Can you be yourself and succeed in social media?
I will start out saying, I do not have the answer to this question but it is something I have been thinking about lately. So I am putting the questions out to the readers of my blog. I hope to provoke a dialog about what makes someone successful in social media.
What type of personality does it take to really succeed in social media? Do you have to create a larger than life persona? Do you have to interact with the”right people”? Where does humility fit in? Is social space a comfortable place for the shy, the wallflower personality?
Do you have to be willing to say “Hey look at me” or can you just quietly interact with people? Can you stay real and true to yourself and still manage to succeed or do you have change depending on who you are talking to?
How many people keep their interactions fairly bland to avoid stirring up controversy or are the controversial ones more likely to be successful in social space? Does worrying about perceptions of others box you in and make you less someone wants to interact with?
We all generally hate spammers so where is the line between self-promotion and spammers? Where is the line between “Glory hound” and “wallflower”? How do you compliment people you admire without sounding insincere, and when do compliments sound more like placating?
When ever you interact with a large group of people everyone creates their own perception of you. The question becomes what type of perception do you want them to have and how important is that perception. I am really looking forward to seeing others thoughts on the questions I posed.
Thanks for reading and catch you all on Twitter.
I think if one is passionate, whether a wall flower, or a larger than life individual, that passion will show through. The only time one gets in a jam, is when either A, they tone down their passion, or B, try to fake that they have one.
The thing is, there are millions of potential readers/followers/customers… so ok, by being passionate about one thing or another, you tick off 40%. There is still 60% of the potential there, of which most businesses are likely only going to few percent anyhow.
The thing is, if no passion is set forth, yes, you may now have access to 100%… but my guess is without passion, the conversion rates are going to be abysmal. Thus even with a smaller group to work with, ie only 60%, those folks will see your passion, and be much more likely to convert, imho more than making up for the 40% you ticked off.
Ultimately, my thinking is dont afraid to be real… and dont fear the occasionally ticked off person either. Chances are they wouldnt buy anyhow.
You know I started typing out 2 answers before deleting them because I didn’t think I directly answered you. So I decided the way to go would be to directly answer each query:
What type of personality does it take to really succeed in social media?
A: Any
Do you have to create a larger than life persona?
A: No
Do you have to interact with the”right people”?
A: To succeed. Well, yes, but that depends on who YOUR right people are.
Where does humility fit in?
A: Most places
Is social space a comfortable place for the shy, the wallflower personality?
A: Yes. It’s not a live meeting, your words represent you. Most of the things that hold back the shy person, in person, don’t come into play online.
Do you have to be willing to say “Hey look at me” or can you just quietly interact with people?
A: Either, but I think it’s healthy to do both every so often.
Can you stay real and true to yourself and still manage to succeed or do you have change depending on who you are talking to?
A: Both. I interact differently person to person offline, even if it’s just by a smidge. I’m probably actually more consistent in my personality online because of space restraints.
How many people keep their interactions fairly bland to avoid stirring up controversy or are the controversial ones more likely to be successful in social space?
A: Who knows. I’ll say this much, nobody in my special little Tweetdeck group and that includes you. Like everything, bland is going to differ person to person. I’m sure we bore a lot of our followers to tears when we talk about the latest eBay changes, but for the core part of my group that’s exciting stuff!
Does worrying about perceptions of others box you in and make you less someone wants to interact with?
A: Not really. You get to know who you can josh with and who’s going to fly off the handle if you poke a little fun their way. That’s a benefit of eavesdropping on all these conversations, everybody’s got a personality and to some degree everybody is a personality and if you watch a little of what they do you have a much greater understanding of how to best approach. I’d say I pretty much say whatever I want, just keep the censors a little tighter because of public consumption.
We all generally hate spammers so where is the line between self-promotion and spammers?
A: Another case of diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks. Personally, I think you’re spamming me if you DM me with a link after a follow. Otherwise, well, put whatever you want in your Twitter or Facebook stream, but if it’s nothing but sales links or Mafia Wars news I reserve the right to unfollow you.
