If you think Facebook was first on the social media scene, then you might be surprised to find out the origins of “social” communications dates back centuries.
As a matter of fact, communication across great distances dates back to 550 B.C. At that time, the earliest form of a primitive postal service enabled the delivery of letters.
The invention of the telegraph in 1792 revolutionized the way people conveyed news and information more quickly.
Of course, we’re much more familiar with the two inventions of the 1890’s… the telephone and radio.
“Technology began to change very rapidly in the 20th Century. After the first super computers were created in the 1940s, scientists and engineers began to develop ways to create networks between those computers, and this would later lead to the birth of the Internet,” Small Biz Trends.
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS VITAL TO BUSINESS
Tweeting. Chatting. Posting. Social media, in the traditional sense, changed the way we communicate in the early 2000’s. Today, most people turn to social channels such as Twitter and Facebook as the most convenient way to stay connected to friends and family afar.
For business, staying in the social sphere is a must.
I recently blogged about managing your online reputation. But, there’s more you can do.
To keep your posts professional and popular, there are a few simple rules to keep in mind.
SOCIAL MEDIA DOS AND DON’TS
1. Know your customers.
1. Know your customers.Tailor your business social media to your consumer base – not your personal interests. “To be frank, your consumers don’t care about YOU. They care about what you can do for THEM. Post stories that they can relate to,” explains Inbound Marketing Agents.
2. Do follow colleagues you know and respect.
Fostering positive connections is good for both professional parties. On the other hand, connecting with people you don’t like or respect can create a real problem. It’s just too tempting to post a negative comment. Getting into a back-and-forth publicly doesn’t look good and can harm your bottom line.
3. Show off what makes you proud!
Customers connect with positive posts. If you have a new product or accomplished a goal, don’t be shy to boast about it. Got a good a review? Share it!
Conversely, don’t post controversial or inappropriate photos or comments that could damage your business reputation.
4. Don’t share personal pictures.
“No booze. No beach pics,” advises We Are Teachers. Any social media platforms open to the public should always be professional and positive, especially if children can see them.
5. Show off your personality.
If you’re excited about your company, your posts should be exciting, too! Because, if you’re not in love with the services you provide and the work you do… your customers won’t be either.
Finally, keep an active presence in your social media. Just remember this. Over-posting is annoying and can result in your clients unfollowing you. Make sure that what you share is worth their time stopping to read and watch.
