Kara Hoisington has been working within the social media marketing space for the past two years and has recently begun building a snow sport community set to launch this coming winter season. A racer since age 7, the community combines her passion for both skiing and connecting people who love the sport.
As we know, there are hundreds of self-proclaimed "social media experts" out there. It’s become an umbrella definition of what it means to be a player within social media and has allowed anyone who sets up a twitter page and Facebook profile to start advising on how all this "new" stuff works in relation to business. With the sea of experts getting bigger it has become increasingly important to differentiate yourself from the generic tide and start creating your own waves.
1. Step Away from the Computer: I know, don't panic, you can make your way back. Seeing what your friends, family, and colleagues find important about everyday interactions and these connections lend insight into structuring online conversations. What is important to people? How do you interact offline? How can you translate that into your online conversations? As more and more focus is put on interacting online, it’s just as important to remember the basics of communication.
2. Figure out what matters to you: You know how to use the tools and communicate, but what do you want to talk about? I am all for just jumping into social media conversations, but your passion is what will resonate with others. By concentrating on conversations aligned with your passions, conversations are going to become more meaningful and proactive.
3. Try, try, and try again: So you want to make a splash in social media? It may seem as though things happen overnight online, but think again. Your first idea may drop like a penny in a well, it’s not going to make much noise. But, don't give up hope. Follow the trends of what people seem to like and dislike (relating back to suggestion #1) and figure out a way to catch their attention. If one method doesn't work out, find a new avenue to travel down and learn from your mistakes.
Passion has a lot to do with the success of any marketing and social media plan. If you are excited about the product or service you are marketing, this translates through your online interactions. The challenge is finding the perseverance to utilize your individuality in order to generate interest in your online initiatives. No one is interested in something that looks just like everything else, so let go, be yourself, and get after it.
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tagged as kara hoisington, purple cow, slope side media, social marketing, social medi expert, social media plan, spotted zebra, utilize social media
