“George Is Getting Upset!” What’s Your Social Media Voice?
Posted By Amanda Collins on October 25, 2011
Do you remember when social media really caught on? At that point, we often spoke in third person, leading with the name and starting the sentence from there: “Amanda Collins is getting ready for a trip to Europe.” Since then, however, we’ve taken first-person ownership of our posts and really found a voice in social media updates. Well, at least most of us have.
One of the most important components about social media status updates that many people forget is that they are social. The goal is to engage your audience in conversation and get them excited about what you’re saying. If you’re only saying something about what you’re doing—and in third person, no less—you won’t have much engagement.
Social media, whether Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google+, should spark a conversation. Try a picture, a link, or a question. Tap into what’s happening in the news. If you think of social media updates as part of your complete marketing and media relations campaign, you may find that you’re more likely to think about them in a broader sense. You wouldn’t just put out a press release to say that you showed up for work on time; instead, you’d share something that would capture an editor’s eye. Take the same approach with your social media.
Of course, sometimes it is good to show that you’re human and let people know what you’re doing. You may find some commonalities with the fact that you share the same favorite restaurant or are at the same event. Just don’t let that be your driving message.