A recent news byte from the Huffington Post reported the results of a social media survey conducted by Rutgers University. After tracking the Twitter activity of 350 users, it was determined that eighty percent primarily used social media to update readers on their personal lives, while twenty percent used the forum to post links to breaking news. and other articles of interest. Those who “tweeted” for personal use were labeled “Meformers”, becoming the current news of the day, while the rest were placed in the “Informers” group.
An interesting note about this survey found that “meformers” tended to have fewer followers than those who use Twitter primarily to spread news of a more global concern.
While the sample of Twitter users studied for this survey doesn’t seem large compared to the millions of registered social media users, it raises an important question for people integrating any social media brand into their online marketing strategy. . Should it exist on Twitter as “meform” or “inform”, and what are the pros and cons of adopting either paradigm? How well do you balance the need for self-promotion with the need to maintain general interest in the Twitterverse?
To determine the answer for oneself, one must consider a number of factors. What draws readers to your profile and prompts them to click the Follow button? What do you have to offer people who will want to stay on your feed? The “me,” as defined by the Rutgers survey, comes across as somewhat self-satisfied and conceited, quite possibly using the social platform to entertain the world with even the most mundane updates: what did you have for breakfast, how are you. you are waiting at a traffic light, and so on. While close associates may be interested in the details, is it a good marketing strategy if you use Twitter to promote products and services?
Constantly connecting to a website or hard selling could also result in regular followers defection. While businesses integrate Twitter and Facebook into marketing, they don’t necessarily have to be completely relied on to sell. Finding the perfect medium between personal and professional: A little “me” and a little “them” can balance out your profile enough to encourage retweeting of your posts and attract more followers.
Don’t be afraid to share off-topic items or links related to your business that don’t belong to you. Showcase your expertise in your field and work on a two-sided approach to social media; in other words, don’t constantly talk to others, talk to them. Make good use of the reply feature and let other people know that they are being heard.
Is it better to be an “informer” rather than a “trainer” when it comes to social media marketing? There’s really no cut answer. The best approach to social media is to do it naturally. Let your unique voice shine, it will attract followers.