When you stray from your strengths, you must stretch. That applies to language. I’m not talking about the language from the country you grew up in, but other sub-languages we learn going throughout life and our careers. There are many.
For example, if you become a civil engineer, you learn a ton of words and phrases relative to inclines, paving roads, designing bridges, movement of soil, application of heavy equipment to grading surfaces. To excel in that field, you must master those intricacies. That concept applies to every highly technical field in the world today from medicine to telecommunications, nuclear power or environmental remediation. To be successful, you must dig into the subject matter and work hard to master it.
That’s why it’s a bit odd to me that social media is considered something you just pick up. I would agree that in general social media tools are mostly straightforward. But to master their use is a different story. Like other more technical languages we pick up over the years, if you want to successfully utilize social media, you must start with the fundamentals and grow from there.
Find the tools must useful to your business. Start small. Find other businesses to model your program on, and follow their protocol. There’s nothing wrong with mimicking. Read up on what works and what doesn’t for your industry. Attend social media groups (most major cities now have social media organizations, similar to communications and marketing associations). You’ll hear interesting war stories, and get feedback specific to your field.
Your social media language will not magically develop. Like any other niche language, you must learn to speak it first, beginning with the simpler phrases and concepts, then build from there. Once started, keep sharpening your base. Hone it, eliminate what doesn’t work, and try some new things. Amazingly, you’ll find yourself talking the language.
For example, if you become a civil engineer, you learn a ton of words and phrases relative to inclines, paving roads, designing bridges, movement of soil, application of heavy equipment to grading surfaces. To excel in that field, you must master those intricacies. That concept applies to every highly technical field in the world today from medicine to telecommunications, nuclear power or environmental remediation. To be successful, you must dig into the subject matter and work hard to master it.
That’s why it’s a bit odd to me that social media is considered something you just pick up. I would agree that in general social media tools are mostly straightforward. But to master their use is a different story. Like other more technical languages we pick up over the years, if you want to successfully utilize social media, you must start with the fundamentals and grow from there.
Find the tools must useful to your business. Start small. Find other businesses to model your program on, and follow their protocol. There’s nothing wrong with mimicking. Read up on what works and what doesn’t for your industry. Attend social media groups (most major cities now have social media organizations, similar to communications and marketing associations). You’ll hear interesting war stories, and get feedback specific to your field.
Your social media language will not magically develop. Like any other niche language, you must learn to speak it first, beginning with the simpler phrases and concepts, then build from there. Once started, keep sharpening your base. Hone it, eliminate what doesn’t work, and try some new things. Amazingly, you’ll find yourself talking the language.