Success Is Not A One-Way Street

We have all met those socially awkward people who believe everyone is dying to know everything about them. They trap you in a corner at a cocktail party and tell you everything you never wanted to know about the details of their life. After that first encounter, we learn to avoid the possibility of a trap; we have devised an escape route, or enlisted a friend to ‘save us’.

one waySocial media is no different. There are those business people for whom it is a one-way conversation. Every message they present is a commercial for their product or service. Social media for these people is a chore but they have been told that ‘it will sell their product” therefore they dutifully post the same information over and over. The beauty of social media is that disengaging is so much easier. A single click of a button and you have unfollowed or unfriended or simply blocked the content from your feed without the other person knowing you have moved beyond earshot.

2way trafficConversation is a two-way street. A good conversation has give and take; it may ebb and flow, but it always has multiple participants (aside from those of us who oft speak to ourselves). If one party is dominating the content then one side or the other will eventually disengaged.

Want to be successful in social media, loosen up, relax, have fun and have conversation. Be yourself! If you are engaged, your message will follow and the people you want to meet will seek you.

February 19th, 2010

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