The Who, What, How and Where of Social Media Participation: Sign Posts, Comments and Reviews

A low-hanging fruit in the social media world is something many people forget to do when they comment, write emails, review or post on any social media. It amazes me, from a marketing standpoint, that it's forgotten: Identify yourself! Sign your posts! Market yourself! Every post, comment, review or testimonial should include the "Who, What, How and Where" of social media. Yes, it's risky to stake claim to your writing, especially when you're making a potentially unpopular comment. But, with the exception of Twitter (character limitations), and “recreational” posts (family-based or “fun” posts that are not business oriented), you should stand up and get noticed. EVERY blog post, article, review, or comment should include: <ul> <li>Your name (Who)</li> <li>A brief description of your service or product (Note: Don’t blatantly market, or even have a call to action. Just state what you do) (What)</li> <li>Your email address (How they can reach you)</li> <li>Your website URL (Where you can be found)</li> </ul> Yes, customers, prospects and potential partners could click through to your profile and find your contact information. Then, maybe, if your web content or your profile is well-written, they might figure out what it is you do. But WHY make them take that extra step? Make identifying you easy for them (and increase your own SEO). After all, when you post on social media, you're not there to watch yourself write, nor to listen to yourself talk. The purposes of social media are: <ul> <li>Drive people to your website</li> <li>Get some name recognition</li> <li>In a subtle way, market yourself</li> <li>Get yourself known as an expert … or at least as someone with interesting and helpful ideas</li> </ul> Identify Yourself  Reasoning in Social Media The suggestions above came in response to another Biznik social media article. I was amazed at the negative comments about my comment that you should “Sign Your Work”! Some people said that practice is spamming, over-marketing, calling too much attention to yourself. Here are the reasons signing your work is important: 1) Spam doesn't come from a signature. It comes from your content (or lack of it). If you simply tell everyone how wonderful you are (I’m the best web content writer and ghost blogger in the country) then, yes, that's spamming. If your signature includes something like “We’ve helped our customers achieve this and that result” or “Click here now for our latest offer”, yes, that could be spam, or at least a poor choice in marketing. But if your post, review, comment or testimonial has interesting, fresh content that gives vital, helpful information, then adding a brief, less than 10 word statement of what you do, and who you are, is NOT spamming. 2) (I learned this from Biznik!): Some people (20%) are NOT going to be interested in you, no matter what. The other 80% are going to be interested ... maybe. BUT if those people don't know what you do, they definitely WON'T know enough to be interested. And who really wants to take the time to click through to the links to find out? Honorable Comment Writer: What IS Your Business? Look at the comments following any Biznik article or workshop. On average, in 8 of the 10 comments, you'll have NO IDEA what the comment writers do professionally.  Even with writers who bother to add their website to their signature, much of the time, you don't know what they do, or how they can help you or work with you. Which signature is more helpful to you? <ul> <li>[person's name], Owner, [www. their web URL dot com] … OR</li> <li>[person's name], description of business [writer, web content and social media consultant, ghost blogger], [www. their web URL dot com]</li> </ul> People WANT and NEED You! 3) (Another Biznik lesson!) When you post, take the attitude that you are providing a service to your readers. They WANT to hear what you have to say. They WANT to contact you. They NEED your service. Using my brother's business as an example (he manufacturs ice fishing equipment!), 99.95% of you won’t want or need to contact him. But the .05% of you who do, will reach out to him because you know EXACTLY what he does. You might be able to help him. You might need his help. Maybe you have an idea you want to share, or a fish story you want to discuss. Your customers and prospects feel the same way. Why not make it easier for them to know what you do, and to contact you? Give them the "Who, What, How and Where". Sign Your Work! David Kuhns, web content writer, social media content consultant and ghost blogger. Note: Unfortunately, because of Biznik's rules, I can't sign my article with either my URL or my email address... so, in this case, at least, I can't "eat my own dogfood." SO you have to be aware of the posting rules. BUT, for example, if you go to my Local Search listing and want to pay me a compliment or testimonial or review, you SHOULD include all that information. 2009-07-04T21:05:36Z

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the-who-what-how-and-where-of-social-media-participation-sign-posts-comments-and-reviews

2009-07-07T07:14:08Z

2009-07-07T14:15:06Z

Social Media 101: Sign your comments, posts, reviews, testimonials with Who, What, How and Where: * Your name * Brief description of what you do * Your email * Your website

The Who, What, How and Where of Social Media Participation: Sign Posts, Comments and Reviews

2009-07-07T14:15:07Z