BE ORIGINAL
Yes, we’ve all seen the funny memes of Kermit being a wise ass while drinking his tea – but using the same old joke to make your message heard isn’t the best approach. You need to find ways to creatively engage your audience so that your message is spread in a way that people pay attention to because it stands out in a way that is new. Does this mean everything needs to be a new idea? No. Be sure to find your balance between new original content and tried and true methods as well.
BE POSITIVE
A positive message is a more attractive message. Avoid any kind of messaging that can be perceived as negative in nature and be sure to elevate the caliber of the conversation. If people begin to bash each other on a post you’ve shared, be the bigger person and explain to the others that debate is good, but name calling isn’t going to advance the conversation. In today’s political climate, debate can quickly escalated to petty fights – be sure to maintain a level of positivity so the free exchange of ideas can take place in a safe environment.
BE ENGAGED
Social media is not a one way street. You can’t expect to gain a following if all you do is make a post sharing your opinion, but not engaging in civil conversations with those on all sides of the issue who wish to discuss it. You need to see what influencers on your topic are posting and join their conversations. You need to also see what your peers are saying and stay engaged with them too. A great way to engage in more conversation with your message is to utilize hashtags as much as possible, both in your original posts and through searching for them so you can join in on existing conversations.
BE RELEVANT
Relevancy is key in capturing the attention of your audience. This means following specific trends, but not utilizing them excessively. This also means being timely with real world events that are being discussed on social media in real-time – events like the Super Bowl, Grammys, etc. – and crafting your message to fit those events. If you aren’t perceived to be current, then you will gain no traction.