While I was perusing blogs the other day, I read a post about how to dramatically boost your Twitter followers. Popular topic. The writer (whom I will not name) had an intriguing writing style. She didn’t offer anything new, but I decided to follow her on Twitter anyway.
Here’s what I found. She’s never posted a single tweet. She’s got zero followers.
And she just lost her credibility with me, and countless others.
Wise words of wisdom: If you intrigue your readers, they will check you out. And if they discover you’re a phony baloney, you could find yourself mentioned in a blog post just like this one. With your name attached to it. Trashed. Impaled.
Discredited.
Your social media credibility is precious. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So here are some simple (though not necessarily easy!) things you can do to build and maintain it.
1. Post your own photo on your profile. Not your baby’s. Or Brad Pitt’s. Or a picture of a sunset or a dog licking a lollipop (thank you, Chris Tompkins of Go! Media International for that brilliant turn of phrase). Your own mug shot tells your audience you’re a real, live human being.
2. Don’t create a username that screams “I’m an authority!” if you’re not (yet). In-your-face handles like TheGeniusWriter or ImYourSocialMediaGuru are forgettable – and annoying. Use your own name. Then demonstrate, through your contributions, that you really are the genius writer or social media guru or whatever amazing professional you happen to be. In the words of every English composition teacher you’ve ever had: show, don’t tell.
3. Don’t create a username that screams “I’m an authority!” even if you are. Again, use your own name. Let your posts prove your expertise, creativity, and wisdom. Yes, your name is your brand. Respected brands generate sales.
4. Interact. Please. In a recent post, I railed about Twitter robots and those who might as well be robots for all the spamming they do. Don’t be like them. Your posts are read by people. People have interests, likes and dislikes, thoughts, feelings, and questions. So share a solution from time to time. Ask a question. Give shoutouts and say thank you – often. Sell, yes, but not incessantly or mercilessly.
5. Complete your profile. You don’t have to use every character allotted to you. Make it professional and punchy. Think of it as marketing collateral. Give your audience reasons to want to know you. Put in your unique selling proposition. Do it well.
Any other steps you’d like to suggest? Let me know. I’m anxious to hear your ideas.
www.twitter.com/daphneroseknows
Great article Daphne…and very true. I just said to someone the other day, the only experts in the world anymore are those that make the perfect Blizzards at DQ.