Why Social Media is like owning a Pet

You don’t just buy a dog and not feed it or take it on walks. (Well, some people do, but that’s a whole other rant.) The same thing can be said for Social Media. Do NOT set up a social media account if it is not something you are going to take care of! Like a pet, it is something you need to pay attention to, feed and play with on a regular basis.

Why? Here are four reasons:

4 Reasons Social Media is like owning a Pet

1. Social media needs to be fed

As any pet parent would know, nutrition is important and social media accounts are hungry. Their favorite food? Fresh content. Without it, you can’t expect your social media accounts to grow big and strong.

Social media is dependent on interaction between users. After all, aren’t we all just searching for that illusive retweet or social network share? If you can’t engage your followers, you can’t grow your brand, and you can’t get clicks if you don’t have anything to say.

2. Social media accounts need to go for ‘walks’

Walks are important for pets. Not only are they a great form of exercise, but they also play a major role in socialization. Social media is similar in that you really need to get out there and meet the neighbors, so to speak, so that you can get feedback on how your social media branding is being received.

Is it interesting? Are you getting clicks? Is your content being shared? These are questions you can get answered by engaging with other users, or better yet, by networking with others in the business. Just like pet owners at the dog park share their experiences, you can share yours with others in a similar situation. Conferences are a great place to do so!

3. Social media needs grooming

Social media is like a show-dog; it needs grooming. You can’t just put it all out there and hope that people are going to engage. You need to entice them.

How? By wrapping it up in a pretty package. That may mean mixing it up – add pictures to your blog posts, tweet an interesting video, share relevant materials. Sometimes, that may even mean cutting down on your posting.

I know, we just harped on the importance of feeding your social media accounts, but it is possible to go overboard. Have you ever followed a company on Facebook or Twitter only to be bombarded with a litany of advertisements or overt marketing messages? Yeah, it’s off putting. Knowing where to draw the line is important.

4. Sometimes social media needs to be ‘fixed’

You know the signs that your pet needs to be fixed, right? They may be a little over zealous or territorial, perhaps even aggressive. So you take them to the vet and get it taken care of. The same thing needs to be done for your social media accounts.

How do you know your accounts need to be fixed? Let’s start with the most obvious one: You have no interactions. Another? You are losing followers. If ever there was a sign that you are doing it wrong, then that is it. Now, we all lose followers, but if you are losing at a higher rate than you are gaining, it is a problem.

Recognize the signs and get it fixed.

Photo – © Annykos – Fotolia.com

Get Noticed On LinkedIn

Job seekers and professional organizations alike are putting in more time on their LinkedIn profiles. In the professional market it may as well be the new Google. What is the first thing you do when you are thinking about partnering with another company or hiring someone? You look them up.

Now, Facebook stalking might give you a better idea about an individual’s personal life, but it won’t tell you much about the business side of things. The same can be said for a company’s business page. If you really want the nitty-gritty, you need to check out their LinkedIn profile.

Why LinkedIn Works

Don’t have a LinkedIn profile set up for your business? Better get on it. LinkedIn is one of the best ways to get your brand noticed. Like Facebook, Twitter and Google+, you create the exposure for yourself. The difference is that this is the page where you really get into the meat of what you do.

I mean really, how many people out there are actually reading your mission statement on Facebook – or even on your website? Chances are very few. But LinkedIn is where those same people go to get that sort of information. They want to know who you are, what you do and why.

How to Get Noticed on LinkedIn

So how do you go about getting noticed on LinkedIn? Here are a few tips:

Use an engaging photograph.

If you’re a company, use the logo that best reflects your character (we know some of you have multiple logos). As an individual, the photo should give some idea of who you are. Into climbing mountains? There is nothing wrong with a mountaineering pic. Wanting to look professional? Suit up in your headshot.

Write a better summary.

You summary is the first thing that pops up when someone opens your profile. Give them something they want to read. I can’t stress enough just how boring it is to read all about your experience, but nothing that clues me in on the culture of your company or you as an individual.

Reel them in with your first sentence. Instead of “I graduated with a degree in…”, talk about an experience that has shaped you or a person you admire that has made you into who you are today.

Follow others.

The more companies you follow and the more individuals you connect with the more likely you are to spread your content or message. This is after all the primary premise of social media: engage with one another.

Publish and/or share good content.

You don’t have to pump out new content everyday, but you do need to share periodically. It isn’t enough to just exist. You can provide updates on current events within you company or even just re-share that great article you read on the importance of influencing others…or whatever it is that interests you and is relevant to your business.