Social media are used so heavily nowadays, users probably give little thought to a very important principle behind the process. In addition to posting on our pages, we are to comment on and otherwise react to what other people post. In so doing we develop the kinds of relationships that endure. Just as importantly, we help the other person build an online presence. In other words, using social media is a two-way street.
Recall the very nature of social media: It's where people meet interact with each other. Think of this as a digital version of the old town square or rural post office. Back then people would congregate to chat, catch up on news (and gossip, of course!), and otherwise socialize. Today we gather online via certain Web sites known collectively as social media.
What does this mean for you? In short, you should be giving along with receiving. And for the most part that giving should occur without any expectations of return from the other people.
In the social media world, giving generally refers to giving providing exposure to someone else's content. That content could be a blog post, video, tweet, or any other piece of online material. Additional examples include commenting on a post and clicking "like" to an item.
Let's see how this works in practice.
Bob posts a blog column and promotes it via a tweet and Facebook posting. You follow Bob in those platforms so you see his promotional comments. (You may also see his blog post via an RSS feed or other manner.)
Bob's column is particularly noteworthy and, because you subscribe to the basic tenet of social media - giving - you provide your own exposure to his column. You tweet about it and post a comment on your Facebook page (in addition to commenting on Bob's Facebook page), and provide a link within your post. For an added touch you hop over to Bob's blog and leave a comment. Bloggers really appreciate thoughtful comments.
One really nice benefit to being involved like this is that you help the person's site achieve a better ranking in search engines. Search engines rank pages based upon relevancy. That's a fancy word for popularity, and it's determined by the number of clicks to a page as well as backlinks and visits. (For massive exposure, Bob may also subscribe to a syndication service.) You as a visitor and commenter play a crucial role in this effort.
You're probably thinking, "Great. I give Bob all this exposure. What about me?"
Recall my comment above about giving with no expectations. That's true for the business world in general. (Think of the referrals you are happy to offer.)
"What goes around comes around," is true in the online world also. The more you assist others in helping with their online efforts, the more they will help you. Those individuals understand, just as you do, that using social media is a two-way street. If you haven't done so already, commit to this important principle, and the online community will become an even better place.
Tom Fuszard has more than 20 years of experience in the business world, much of that in sales and advertising. He uses social media regularly to educate visitors on various business topics. One important tool is his YouTube channel. Tom provides additional information on his blog. Questions? Feel free to contact Tom via tom@tomfuszard.com.
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