Social Media, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, are forms of electronic communication (as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos). It was first used in 2004 when the age of the world wide web was starting to grow.
Social Media is a community. And just like any other normal communities, there are ways on how we could make the social media experience a blast. Here are some of my thoughts on how one can socialize better in social media.
Know what to post
There are a lot of different social media sites and these sites have different purposes. Posting the right stuffs on the right social media site will boost traffic to your profile and/or your site. Let us take LinkedIn as an example. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site. Its primary purpose is for professional networking. You should not even dare to post how you were so heartbroken on your last break-up with your boyfriend. Got what I mean?
Know your audience
Knowing who you are interacting with is very important. If you are on a social media site for music, then it is logical that the people in there are music lovers (you can throw me on a bridge if this isn't true). If this is the case, then post anything related to music: news, new music, what your favorite artists are doing - these kind of stuffs. Don't try and post anything related to food or you might just get a disconnect from the community.
Know when to post
Knowing when most of your readers is online is as important as knowing who your audience is. When most of your readers are awake in the morning, then try to post mid-morning or early afternoon. Try doing the opposite and let us see how social you can become.
Be mindful of what you post
If you do not want others to see you on a sex video, then for heaven's sake, don't post it on YouTube! Clear?!
Click with caution
In every community, there will always be someone to disturb the peace and quiet. In social media, spammers will break your day and most especially your friends'. So before opening on any link, use your rusting common sense and verify if that would take you and your audience somewhere in Maldives or in hell.
Share
If you see anything that interests you, it would not even take a second to click on that Share button. Who knows?! You might even make someone else's day.
Respect
Communication is the key to a better social media experience. If you find something that you do not agree with, then nothing is stopping you from airing your thoughts and opinions. This could even lead to fruitful conversations and learnings. Just remember to disagree agreeably.
Follow-through
The internet is not the road's end for the relationships that you made in social media. It is better to take it to a whole new level. Nothing is more fun than sharing your thoughts face-to-face with the one you are talking with, right? But please, be very diligent, and again - use that coconut of yours to distinguish the good from the evil doers. It is hard but a must.
I believe that you can think of more ways, do's and dont's in social media. What's important is you are having fun with what you are doing. Although social media is the easiest way to make more friends, I suggest that you do the most conventional way - go out, have fun, make friends, enjoy life!
If you have time, connect with me on the social media sites below and do not forget to follow Lyndon Speaks on Facebook and Twitter and RSS to Lyndon Speaks. Until next time!
Socialize on!
~Lyndon Jason
