Six Tips for a Successful Social Media Existence

These are rules I have written for myself, to live long and prosper in social media. I am neither a social medial “expert” nor wildly successful in generating business through social media. But these rules make sense.

[This post that I did a few years ago is one of my favorites and I am running it again today.] These are rules I have written for myself, to (hopefully) live long and prosper in social media.  I am neither a social medial “expert” nor wildly successful in generating business through social media.  But these rules make sense.

Are you looking for a formula for social media success? Check out the rules I put together for myself. [Tweet this]

 

  1. Keep it positive.  The world is full of negative events and people.  For an example, follow any major news stream.  There is no reason to add to it.  Emphasizing negative points and people perceived “failings” does not add any value; it simply poisons the atmosphere.
  2. Respond to messages (particularly @ messages and direct messages on Twitter) If someone talks to you in “real” life, you usually answer.  Why should it be different in social media?  It should not.  Acknowledge people when you are single out through a Facebook Wall Posting or Twitter @ message.  It only takes a couple of seconds.
  3. Post value.  Common sense dictates people will want to follow if you offer something valuable to them.  It might be a tip, an interesting news story or news interesting local events.  There are millions of messages to read, the ones that stand out add value.
  4. Provide links that work.  This is a minor item, but clicking on links to interesting content that are broken is annoying.  If it happens more than once or twice with a particular source, I not inclined to keep clicking.
  5. If you understand it, leave it alone.  no one likes a nitpicker: in social media or in life.  It’s easy to mistype or leave out a word.  Usually it clear what the poster meant; if it is, there is no need to correct or question the post.  If there is a legitimate question about the post, ask the question in a way that is not smug or condescending.
  6. Be real. This phrase means different things to different people. When I use it, I’m talking about all of the content I generate on this site being a reflection of who I am.

Posted by Shawn Roberts

On this blog, I write about and try to answer practical Oklahoma legal questions. My focus and most experience is in estate planning and business issues including Oklahoma non-compete law. I make a living as an attorney in the law firm I founded, Shawn J. Roberts, P.C. in Oklahoma City. I live in Edmond with my wife Amy and my two children, Sam (19) and David (11). We live precisely in the path of where the "wind comes sweeping down the plains."