minded folks exchanging ideas about marketing, Seth’s latest book, his blog, etc.
You’re Bringing Me Down Man…. Some social types to NOT follow.
1.) Don’t follow MLM types. You’ve seen em, they are telling you how to get rich quick in the 18 minutes by utilizing their proven getting rich techniques. These people NEVER shut up. If you allow them in, they taint your innocent wall with crappy constant nonsense. It’s all about THEM.
2.) Internet Life Coaches. If you need some nourishment for your career, personal life, etc. PLEASE ask someone for a personal REAL Life coach referral. Twitter is not the place to find your next confidant. Life coaches seem to be popping up quicker than crap through a goose on the Internet. They have riddled Twitter with Kum Bay Ya and Life is Great and they will contaminate your followers with a constant stream of sunshine. Don’t be fooled, they aren’t out to spread joy, they need to make some cash.
3.) Women or men of the night. Yup, hookers linger on Twitter as well. Sure, they may have quite a following, but they too will leave you feeling empty and all dirty if you follow them. No good can come of this, period.
You get the idea. Keep it clean, keep it targeted, un-follow folks who bring you and your followers down.
I’ll talk about some specific Twitter tools for you to get acquainted with in my next blog. Thanks for reading.
