Should You Automate Your Social Networking?
When it comes to building credibility and personal branding through online social media, you have to consider the immediate as well as long term effect of putting yourself out there for public viewing.
Why?
You’re one post away from making or breaking your marketing efforts. Every tweet, status update, picture or video will either enhance or lower your brand. Thus, you should be mindful in posting what you want others to see.
If you have been an online marketer for a while, I’m sure you’d agree that you should automate and outsource many of your marketing campaigns as needed. You can hire writers, spin articles, use autoposters, or even pay someone to do your PPC campaigns.
However, in my opinion, social media need to be personally taken charge due to its viral nature. Even when you use software or feeders to post updates, you have to make sure they will only post content that you would have approved if you would post it yourself.
I see some of my Facebook friends who have status updates every hour that contain quotes from well-known authors or speakers. I don’t see the point of doing that other than to always be on the front of the news or live feed of their friends. Even with that, I have no problem with it as they post positive and inspirational remarks.
The sad thing is when I saw a few updates that said something racy and inappropriate when credibility and personal branding are at stake. I am sure that marketer friend of mine would not want to post those updates if she would do it manually.
I use several RSS feeds for Twitter myself and I carefully choose the bloggers and news sites that I know will only post useful quality content since otherwise they will risk their reputation. One of them is Seth Godin. Even then, I choose not to ping every tweet to my Facebook and other social media as to not overload my friends and followers with redundant updates.
Friends request is another effort that I choose to take on myself. It gives me the opportunity to make real connections and build a base of loyal followers. I used to outsource this but then, what’s the point of social networking?
Let me know what you think whether you should or should not automate your online social networking.
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Steve (3)
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Angel Taylor (1)
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I am a big believer in not outsourcing your social media efforts because I feel that this is an area in which you need to come accross as genuine as possible.
While I’m fine with using sites such as SocialOomph to automate certain aspects, I think that you should try to write as many of the tweets and updates that you put out. This way people get to truly know you and feel comfortable in doing business with you.
Great post Steven as always,
Angel
Giving value, thus attraction marketing, always rules. You’re right about people getting to know you and like you before doing business with you.
Thanks for your input, Angel.
Steven,
You bring up a very important consideration for any marketer who is actively involved in Social Media. What we tend to forget is that once a piece of content is released it is then on the net FOREVER.
This is crucial to keep in mind since you can never take anything back it is vital that you control your content which in fact controls your image.
It is far too important a function for you to outsource so for at least the content creation you should do that yourself. The added benefit of working this way is you are forced to grow as a marketer and a person which in turn attracts more people to you.
Thanks for the fantastic content my friend. Your blog is looking FANTASTIC!
To Our Massive Success,
John
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by sdharlow, John Chatman. John Chatman said: RT @stevenwinata Should You Automate Your Social Networking? http://bit.ly/6BtRXU [...]
Thanks, John! In other words, you’d better choose to do image-control or damage-control.
Steven Winata´s last blog ..Should You Automate Your Social Networking?
Ha Steve,
This is Amir_HealthGuru from Twitter, Just checking out your site,you’ve got some very good information.
I, myself use automated RSS feeds for some of my tweets and learned as you said above, that you must chose very carefully from where your feeds come from…
I do a lot of connecting with those who follow me on Twitter. As Angel Taylor said above, writing your own Tweets and updates is better,at least for me. It has helped me to grow and people know who I am, and trust me enough to ask me for help!
I’m in Natural Health & Wellness, and in this niche, there are so many people selling JUNCK weight loss products promising them the world. People really want to trust you, so give them a chance to do so, by connecting with them personally… Those are my thoughts on this one thanks for following me on Twitter.
I hope that I can be of service to you some time soon!I’ve got lost of great information to help you gain Optimal Health Naturally. Check me out… : The Natural Health Natural Treatment Natural Healing & Natural Fitness Magazine!
I’ll be back to read more here.
Peace!
Amir M. Abdullah Al’Bey ´s last blog ..Are You Slowly Killing Yourself ?-The Damage Caused By Sugary Foods…