The Simplest Social Media Strategy

involves the application of two skills: Attention and Intention.

Attention

Are you noticing any changes in the social networks?  I am.  I'm noticing that it is very quiet on Twitter.  This may seem like an odd thing to say because the number of people using Twitter it is huge.  However, unlike when it was young, Twitter is becoming so crowded with business messages looking to go viral that there is very little conversation. 

You can notice a lot if you use your attention.  Then you can adjust your strategy, and possibly put more effort into other networks.  That conversation on the early Twitter is exactly why I was able to achieve what I did back then. 

Now I'm giving more thought to LinkedIn.  This is where I recommend anyone new to social media should get started.  Although, I have to admit I haven't used it much over the years.  Lately, however, the functionality of LinkedIn has improved, and I'm finding more ways to engage with like-minded colleagues.

Look around and experiment a little.  I'm thinking of starting a LinkedIn group to work in conjunction with a new series with this blog on the small business challenges that many of us share.  I'm still not quite sure how I can be most effective, so I'm keeping my attention on it, with the intention of making it work.

Intention

When you make a commitment to accomplish a result, and you stick to your commitments, two things happen.  First, you tend to achieve your objective.  But more importantly, you tend to grow, which makes the next goal that much easier.

Whether you are here to learn, to help a community, or to build a business, or like me – all three, then you have to be willing to do the work.  And that is where we are going.

My belief is we are now entering a period where the social media networks are seeing a shift towards achieving practical results.  The more clear you are about what you wish to accomplish, the more likely the effort you make will connect you with those that you should be working with.

These are exciting times for anyone that is active with social media.  Many of us have worked through the various forms of technology to achieve a comfort level.  We now have our favorites tools.  We've settled in with the technology.  Now is the time to use those skills to be productive.

The logical question is this:  Why are you here?

I know that I am committed to helping other entrepreneurs and small businesses use this amazing platform to build a business that is stronger and more sustainable.  How I will do that will evolve over time and get better as long as I am doing two things:

1.  Paying attention to the what people in the small business communities want to do.

2.  Having the intention to apply my abilities to make it happen for them.

This simple two-step strategy can work for anyone.

And I love simple!

How about you?

Photo Credit:  Caro's Lines