Social Media – Sound or Noise?

There’s a big difference between sound and noise.  One is a distinct auditory impression and the other is a cacophonous distraction. In the world of social media, it’s especially important to distinguish between the two.

Several summers ago, I spent some time in the rainforest of Central America with the Rainforest Business Institute.  (It was kind of odd booking a flight from Panama City to Panama City and landing in another country.)  My first morning there, I awakened before daylight and climbed into the hammock on my balcony that overlooked a river at the edge of the rainforest.  As dawn crept into the sky, I was stunned at the noise.  Hundreds of species of birds and animals raised their voices to greet the day. Oh, did I mention the monkeys? One group in the area are called Howler Monkeys and it takes no imagination to know how they got their name.  The noise settled down as the sun came up. But I’ll never forget the experience- it was like a giant, discordant orchestra tuning up for the day.

Tuning In, Tuning Out or Tuning Up?

My morning routine includes logging into various social media channels and it too, can seem really noisy.  Here are 5 ways you can focus your presence so that your voice is heard in the clamor.

1) Block your time and stick to the allotted schedule. This will cause you to stay focused. Use a social media calendar – if you need one, send an email to info at beverlyspeaks dot com and I’ll send you one.

2) Be intentional in what you read and what you share. Stick with a plan – share content that pertains to your area of expertise.  On weekends and evenings when you’re just browsing you can afford the rabbit trails and then schedule the nuggets you find for the upcoming week.

3) Engage in conversation. Ask questions. Listen to what others are saying and respond. This will amplify your presence far more effectively than if you only talk about yourself.

4) Grow your audience every week. Keep track of metrics.

5) Promote others more than you promote yourself.

Social Media can be a jungle and it can be a noisy place. I’m a firm believer that when you put yourself out there and make your voice heard, your target audience WILL begin to respond.

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” -Henry Van Dyke