Don’t Be A Spectator Be Social
[By Paul Bartholomew]
Social media is the hot topic lately. Some think it’s great and some think it wastes valuable time. Yes, it can be both and it may not be for everyone. However, don’t expect the world to come right to you without some dedication on your end. It won’t work if it’s not routine and it won’t work if you don’t push yourself a little into trying new things.
So many social media sites out there and so little time. First of all, don’t try to jump into every single one. I suggest gradually checking them out and getting a feel for what you like best. I have my favorite sites, but it took me a while to feel comfortable with the daily routine and this new way of communicating.
Daily routine? Communicating? You mean we have to actually do something? The word social is in there for a reason and we have to remember that this is all about a new way of interacting with people. Text, video, audio and images all come into play and best of all we are communicating internationally. It’s the new version of pen pals but on a much higher and complex level.
You may want to be a spectator and just observe and that’s fine at first, but how will people take notice of what you do? If your intent is to promote then get out there and mingle! Share ideas, your photography and whatever else you have to say. There is an audience for everyone but you need to get yourself out into the social media world. This may be your best investment in a long while.
3 Responses to 'Don’t Be A Spectator Be Social'
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You hit the nail on the head when you say “investment”. It is that.
You must commit and understand the cost of doing it or the cost of not doing it. It’s gotta be a part of your overall marketing plan. Uh, oh … I just said a 4-letter word. P L A N.
For me, my “plan” is to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blog) purely for commerce. I’m not taking time to post info about family or personal life. It’s all about my business. I know that’s not an earth shattering concept but it does help me plan how I am going to communicate with the masses and my followers.
The ROI, like with many other marketing efforts, might not be directly trackable back to the time and mental energy put into social media but it’s part of a bigger picture. Part of a plan to cover as many marketing bases with finite resources.
Is social media worth more than a huge billboard on a rural road? That’ll just have to be something you evaluate on an ongoing basis.
Thanks for the comments Kyle. You make some great points. Social media is so new that we need to keep trying new things and most of all be creative with utilizing the new forms of media. To do that we must have a plan in place and make adjustments as we go along.
Can’t agree more. It can be hard to put yourself out there but when you do it can be very rewarding.