subject: Twitterers Should Crown – With Knowledge – All Who Seek Them [print this page] I like Twitter, but I see a great unfulfilled potential in it. Travelling through "Tweeterville" we have all come across the Twitterer, who retweets the same "get rich quick" message over and over again and yet have somehow managed to hold onto 112,876 followers.
When you click on their too often repeated links, they generally take you to some cheesy print ad or six minute YouTube video extolling the virtues of their - can't miss - online training course geared to the masses. I just don't get it.
I thought Social Media is supposed to be all about cordially sharing helpful information rather than blatant and repetitive sales pitches. I can't imagine why 97% of those following the purveyors of limited value information do not just "unfollow" these people by the third repeat of the same sales pitch. Am I missing something here? If so, please fill me in.
I do get it that we are all different people with different reasons for signing on to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other Social Media sites, in the first place. With the exception of LinkedIn and a few other like-minded suit and tie sites, the majority of Social Media platforms are geared to social rather than business exchange. They call it "Social" Media.
If I want to discuss Monday Night Football or the last episode of "House," I probably wouldn't go looking for Twitter, Facebook or MySpace friends, who prefer to discuss the latest innovations in CRM the entire weekend. Frankly, I can't see anyone being interested in connecting with a one-dimensional snake oil salesman, whose only interest is to increase his or her follower count so that all these people can be subjected to the same trite sales pitch seventy-five times per month. Still, there are many example of this in Twitter, especially under categories like #makemoney and #affiliate-marketing.
My company, RiaEnjolie, Inc. offers professional looking and affordable websites to small businesses of many types. We could very easily carpet bomb Twitter with a singular sales pitch from us, but we choose not to do this.
When we are not working at RiaEnjolie, we are also consumers and few of us are impressed by other marketers that bombard us with relentless, one-dimensional sales pitches either. We also clearly understand what Social Media is all about. To be a successful business using Social Media it is important to be able to provide more value to others than you expect to receive in return.
The take-away from our Website business is that we recognize that "content is king." In fact, my college Alma mater's (Syracuse University) Latin motto is "Suos Cultores Scientia Coronat." English translation: "Knowledge crowns all those who seek her." This is a good motto to live by and we do so at RiaEnjolie; especially when it comes to our social media presence. We look for interesting business news and tips to offer those that care to follow us, "like" us and/or connect with us, online.
Do we ever talk about our company on Twitter and in other Social Media forums? Sure we do. When we have something important to share, we share it and then we move on. We try to maintain a ratio of 1 RiaEnjolie Tweet for every 15-20 industry related ones. What we don't do is mention ourselves just for the sake of doing so. Our rationale is quite simple and in line with most Social Media schools of thought. If you appreciate the value of our posts and Tweets, you may want to consider our services.
Restraint in sales and especially in Social Media is an admirable strength. After all, everyone should immediately realize that RiaEnjolie Inc. is a business (the Inc. gives us away). We also know that all businesses exist to create revenue by meeting the needs of their customers.
We at RiaEnjolie believe that if we offer value to others - without any obligations or strings attached - they'll at least take a moment or two to visit our website and see what it is we have to offer. That is all that any business, engaged in Social Media, should expect from others. As more and more business begin to recognize this, the major Social Media platforms like Twitter and Facebook will increasingly become great disseminators of useful information. We'll all be much better off when that happens, because we'll all be a little better informed as field authorities exchanging knowledge with other field authorities
Marc LeVine is the Director of Social Media at RiaEnjolie, Inc. (www.RiaEnjolie.com), which specializes in professional looking and affordable websites for small businesses of all types. Follow us on Twitter @RiaEnjolie and on Facebook. You can win a free website.
Twitterers Should Crown With Knowledge All Who Seek Them
