Social media relationships are real relationships

“The core goal of social media is to enhance client experiences, cultivate your relationship online” #salonowners

— Salon Guru Websites (@SalonGuruTweets) February 26, 2016

When I read, “The core goal of social media is to enhance client experiences, cultivate your relationship online,” I actually shivered. Really, I did. I think I’ve got issues with vacuous #TwitterPlatitudes like: enhance client experiences YUK!

Surely it should read, “The core goal of social media is to be Social?” i.e: Companionable.

Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I’ve been on social media almost since it started in 1997; in 1998 I started my first blog! And I can assure you, if you want to, Get the best out of Social Media, all you have to do is follow the rules of social media etiquette – Number one being: Be Friendly.

Here’s an example of how NOT to do it:

My wife is reading The Tea Planter’s Wife by Dinah Jefferies, and she is (maybe was) really enjoing it. So she looked-up and followed @DinahJefferies on Twitter. And she tweeted: “I’m reading #TheTeaPlantersWife by @DinahJefferies and loving it.”

Dinah Jefferies Liked the tweet.

One of my wife’s followers tweeted, “Thanks for recommendation, ordering a copy today”
And my wife replied, “I hope you’ll enjoy it :-)”

Dinah Jefferies did NOT follow my wife back, and did not engage further – even though my wife had potentially sold a book for her.

What should Dinah Jefferies have done?

Simply, Dinah Jefferies should have thanked my wife and engaged her in further conversation, because they are the basic rules of social media etiquette.

My wife unfollowed @DinahJefferies and is now a little iffy with the book.

Social Media is all about being social. COMMUNICATION – If you can’t do it, don’t do it!