48 General Social Media Tips

Looking for ways to amplify your social media presence?  Try these tips:

1. Remember, a good social media campaign takes time and effort. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
2. When blogging for profit, you should have a clear goal and expected results from your social media campaign. What are yours?
3. One way to improve your social media presence is by analyzing your competition. What’s working for them and how can you make it work for you?
4. What’s your approach to social media? Do you share information, connect people or give away great stuff? What makes you unique?
5. If you’re using social media for profitable blogging, aim for a consistent presence and message so your followers know what to expect.
6. Controversy and humor are great conversation starters on social media. How do you get the discussion going?
7. Spending too much time on social media when you should be working on your computer? Install an app on your cell phone and limit your participation to your “off” time.
8. Multimedia content is one way to get noticed on social media. Take advantage of this with video, photos, graphics and more.
9. Use an appropriate photo on your social media accounts. If you want to convey yourself as a professional, use a professional photo. If you’re a goofball, use a goofy photo.
10. Put your social media buttons on all your website pages, so your visitors can follow you whether they’re reading a sales page, your About Us page or any other page.
11. Include social media sharing and follow buttons in all the emails you send to your list.
12. Add links to find you on social media in your signature lines. Whether you’re writing an email to a colleague or posting on a forum, include it.
13. Social media is social…so, well, get social!
14. In social media there are good manners, but no rules. Define for yourself how you participate.
15. Managing multiple social media accounts across multiple social media sites? Consider using a social media integration tool like hootsuite.com.
16. Remember potential employers often check social media before hiring. How’s your online reputation?
17. Listening on social media is almost as valuable as participating. Pay attention to what’s going on around you.
18. If you’re using social media for business or career, make sure you have complete profiles and link to your website for more info.
19. As a consumer, it’s tempting to think of social media as a customer service center. Contact the company directly for best service.
20. Give on social media without expecting anything in return. Chances are you’ll get more back than you ever expected.
21. Track the links you share on social media, so you know what your audience is most interested in.
22. While tools like klout.com attempt to measure your influence on social media, only you know if you’re getting the results you expected.
23. Consider pros and cons of cross-posting your updates among social networks. Many of your followers will follow in more than one place.
24. When sharing photos…sometimes the photo is enough. Powerful pictures evoke strong emotions, so let your followers figure it out.
25. Expand your social media engagement by inviting your subscribers to follow you. People who already like you are more likely to get the conversation going.
26. While you don’t have to be on social media 24/7, make sure you respond to questions and comments as quickly as you can.
27. Be your real self on social media. You are unique and that’s what attracts people to you.
28. Social media contacts come and go. Don’t take it personally when someone decides to go.
29. Ditch the self-entitlement mentality on social media. You can’t expect replies to all your comments, particularly when someone has many comments to wade through.
30. Be a social media star. Connect people with good information, smiles and other great people.
31. Shortening your words and using numbers instead of words might be okay for the teen crowd, but not if you’re trying to convey a professional message on social media.
32. Things to avoid in your social media updates: excessive capitalization, exclamation points and other unnecessary punctuation.
33. Respect hierarchies as they are in real life. When trying to make business connections, reach the person you should be talking to.
34. If you don’t want your employer or family to see an update, don’t post it.
35. Create landing pages on your website to welcome visitors from specific social sites.
36. Don’t get stuck living in social media. Take those relationships offline, too.
37. Have no fear; the sky will not fall if you don’t check into your social media accounts for a day or two. Give yourself a break when you need it.
38. Put limits on your social media time. It’s easy to get lost in cute kitty pictures and funny videos.
39. If you use social media for business and pleasure, divide your time so you stay on track with your business goals.
40. According to a Nielsen report, more than 70% of active social network users shop online.
41. Thank people on social media and tell them you appreciate them. You know, act like you would in the “real” world.
42. While connecting with those with influence on social media can bolster your reputation, don’t make it your only goal or you’ll be missing the entire point.
43. Experiment with different social media applications for your phone until you find the right one. They’re not all created the same.
44. While it may feel like it sometimes, social media is not a popularity contest. Be good to your audience and you’ll do just fine.
45. If your social media data is important to you, back it up regularly. Never assume it will always be there.
46. Despite what purists may say, you don’t have to create all your own content. It’s okay to hire help when you need it.
47. If a social media tool isn’t working for you, drop it.
48. When you see a list of “The Top 50 Social Media Tools” it doesn’t mean you have to use them all.

What did I Miss?

Share your thoughts on the tips above and any that I missed in the comments below!