Amybeth Hale was offered the opportunity to discuss with several of the most well-known players in social media. Of all the attributes they’ve mentioned, there are four key concepts that have helped them become successful in social media: developing relationships, become a digital trendsetter, take risks, and give back.
· Develop Authentic Relationshipso As we’ve mentioned before, Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos encourages his employees to actively contribute and engage with the company Twitter account. Such actions show commitment, which is often times hard to come by. In a sense, developing authentic relationships is like networking. If people remember you for something such as providing advice, they’ll inform their other friends and so forth. It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you.
· Become a Digital Trendsetter
o In this day and age, people are always talking about the latest craze, like the Apple iPad. Although it’s good to be up-to-date, it’s more important and beneficial if you stay ahead of digital trends. Learn the direction that social media is taking and pursue it. By staying ahead of the curve, you will be perceived as a leader.
· Take Risks
o There is a risk in every choice you make, there’s no question about that. But it’s the degree of the risk that determines the reward. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Laura Roeder states, “We need to be brave, get out of our comfort zones, and go to places where people may be skeptical of social media, and of us. We need to evangelize.”
· Give Back
o And of course, give back. Ken Burbary, Ernst & Young’s Director of Social Media, gained attention from his peers by promoting other analytics and data from other social media professionals. Giving back, or “pay it forward”, shows sincerity and, in turn, many will show appreciation in different ways like mentioning you to their peers.
However, it should also be noted that social media shouldn’t be generalized as something only for the younger generation or other specific traits. In fact, the social media successors Hale interviewed with have come in a wide variety of traits such as being self-employed to working for a large corporation, having a graduate degree or learning from life, and people in their 20’s or 40’s. Such negative implications that are typically perceived for social media will only confine you from growing and possibly becoming a social media virtuoso.
Written by Chris C.
