 Image © Hurca!; Flickr.com Does your Write W.A.V.E. Media (WWM) content need some extra love? Do you keep checking your fans and followers on social media in hopes that more people will appear? If they haven't yet, you're probably going about things the wrong way - or you just got started and haven't given people time to find you yet. There are many different ways to get more fans and followers. The methods I find the best might surprise you.
Just be you. My number one rule in gaining fans and followers is to just be yourself. This should radiate in the comments you leave, in the content you publish, in your forum posts, and on social sites outside of WWM. There is no model form that everyone should fit into. Readers like to see the real person behind the writing. Don't seek fans. Huh? Yes, that's right. If you want to gain the trust of your readers and writer friends, don't look at them as fans. Certainly don't seek out people, hoping they will like your Facebook page or subscribe. So, why is my fan base so large if I don't seek out fans? I consider my readers and fellow writers to be my friends. Some are closer than others of course. But, I do not go around saying "Please be my fan" or "Please subscribe to my work". Instead, I make friends and it doesn't bother me if they choose not to read my work. Not everyone is interested in the same things. Fans and followers don't necessarily equate to high page views. Most large amounts of page views do not come from having fans and followers. They actually come via the search engines. So, why create those connections, then? Well, just for the sake of having like-minded friends and even for networking purposes. This is not to say their views don't count for anything. They absolutely do. Every view counts. But please don't look at your friends as page view insurance. Treat them as you would any other friend. There are real people behind those computer screens - not just numbers to add to your fan tally. Don't expect people to subscribe or fan you just because you follow them. Sometimes people will fan you back or follow your work if you do the same with theirs. But don't get hurt feelings if they don't - and as mentioned above, don't ask. They simply just may not enjoy your topics or they may just be too busy to read more often. If someone has good content, I am going to read it whether they read mine or not. I never want anyone to feel pressured to read my work just because I read something of theirs. Of course, I appreciate every view I get. But, the most valuable and rewarding fans and subscribers are those that truly are interested in what you have to say. Promote. Now, this may seem to contradict not seeking fans. In fact, it doesn't. It's alright to promote your work. Just do it where appropriate. For instance, don't spam message all your Facebook friends asking for reciprocal subscribing or liking of pages. It would be much more effective (and polite) to post a parenting article link on your profile, fan page, or even on a parenting site where that's allowed. There are ways to find a targeted audience that will be more interested and less irritated with you. Social sites are a great way to get the word out about your work. Just be sure to post other things and not just links to your work. Friends may be interested in your work. But, if that’s all you ever post, it may be considered spam. Go about your daily routine. Just doing everything you normally do on WWM will eventually lead to fans over time. Comment on articles you enjoy. Subscribe to the topics and writers you enjoy. Find their blogs outside the WWM sites, as well. Visit the forums and participate in whatever interests you. People will naturally be curious about you and possibly check out your work, too. If they like what they see, they may even subscribe. By following the advice above, you will soon find yourself gaining more than just fans. You'll be gaining valuable friendships - something much more important than a tally number. by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  There often comes a point in time when a small business needs to offer a solution for effective communication. This could be communication between employees. It might even be communication between clients, customers or the general public. This is when social media comes into play. A small business may choose to use social media for only one of these groups. Yet another may choose to make social media accessible to all.
What is Social Media? Social media is the combination of technology and social interaction. Generally, social media is that which is accessed through various Internet tools. The purpose of social media is to have interaction between a group of people involved with the company either directly or indirectly. Each company's specific use will differ. Social Media Platforms to Consider Blogging is one social media platform that has become popular for the small business. It allows a company to keep everyone updated on what is going on. Those who read the blog may also leave comments, which create more opportunity for open communication. Another social media platform that a small business might find useful is an online forum where users can post and reply to messages. Networking websites (like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus) are also great for a small business to join, as they can help existing people affiliated with the business to communicate, as well as draw in new people and ideas. These are only some of the many social media platforms a small business may consider. Getting Started With Social Media The first part of incorporating social media into a small business is deciding whether it will be run from the company's own website or whether various existing websites or platforms would be utilized. If a small business already has a website, it is wise to see which types of social media would be easy to implement into that site's design. This will make it more readily accessible to those who will utilize it. If that option does not work, the decision should then be made as to whether the small business will pay for its social media or utilize free services. For instance, there are various websites that offer free blogging accounts, free forums and other types of social media. There are also websites and services that may charge a fee to the small business for specialized social media services. Choosing the Right Social Media A small business should make its social media decisions based upon the needs of the business, its clients and its customers as well as those of the employees. For instance, let's say a company is looking for simpler communication between its employees when they are not at work. That small business could create a password-protected Internet forum for employees to post and reply to messages at their own convenience. Yet another small business may want to instead create an Internet forum for interaction between its customers or clients to allow them to relate to each other, as well as to get a feel for what they are looking for. Still another small business may not even have a need for an Internet forum, but prefer to operate an interactive news source instead. It is important to wisely choose social media and how it will be used. A poor choice in this area could waste time and money that could have been utilized for a more effective social media plan. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network Are Social Networks a Good or Bad Idea While on the Job? by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  You log onto facebook and notice a few of your co-workers are posting personal things - on company time. Should this be allowed? In a technical world, the answer today may be different than it would have been several years ago. Some people may equate facebook posting to playing around, but others may consider it vital to their career. Which do I recommend? Should employees network during business hours? Absolutely! The way that people communicate is changing drastically. This is largely due to the development of newer technology. People no longer have to be sitting next to each other to communicate. Sending a message or posting a status update or photo on facebook is pretty much the same thing as chatting with your co-workers. Most businesses have no problem with people talking while working. Some even encourage it. For many people, it's second nature to type a quick status to facebook or twitter via their phone or computer.
Networking is vital to the business world. Being able to use social networks is a requirement for most jobs. This is because many people now turn to the internet for interactions, even those that are business related. Companies often use social platforms to collect customer feedback, provide support, and share ideas with others in the industry. Managing both business and personal social interactions in between other daily tasks shows the boss you are both responsible and business savvy.
Adding a personal touch helps clients and customers identify with the company. So, maybe that photo your co-worker just posted of her baby wasn't exactly work-related. But it does bring out her personal side. Being a good business person is not about a perfect image void of any feeling. Clients and customers want to deal with businesses, particularly employees, that they can relate to. If everything is always straight business and no fun, no one sees the human side and that can hurt business. You don't necessarily need to discuss drunken escapades. But posting a silly status or two during company time can help people feel comfortable with employees, which is good for business. Happy employees are more productive. When people don't feel pressured, they are more likely to do their jobs efficiently. People who sit at a desk all day may not have much time for social interaction that is not work-related. Social networks can provide a few minutes here and there where the employees can get some quick social time in and still do their job efficiently. It only takes a few moments to read or post an update. But the happiness or stress relief from doing so may last all day. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network |
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