Is Your Social Media Brand Selfish?

by Scott Bishop on December 17, 2009

Is Your Social Media Brand All Take And No Give?

Like it or not…we are all brands on the web.  A brand is simply the way people feel about you or your company, and this directly applies to your online profiles whether you are selling something or not.

What emotions come up when people see an email from you, a direct message, a link you send?  Are they happy to help.  Are they excited to see what content you’ve provided for them?  Or do they roll their eyes and hit delete?

If you asked your networks…”Am I selfish”…what would they say?

One of the most important factors of social media is engagement.  So how much engagement are you giving vs receiving?

  • Are you leaving comments on other blogs?
  • Are you ReTweeting other peoples tweets and links?
  • Are you engaging in other Facebook Fan pages
  • On your LinkedIn groups do you just watch the activities and news become posted or do you comment?

Or…do you simply push your own agenda to anyone that happens to stumble across your profiles?  Or worse…push your own selfish agenda to your customers and friends.

Social media is popular because you must give as well as take.  You can push your agenda.  You can push out your links and posts.  You can ask people to join your groups, and pages, and committees.  You can push your own agenda as much as you would like.

But eventually many people will begin to resent your online profile.  They may like you in person…but you’re just way to pushy online.  The balance between how much you give vs what you ask for is a delicate and important ratio for social media.

You will never become successful in social media until you also give back and participate.

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Scott S. Bishop is editor for Real Time Marketer and a marketing strategist with a specialty in social media.  He is an avid blogger and active across the net.  He is @thescottbishop on Twitter

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Tagged as: blogger, fan pages, marketing strategist, Real Time Marketing, tweets

Article by Scott Bishop

Scott Bishop is editor for Real Time Marketer and is the Director of Social for an integrated marketing firm. He is an avid blogger and active across the net. He is @thescottbishop on Twitter

Scott has written 127 awesome articles for Us.

  • http://www.opheliaswebb.com Elisa Doucette

    I've been watching this for awhile, haven't commented til now. But really, with all the backlash about personal branding and online presence and whatnot, I feel like you have put out one of the best posts I've seen on it.

    It's beyond the idea that you promote yourself online. We all RT and guest post and ping URL's and build community. It's part of the game. But it's all just shallow if you aren't engaged elsewhere. Anyone can whore themselves out to anyone who will listen. And many will. Especially if you have the “credentials” to back you.

    But to be a respected and well-liked person online, rather than just a guru that we all SHOULD listen to but you aren't sure why, there's gotta be more. Great post!

  • http://twitter.com/slmusicblog Scott LeBlanc

    Great post.

    I know exactly what you mean about, “when they see an email do they just roll their eyes and hit delete.” I know personally when I check my email – there's usually a lot of stuff in there that I do exactly this with. Whatever your purpose for being on the web, whether to make money, friends, or whatever.. if you're using social mediums then you have to give and take with your other people trying to do the same. Not a lot of people understand.

    This is definitely a refreshing post in this subject matter.

    Everytime I try to build my blog through relationships with others, or when I'm asking people on twitter to check out my blog or whatever.. I always try to make a point of checking out theirs and leaving comments as well.

    Definitely a great post and a thank you from me as well – a lot of people online should read this.

    Cheers!

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  • kristiklemm

    This is a really great post, Scott. I think we all forget to comment on others blogs…this is a great reminder of how, ehem, selfish we can all be.

  • sbishop

    Thanks for the comment Kristi. I think we can all be better about it…I know I can. Just thought it was a good reminder when my Inbox continues to grow with “gimmies”. Thanks for reading!

  • sbishop

    Thanks so much for the comment Elisa, I really appreciate it. It's def a tough balance to go off and promote your own brand while still being active in others, but I do think it is a vital piece that we often miss. Few have the luxury of the Guru's…the rest of us are out there hoofing it day in and day out. Thanks for stopping by.

  • sbishop

    Thanks for the comment Scott. I think social media is usually a pretty fair platform…you can usually get what you give. But I think we often forget, we being me, to get active with others on a deeper level than just a RT and “Like” on Facebook. I know I can always get better. Thanks for stopping by.

  • sbishop

    Thanks so much for the comment Elisa, I really appreciate it. It's def a tough balance to go off and promote your own brand while still being active in others, but I do think it is a vital piece that we often miss. Few have the luxury of the Guru's…the rest of us are out there hoofing it day in and day out. Thanks for stopping by.

  • sbishop

    Thanks for the comment Scott. I think social media is usually a pretty fair platform…you can usually get what you give. But I think we often forget, we being me, to get active with others on a deeper level than just a RT and “Like” on Facebook. I know I can always get better. Thanks for stopping by.

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  • http://bit.ly/matthurst Matt Hurst

    You raise some good points I usually have to point out to my clients. Besides not being pushy, listening carefully an particpating with your audience will help you develop messages that resonate in your community while strengthening your relationship with key fans (and friends).
    Do you think this should happen organically, or do you think it would help to make it part of our social media routine?

  • sbishop

    I think that for most, left organically…it won't happen (myself included). I think the best strategy is to create a daily or weekly engagement checklist. Leave 1 comment per day / RT 5 posts / etc. (or whatever you choose) After we get into the routine it will adjust itself…but I find having a list is a great way to remind yourself to interact.

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