I mentioned before how important Social Media is, and that you can Ping Your Way to the Top, but how exactly do you do that? How do you find the courage to put yourself “out there” and what exactly, and how much, should you share?

I have some advice for you…

Wading out into the Social Media waters can seem scary. It almost feels like the first day as the new kid on the block, or like that haunting peer pressure we experienced in high school—and, for some of us, it was horrific!

If you’re caving under the pressure from Social Media invites, or have already jumped into the Social Media pool but aren’t sure exactly how to go about getting started, you might be wondering things like: What will people think of me? Will I say something stupid? What kind of things should I say in my updates? Why would anyone care about what I have to say?

The fear of fitting in seems to follow us throughout our lives, doesn’t it? From the first day of Kindergarten, we struggle to fit in—often worrying what others will think of our every move.

These are all legitimate worries but you’ll soon see that if you follow the tips I’m about to share, you’ll fall into a Social Media groove you’re comfortable with.

Five Tips for Social Media Success:

1. Honesty is always the best policy.
   I was raised by these words. I’m glad. There’s nothing worse than lies and falseness. The truth may hurt, it might be ugly sometimes, but it’s real. It’s who you are. No, you don’t have to tell 100% of every minute detail of your life, but you can approach your business and Social Media with honesty. You don’t want to end up with 20,000 followers all based on a lie. Start with a solid foundation, who you truly are. Be yourself. No, not everyone will like you, in fact, some people may despise you. But if you’re just YOU, you’ll end up networking with like-minded people and will be much happier with the direction your network takes.
2. Be sincere and genuine.
   This is similar to being honest, but goes a little further than that. If you aren’t sincere in your Social Media updates and responses, people will eventually pick up on that. Just because you’re behind a computer screen, doesn’t mean that you should put up a false front and post fake responses. If you don’t care that someone’s in the hospital, or you don’t care about breast cancer awareness, don’t act like you do.
3. Learn the ropes.
   It doesn’t take too long to pick up on how the various Social Media sites operate. Some pick up quicker than others but we can all learn new things—even if we only have small spurts of time to dedicate to learning, here and there. Give yourself some time and have an open mind for catching on to various techniques (such as #FollowFriday on Twitter, where you share people you enjoy following with others—on a Friday).
4. Figure out what is unique and different about you and your business, and use it to your advantage—in a positive way.
   Do you have a unique product or a special talent? Do you provide services unlike other businesses out there? Is the name of your business different? Is your location odd? What’s your story? Once you realize what it is, if you don’t know already, share it with the world! Mesmerize them. Excite them. Make them crave more of your product, or your services.
5. Share your personality.
   Without YOU, your business is nothing but an idea. You make your business happen. You’re a real person. So, don’t be a robot. You laugh, you cry, you get angry, you mess up, you have epiphanies, you forget things…. Show snippets of your personality. You don’t have to curse when you’re mad or tell the world you just went to the bathroom but you can share milestones, struggles, or a funny thought you just had. Be warm and inviting and people will want to friend/follow you!

Social Media is an amazing marketing tool. Used correctly, it can bring you business success beyond your wildest dreams–and friendships you’ll cherish, that can last a lifetime…

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to visit the other articles Michele has written for Writer’s Round-About–or contact her to write for you.

You can also find more tips in part one of Rebecca Laffar-Smith’s 3-part interview with me: On Social Networking Success.

What are you waiting for? Come on in, the water’s fine!

Are you active in Social Media? Have you been holding off because of fears I’ve mentioned today? Has anything I’ve said swayed your decision and prompted you to run and sign up for the Social Media sites you’ve avoided? Start the conversation, somebody, I’m itching to discuss!!!

And be sure to subscribe if you aren’t already. I’ll be sharing do’s and don’ts of Social Media in an upcoming post!

Photo Credit: lusi