Rules of Engagement

      Through effort, trial, and tribulation comes an understanding of the obstacles you are facing.. with any endeavor.  By making attempts, whether they succeed or fail, you become more aware of the path that you should be taking. This can be said for relationships, careers, skill-driven hobbies. The same also holds true for social marketing. In a sense, it is a bit of a guessing game at the beginning – all of which gets sorted out once a solid strategy is established. Although social media can be a bit overwhelming, and a bit of a clusterf*ck, it is important to remember that there is a method to the madness. Establishing rules of engagement is one way to keep your social media success rate in check.

     I may be a baby in the world of social marketing, but I have created five rules of engagement that are intended to steer you towards a healthy and thriving relationship with your followers. 

1.       Always say “Good Morning”.

Everyone has had that special someone who they fall asleep thinking about, and wake up only hoping that they have already received a “Good Morning” text – it’s not sappy, it’s honest! We as human beings crave genuine affection. Nowadays, everyone from every angle is throwing advertisements in your face. Buy this! Try this! Limited time offer! - We hear it and see it so much that we tune it out. However, when someone stops to say “Hello, how are you?” before attempting to make a sale, they will at least have a better shot of catching your attention. Show curiosity about your followers, show kindness, and be their “Good Morning” text. More often than not, someone will stop scrolling, smile, and favorite the tweet. Just like that, you have expanded your reach.

2.       Ask for opinions.

As difficult as it may be to believe, people do want to hear what you have to say. Even more than that, however, they like to be asked about what they have to say as well. Any time you are trying out a new product, social platform, anything at all, simply ask, “Hey! What do you think?” It is a great way to spark up a conversation and will almost always trigger a response.

3.       Speak your mind. (Honestly!)

Like I said before, people DO want to hear what you have to say. Especially if your account is geared towards business – people are always resorting to social media for the latest, greatest tips. Whether it is insight on strategy, lead generation, marketing, even just insight on life. You have the insight, and your followers are following you to receive it. Let them know what you know. It is okay to speak your mind, as long as you are being honest. The internet is host to enough actors and plagiarizers – make sure you are staying original.

4.       Pay attention to trends.

Knowing your current events and society’s daily hot topics will always help you stay ahead of the game. Every once in a while it is important to weave these events into your social content. Staying relevant is key. Chances are, if you start talking about what everyone else has been talking about, quite a few people will chime in, or will appreciate the information you have to share.

5.       Never assume, and always be new.

Everyone knows the common saying, “To assume things makes an Ass out of you and me.” Never assume one method to be better than another. That’s not to say your content should be sporadic and unorganized – you should always have a curated plan – but try different plans, and keep it fresh. Just because a particular content strategy works successfully for business A, that doesn’t mean business B can execute the same strategy to receive the same success. Try new things. Don’t assume a plan will fail simply because another person or company appears to have a “better” plan than you.

     At the end of the day everyone is going to view social engagement and content strategy differently. Some people will tell you it’s a crap shoot, while others will tell you if you put the man hours in, really develop a plan and go for it, then you will see the results you are seeking. It may not happen over night, but that is why consistency is the absolute key.

     Let me know if these five tips help you on your way to improving social engagement online! Feel free to share some of your own advice in the comments below.