Most people on social media sites are focused on making, essentially, one point:
“Hey, I’m interesting.”
It shows up pretty easily in their posts. Here are some unnamed ones I just pulled from Twitter:
- “Facebook should add a feature that allows you to edit your wall posts. Remove is the only current option”
- “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order – John Burroughs”
- “There is too much certainty in the world, but skeptics don’t impress me either.”
- “SO excited to be presenting w the Schrecklet on engaging your social community for GREAT THINGS!”
- “Been a fun but very busy weekend. Currently engrossed in an audiobook. Good stuff, may even write a review.”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the tweets above. They have their place. The focus is on the Tweeter. However, those who are truly succeeding today with social media are making a slightly different point:
“Hey, I’m interested in you.”
These people ask questions, spark conversations and follow up. And they’re the ones getting the most out of social media.
In actuality, a good mix of these attitudes toward social media is probably profitable. Ironically, though, the more you seem interested, the more people find you interesting.
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Good post Brett. I think that it’s important to have a good mix. All questions and not sharing anything of yourself doesn’t work either. It’s about finding common ground, and connecting. Because no one will care enough to answer your questions if you haven’t already found that common ground.
Jen – yeah, you’re right. The pendulum can’t swing too far one way or the other. However, given what I see out there regularly, I think people should spend a little more time being interested than interesting.