Self Promoting
Self Promotion, Publicize Me or even DIY Syndication if you will – sounds great eh? Done right, you bet it is but this one simple feature is screwed up by many, including the Pro’s.
I run into clients ALL the time (yes, CAPS intended) who are “doing” Social Media – some good, some great, some better than me and some failing miserably. So even with all these different levels and expertise in the client pool one thing keeps cropping up time and again and I call it instafix-syndrome.
So many people and “experts” are using Publicize tools & Plugins without checking the fruit of their labors properly. Often never at all and the end result is well, less than ideal. We’re all human, I get that but let’s face it, when we see a button to Check that says “Publicize this article” or “Share on my Social Networks” – we’ve just gotta click it – well, who wouldn’t? Easy is good and time is just something they had more of back in the Eighties. So, these auto features make life easier right? Or do they..?
From the Clients I talk with and see every day many NEVER go back onto their various Social Media platforms to check the link or Auto-Publicized Post actually worked correctly. Ding – now there’s a red flag if ever there was one.
How many times have you been on Twitter, Facebook or Linked In and seen :
Joe Client (name protected) Tweets : ” fb.me….. “ Nothing else, Nada – that’s it. What the heck does that mean..?
But wait, Joe’s not done yet because he uses more than one platform and yep, they all have cute little Publicize buttons to check. Before you know it…Oooh I just can’t help myself and now in a fit of time-saving energy, we get :
” fb.me….. “
1 min later…
” fb.me….. “
30 secs later
FB Posted to Twitter : ” fb.me….. “
10 secs
Instagram says : ” fb.me….. “
Linked In Updates : ” fb.me….. “
Joe Client finally (probably once someone points it out) realizes somethings up and … ” Oh FB.me ! ”
Posts of ” fb.me ” or ” wp.me ” with no Context = I don’t CARE.
Now Joe may have just written the best blog post in history. Or maybe the latest hi-tech gadget that will solve all the problems of the digital age BUT alas, no-one will ever see it because…
People Don’t Click on ” fb.me… “
Like SO many others, Joe Checked this feature back in the day and has carried on since blissfully unawares. He thinks he’s doing a bang up job on self promotion – not to mention saved some money and showed those “experts” a thing or two in the process! But Joe, unfortunately is wrong and he’s in HUGE company to boot. Bang up job? No – just a very common, simple mistake.
If you have a good post, then please do yourself a favor and take 5 mins and manually post it to your main traffic sources. Go onto Facebook and write a little spiel about it as an introduction. Invite your fans to read and comment on the article. This is how a Post should be publicized. Now rinse and repeat for Linked-In.
For Twitter and using only up to 70 +/- Characters MAX – always leaving some room for comments on RT’s right? Well, you will now. A simple one line intro that will hopefully make Tweeps want to read & Retweet your Post.
I’ve seen this happen with Newbies just as much as Professional Speakers, Authors & Social Media Gurus, Ninjas, Linked-In Queens, Media Mavens and all. Point of fact – it’s happening right now as you read this. So don’t be like Joe – take 5 mins and publicize yourself properly and the rewards will come.
Thanks for reading and if you think this Post might help someone else out there, please Share. At MAC5.ca, I help Businesses & Individuals get better on the Web through Social Media and strategic Web Design & Marketing – maybe I can help you ?
If you have any Questions or would like to talk with me Call or Email anytime, I’d love to hear from you – Mark.