How to be successful in social media

Often I am asked the secret to success in social media and I think it boils down to one thing. Be Authentic! Be Genuine

The key to social media is being authentic

People read books and articles on how to be successful on social media looking for something magical. But there are two things that are critical to success in social media whether you are talking about Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

One is being authentic or genuine. What that means to me is that you don’t try to be someone you aren’t. Whether you are looking for a new job or building a business, you have to remember that no one likes a fake. It is so easy to be genuine.

Talk about what you care about (preferably not politics but that is a topic for another day) and share things that matter to you.

Be kind in the process of sharing

Kindness to others really does go far. As you share, comment, and react, stop thinking about it as social media but think about it as an interaction among friends. Social media allows us to share the victories of our friends, celebrate birthdays and new babies, and mourn the death of loved ones. It is an opportunity to be caring.

The other critical thing about social media

You have to be present. I will admit that today my presence is larger on Facebook than anywhere else. I still use Twitter but not like I did in 2009 to 2012. I teach LinkedIn and make sure I show up regularly but it is not where I can be found most. But I built so many of my Facebook connections from other platforms and I continue to use all of them to build my business and share my content.

People ask how you get to know people on social media. Be present and be authentic (genuine)!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at Freedigitalphotos.net