BackHow to be a social media star
There are no short cuts to success when it comes to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but these tips might help
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Wish there was a “fast pass" by which one could become a social media influencer, a celebrity of sorts—sign up, use the 140-odd characters to boast a bit, and voila, 5,000 followers on Twitter in quick time? However, there is no such magic pill. But worry not, here are nine simple steps that could make the journey easier. These must, however, be deployed daily and be part of the routine for social network posts and interactions.
u Communicate your profile
First up, you need to get the basics right. That includes getting the right profile, and sending the right message across. Anonymity may be generally considered a good thing in social media circles, but that’s not always true. Social platforms are all about communicating, and the best you can do is get your point across as clearly as possible. And that includes telling your potential followers who you really are. Try being witty, but critically, keep it concise and to the point.
u Get the followers lined up
Once your profile is ready, it is time to make the effort count. Start by inviting a few of your friends to check your profile. If, for example, you are starting off on Twitter, invite your Facebook friends to check your Twitter presence. Some will translate into followers. If someone follows you, it’s basic courtesy to follow them too. Try adding your social media credentials in most things that communicate your identity—your email signature, your LinkedIn profile, etc.
Quora, a question-and-answer platform, has strong rules about the followers-to-followed ratio. If you’re too focused on just getting people to follow you, there is a chance your profile will be pushed down by Quora’s rating system.
u Channelize your energy
Rather than being a jack of all trades and master of none, it is better to focus on select media platforms. Be it a combination of Facebook and Twitter, maybe even Instagram. Or, perhaps, Google+. If there’s too much on your plate, it could become unmanageable later.
u Focus areas
While you may have an opinion on anything and everything under the sun, it is a fact that most of your updates will be limited to one topic, or a set of topics. Be it politics, sports or technology, chances are you will be fairly active on particular topics. If you wish to post regularly about a particular domain or topic, it helps if you follow reliable sources of information.
u The tone and tenor…
It is important to develop the way you communicate with your followers. Keep the tone conversational, strictly avoid a tone that suggests, “This is what I am telling you, listen to it." The more inviting you seem to the idea of a conversation, the more followers you’re likely to get.
u Reply to questions immediately
If someone asks a question or suggests an alternative view on what you may have posted, answer them at the earliest. Tweets, in particular, have very limited shelf life. And the window of opportunity for coming across as someone who cares about followers and viewpoints is small.
u Avoid the trolls
As the popularity of your online presence increases, there will be more and more instances of insensitive replies. It makes no sense to get embroiled in petty debates.
u Utilize the tools
When you’re juggling multiple accounts and social networks, there could be times when one doesn’t get the necessary attention. Tools like Hootsuite let you manage multiple networks from one interface. If you choose, you can also get features like analytics, schedule posts, and add a whole host of free and paid third-party apps for better cross-platform integration.
u Don’t blow your own trumpet all the time
The simplest way of turning away followers is by being self-obsessed. Too many posts bragging about one’s own talents and abilities will not impress anyone.
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