21 Social Media Truths

1. Social media gives you the opportunity to be the best YOU possible. This applies to you and your brand.
2. There is no “one-size fits all” social media strategy.
3. Diving into social media without a strategy is like being on whitewater raft without a paddle. It’s probably not going to end well.
4. Crises happen everyday. Expect it will happen to you and your brand. Plan accordingly.
5. Social media doesn’t clock in at 9 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. It’s a 24/7 affair.
6. Social media success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of hard work, time and effort before you see any real noticeable gains.
7. Anyone who tells you that managing a social media account is going to be easy is lying. Run as far away from them as possible.
8. Yes, you can calculate the ROI of your social media efforts. Yes, you need to.
9. Numbers matter. Anyone, who tells you otherwise, just hasn’t found the right ones to measure yet.
10. There’s only so much you can learn from case studies. At some point, you just have to take the plunge and start applying what you learn.
11. Creativity is what separates the good social media pros from the bad ones.
12. Avoid the social media shiny object syndrome. New sites are created everyday. You don’t need to be on every site. Focus on the ones that add value for either you or your brand.
13. Social media burnout is real. Make sure to unplug every now and then. (such as when you are on vacation).
14. The best social media work is usually done in a team setting. Don’t try and be a one-man or one-woman show.
15. Social media is NOT a popularity contest. Being popular just means that you have lots of friends.
16. Instead, strive to be influential. Influence means you can persuade people to do something. That’s hundred times more meaningful than being popular.
17. There’s a big difference between being authentic and personable and being personal on social media sites. Know the difference.
18. Be true to yourself and/or your brand. You can’t fake an authentic dialogue.
19. Every post, tweet, status update, video, etc, should add some sort of value or contribute to your overall goals. If they don’t, it is time to rethink you strategy.
20. Just because it’s on Twitter trending topics, doesn’t mean it’s true. I’ve lost count of the number of celebrities that have allegedly died on Twitter that are still alive and thriving.
21. It’s crucial to think two steps ahead. Are you building a strong enough presence from the get-go? Would you lose everything if Facebook were to disappear tomorrow?