Why you need a social media outlet

 Whether you own a business or are seeking a job, it is important that you have an online personality. In this digital age where there appear to be more and more meaningful activities online, you need to be present in order to participate. Participation can get you a career, discounts, and maybe a spouse!

To get jobs and jump start your career, there are platforms like LinkedIn. To share an idea or thought quickly, there are platforms like Twitter. To share your life experiences with friends, there are platforms like Facebook. With platforms like e-harmony you may even be able to meet a life partner.

While each individual has the option of staying off social media outlets or being anonymous (assuming being anonymous is still possible), there are clear benefits of having a face to a name online. If you wish to be part of the global community, there will come a time when participation on a social media platform will be a requirement to receive goods and services. You may be able to stay offline today but soon you will need a social media outlet.

Are head hunters going the way of the dodo?

Ever since I was encouraged to join LinkedIn I have seen it grow in popularity. I have watched my network grow and even gotten recommendations from others. Many of my colleagues share the same story. With the size of our networks and the people we know, there are fewer reasons to go to a recruitment firm for a job placement. 

Indeed recruitment firms are only useful for specific and perhaps niche roles that cannot easily be filled by searching through LinkedIn. So while head hunters are not extinct, it should be noted that today social media is not just for sharing photos, raising money, or broadcasting an idea. Now you can get a job and perhaps launch a career as well.

Content

Lately I have been paying more attention to the content I consume online. I find I am more receptive to content that moves me. Let me be specific. Themes like world peace, friendship, and uniqueness are striking a cord. It appears marketers are noting this too. 

Many companies like Coca-Cola and Mini have capitalized on this. But what does this mean for them? In my mind, companies like Coca-Cola and Mini their audience is drawing a direct connection between the companies and the themes they are using. It is like equating Coca-Cola to a taste of friendship and the Mini to a piece of uniqueness.

When brands are able to connect with the consumer by using suitable (and appealing) content, they win.

Connecting Online

Not all digital notes (tweets, online comments, email, etc.) go into the “Ether”. There are people who actually read (and appreciate) the information shared. I was impressed by the Ted Talk given by Amanda Palmer about asking. Asking is not a sign of weakness. 

In the absence of touch, people now have the luxury of ‘reaching out’ online. It is pleasantly surprising to find that we are not alone. And unlike bullies out there might think – there are people out there that care about you. Connections online can be as real and meaningful as connections in person

What are the best Social Media platforms?

Your platform of choice inherently depends on who you are trying to market to. If the goal is to reach professionals, platforms like LinkedIn ought to be at the top of your list. If you need to reach the youth perhaps Twitter should be the top platform of choice.

There is little need to have a presence on all platforms. In fact, it does not make economic sense to have a presence on all platforms. Choosing the 2 – 5 platforms that meet your business needs ought to be sufficient. The first task should be figuring out what platforms your target customer uses. Once this information is known, then you can choose the platforms to market on.

Personal Branding for the Web

This week I have been looking more closely at how people and companies present themselves online. There may be truth to the correlation between an online personality and the person’s actual personality. Gregarious people are far more likely to tweet or update Facebook, Pinterest, etc. incessantly.

One might argue that there has to be an exception to this rule. Not all web personas are similar to real personas; unless of course the people in question have not learned to use the web platforms.

Regardless, on the web it is important to be a true representation of yourself as others may use web information to discover that you are a suitable match for job posts, volunteer efforts, and even recreation.

Customer Engagement. They like me, they like me not…

Customer engagement success is not based on the number of ‘Likes’ on a Facebook page. The ‘Like’ on a Facebook page may be for the photo or text displayed not for actual endorsement of products and services. Far better proofs of customer engagement are reviews and testimonials.

For companies to succeed at customer engagement, they need to provide customers with products and services so good that the customers feel the need to leave positive feedback. And when the feedback is provided, the companies should show gratitude for it. In addition, companies should provide tips on how to use their products and services to meet the obvious needs and perhaps some tips on solutions for needs that may be less obvious.

Regardless of the number of ‘Likes’ on a Facebook page, the amount of profit in the company bank account is a better proof success than a ‘Thumbs Up’ sign. Whether I like it or not, Facebook activity is not synonymous with customer engagement.