Where is the line between “Glory hound” and “wallflower”?
A: I hope I’m neither (don’t we all), but I’d suggest the best answer about a glory hound may come from a wallflower and vice versa. Note: approach each with caution
How do you compliment people you admire without sounding insincere, and when do compliments sound more like placating?
A: I like to think those who “know” me in social media spaces understand my compliments are always sincere. If I don’t like it I’m likely to keep my mouth shut, though if I disagree I’m likely to try and engage an intelligent argument to prove my side of it. Still, even if I disagree you might get a compliment for a job well done.
Ooh, the end. You ask a lot of good questions here and I tried to give you back the first thing that popped into my head for each. What seems common throughout is people, both broadcasting and receiving, are all different and most of these questions have no universal answer. That doesn’t mean they’re not worth asking.
Thanks, Cliff
You know there’s a CW song that addresses this exact issue! LOL. Now all I have to do is remember the name. I think most people’s true personality ends up coming thru whether they want it to or not. I’m not a perpetually sunny disposition and that shows up. I’m not a kissass either and THAT definitely shows up.
Do you have to be larger than life? Aren’t some people just that way naturally? Same thing for “gloryhounds”. Some people just are. I think, how you interact and how you react and how you treat others here, reflects your true personality. It reflects your own “security” or insecurity. At least I think so.
So even though those people maythink they are “creating a persona” I think they are just being that inner 5 year old on the first day of kindegarten.
People who know themselves and accept themselves, don’t have to fawn, or create “personas” they just say what they mean and mean what they say as John Wayne said. (I think it was John Wayne…I forget as what character)
“Mommy” told me “be thyself”.
—- Around the same time she gave up on trying to change or mold me….
I have no idea what “success” in social media actually is. There are so many yardsticks. My yardstick is simple: do people listen to what I say, and do I listen ENOUGH to others. This results in at least three inches of conversation. If three inches becomes a foot, great. A full yard may not even be manageable.
I will actively look for certain types of people to interact with, based on MY personality and interests. Quirky ME sees links with people from all walks. Some of it biz related, others personal.
I MIX biz, info, personal, rant, raves, accolades all the time.
Being online, if one tries for a persona, it’ll fail real quick. Being insincere is so much hard work it just doesn’t pay off. And there is no easier task than just being “me”. Sometimes that leads to deeper interactions online, somteimes not.
“me” succeding at social media is about how many of the “inches” of the yardstick are covered — i.e. carrying on conversations at various levels of involvement, and getting proportional returns for that time. Some inches are reserved for just “fun”.
Cheers.
Vince.
Wow! What great questions you ask. My dad always told me to listen first and ask questions later. So, when I first started on the internet, I was a “wall-flower” type person. However, he also taught me the value of honesty; to be myself. So, as me I started asking questions. Seeking the obvious answers, and some deep inner quests we all have. I guess you could say I was trying to find the “right” people to interact with.
Then, by the grace of god, I was asked to join a certain group online. Joining with these folks was the best thing I ever did. Why? Because I found MYSELF. I know know me; what I an capable of. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is be yourself, and the right people will follow YOU.
I believe in speaking my mind most times; but, I also know sometimes I need to back off and not answer or say anything right at that minute. With social media, this is sooo much easier. You CAN cool off, and come off smelling a lot better than if you just blasted. I think a little common a sense goes a long way on the internet.
There, I probably have not answered your questions, but I had fun putting my 2 cents worth in, anyhow!
Wow, great questions and fabulous responses! I have little to add, just to say that it’s too much work trying to be someone besides yourself . And that a little measure of controversy (or at least surprise) can be a good thing.
Great blog, Karen and you’ve already gotten some awesome responses. I agree with Susan, it’s too much work to try and ‘be’ someone else. I like Popeye’s creedo, “I Yam what I Yam and that’s All I Yam”
Love it or leave it