Being Cheryl: Social Media Marketing Tips from Columbus, Ohio

A lot of people and companies sign up for social networks because everyone ELSE is on there, and so WE must on there, too!

But few take the time to learn the best practices of each network they join, and instead post content that the community neither notices nor appreciates.

• If you create a Flickr account, but you don’t give your images tags and geotags, and organize them into sets and collections, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a Digg account, but the only things you Digg is your own content, which subsequently has nothing to do with the type of articles Digg is known for, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a Twitter account, but you don’t engage in conversation and talk about relevant current events, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a Yelp account, but you don’t engage in rating and complimenting other users, joining in the Talk boards, and generating useful lists, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a YouTube account but don’t post content that is interesting or informative, and don’t take the time to tag and describe it to make it searchable, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a LinkedIn account, but you’re using it solely as an online resume and not connecting, networking, learning or sharing, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a Foursquare account, but you don’t leave tips at establishments and friend people who you have no geographic or real-world connection to, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a Facebook account but leave all of your personal information and photos off of it, then why are YOU there? OR if it’s a page, and you’re not providing any specials or useful information, then why are YOU there?
• If you create a blog but disable comments and only repost press releases, then why are YOU there?

And If you don’t at least know what I mean in any of the above, you damn well better not be trying to pass yourself off as an active member of any of these communities.

All of these networks have many other uses and functionality. But aren’t these the core practices that people heavily invested in these communities engage in? What makes you think that your pictures on Flickr titled “_IMG_1000″ with no tags or context aren’t going to piss that community off? Or that your one-way communication Twitter stream isn’t going to piss that community off? Or that your Dugg articles about your new car dealership location aren’t going to piss that community off?



Trust me, I understand that you do not have enough time to be truly engaged with ALL of these platforms. I’m not saying you should. Pick the ones that will help you share your message the best, and stick with those. It’s not enough to just BE on these sites. If you’re not going to really get involved with them, you’re better off not clicking “sign up” to begin with. ‘

You with me?

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