Is Your Social Media Social? – Christina Faith

 

Recently, I have been challenged by social media. When I look at my timeline, it’s full of advertising. (Hence why I unfollow when needed). Now, I don’t mind advertisement, but there is very little actual social engagement going on in most cases. We have made social media a place to launch our ventures more than a place to connect with people for the people. We connect with people because we want something from them. We want their like, we want their retweet, and we want them to know our names and brands. I have never been that type of person. I have met many people throughout my life, but I never use those meeting times to present my product or personal brand, many times to a fault. I believe in organic relationships. If I tweet you and you follow back that is awesome in my eyes, but that’s never the sole goal of reaching out.

Social media shouldn’t be used as a platform of gimme, gimme, gimme. Ben Arment holds seminars, online trainings and has written a book all under the brand “Dream Year”. While at a Dream Year weekend in 2011, he spoke about “The Ask”. The Ask is when you have built a genuine relationship with people, and the fact that they then will be prone to support your venture, because they now know you. If you are interested in working with someone, try and build a relationship with them, don’t just put yourself out there. People are more prone to comfortably listen when they have a relationship with you. Our current model of social media is WRONG. We have created this gimme look at me mentality instead of building authentic, loyal relationships.

Don’t be offended if people don’t friend, follow or respond back to you. Everyone isn’t going to be your best friend, but social media should still be social. It shouldn’t be a platform for you to build your brand. The first brand people see is you. So, prior to reposting and spamming everyone that follows you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., get to know them first. You will be surprised at the reaction you receive.

I’ve had the privilege of building dynamic social media relationships simply by asking people how they are doing from time to time. I don’t do it so they will remember me. I reach out because I genuinely care for them as people. Being authentic is the best way to build your platform. Being social is how ideas spread, not by selling.