Social Media: Tips and Tricks I have Learnt

Social media can make or break a brand and as a small business owner myself (www.wonderlandclothing.com) I thought I would give out any advice I have come across along the way! So today I thought I’d cobble together a few of my random social media musings into some kind of coherent form for you all… I’m not sure why, but so often people assume I know what I’m doing. OK, I may have some idea (sometimes) but I certainly don’t have all the answers.  

Quite simply, there is no quick or easy way to get more followers and you don’t get anything in this life for free (or without some hard graft!) This is a point made where you can buy ‘likes’ for your business pages! Instagram has culled many (but you can still buy them, but facebook and twitter it's easy peasy) and how many of you have been spammed on Instagram or any social media platform with 'like for likes' or 100 followers in an hour? I mean come on! Trying to ‘get people to follow you’ is the same as trying to force them to like you (in the real life sense, not the social media sense) If they don’t want to, it just ain’t gonna happen. 

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Obviously the social media platforms I run are for a business, they don't follow me per say they follow my brand, and why? well ultimately because they like the clothes that we sell, although one tip I have to say is don't spam people constantly. Brands to me (or people) who over post on any social network just make me want to unfollow them immediately. “But how do we get people to know that we exist so they follow us and read our whitty repartee and look at our gorgeous clothing/products in the first place?” Honestly? I don’t know. I can’t tell you how to be interesting and I can’t tell you how to be you…however you know what? The very best person to tell you the answer to this elusive question is…YOU.

So by this point you’re probably about to start throwing things at me whilst demanding your money back, but bear with me…I might not be able to give you a quick or simple solution but I am able to analyse some of the things I’ve done or noticed in and around this media we call social.

 Let people in! At the heart of it, social media is a way for your readers/followers/likers/customers to get to know you. Twitter in particular, breaks down the barriers and allows people to get to know the real person behind the blog/camera/shop front etc. People will follow (or unfollow) you because of that simple fact – because they like (or dislike) YOU. There’s no other trick than that. Be yourself and you’ll attract likeminded people who like you for (dum dum dum) who you really are. Instagram is the same, when people say 'ooh I really like this' then reply thanks, answer questions, be a person! There is NOTHING worse than someone who thinks they are too good to answer people (don't get me wrong, when you have 100k+ on any social network this is clearly hard work, and impossible) but a smaller blogger / shop owner? this where you can really sell yourself. I have had people say, I was thinking of buying this/that/the other but it was when you answered my question / liked my photo / said something nice that made me actually do it. 

Use you icon photos to sell yourself also. Show who you are! Wonderland is a bohemian brand, so if we had a photo of a girl in a bandage dress, it's not representing us at all, same with a blog or just a person! Show of what you are about, it will make a difference! 

The best way I can articulate how I’ve found social media success, is that I’m genuinely interested in the people that follow me and what makes them tick. Despite what you might think, your social media is not about you… it’s about them. These people take time out of their day to read your words, look at your pictures and in order to attract (and keep) them you need to share things that will interest them. What things to they like to see/purchase/read?

I don’t think many people want to sit and home and only read about other people’s accomplishments. Instead of just showing off all the time, use your social media to help others. Become a source and people will follow you because the things you’re posting are genuinely interesting and relevant to them. Which leads me on nicely to my next point…

There is nothing more boring than reading the tweets or facebook updates or instagram posts of someone who only bloody writes about how great they are or just shares all the amazing things that they’ve done. The best ‘social media-ers’ are the people that equally share things that fall into the following three categories:

1. Promoting yourself (linking to your blog posts/sharing personal photos)
2. Promote other people (sharing things you love – i.e. being a source) - be it photos people have taken on instagram (reposting, sharing favourite small brands etc) reposting tweets, or blog posts etc
3. Making real connections (having conversations/replying to your tweets, instagram and facebook comments) 

DON'T SPAM PEOPLE! 

Could you imagine walking up to someone and shouting in their face…

“COME AND LOOK AT THIS THING I JUST DID” or “PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION” or “IF YOU COME DOWN THIS DARK ALLEY WITH ME I’LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING AMAZING FOR JUST $15″

If it would be a weird in real life, people will think it’s weird on twitter. Fact.

Don't beg for follows either, it honestly just comes across as a bit weird. People follow because they want to follow. Would you beg someone to be your friend IRL? no, so don't do it online. Organic, that's the best way. 

Also It’s quite an obvious thing to avoid when you think about it, but why do so many people think it’s OK to use their social media to moan moan moan? Moaning about clients, moaning about the weather, moaning about their doctor’s bill… First impressions count and are often lasting. If you constantly complain on social media, people will assume you are a negative person generally…and no one likes a sourpuss. Consider yourself unfollowed.

Learn from others who do you follow and why do you follow them? Thinking about what it is that you like about their instagram photos, tweets (facebook status, pins etc) can help you figure out the kinds of things your followers might like to see from you. Again, it sounds obvious now, but if you like it other people probably will too!

Another tip is knowing your audience! Things I post on facebook won't necessarily work on instagram. Instagram is obviously photo focused, so we post new arrivals (same on snap chat) and mix in some funny photos along with way. I am much more likely to speak to bloggers and people I may collab with on twitter, so we use it for conversational pieces. Facebook in many ways has had its day, but it still drives a lot of traffic to our site, in this respect I often post more sale items on there. 

Sharing different content on each platform will also encourage the people that are really interested in what I have to say to follow me in both places. WIN!

There is no magic answer or quick one-size-fits-all solution to social media success. However being yourself and helping others as much as you can will build a strong and loyal following. Whether you have 250,000 followers or just 25, it’s that loyalty that really counts.

Do you have any tips? 

Blocking After A Breakup

Facebook, for most, is part of our daily lives and when it comes to creating relationships and connection it is a worthwhile platform to be part of. However, Facebook can also be very dangerous when a relationship breaks down as you may well be finding yourself spending hours on the platform stalking your ex. This is, of course, is a BIG no-no! Believe me, I have been there.

Here are five reasons why Facebook stalking your ex is a bad idea:

1) It will keep you hurting

You need time to heal and watching what he is up to is not giving you the space to do so. Instead de-friend him so you can heal. If you don't want to de-friend facebook allows you to hide, but if you find yourself continuing to then still look, then de-friend. Healing has to be done in your own space with no disturbances. Part of the healing process is to commit to letting go of the exact things you don't want to let go of and change. However if you do make that commitment, magic happens.

2) It's detrimental to your self-esteem.

When you are healing your heart, its important to focus on you and use your time to do this to build up your self-esteem again. Instead do things that build up your self-esteem by finding out what is important to you in your inner world.

3) Stop you from meeting someone else.

If you are focusing on your ex and putting all your energy into that, are you allowing the space for someone new to come in? Of course not. Instead, focus on allowing the space for someone new, so that you can move on with your life. 

4) Waste your time

There is only one resource that you will never get back and that is your time. It may sound cliché but oh so true. Why give them your time? Surely your time is better served doing something wonderful for you instead of giving up your power to someone that ultimately is no longer in your life?

Don't have your power taken from you and when you feel the urge to get on there, do something else to nurture yourself. 

5) You will believe what is not true.

Facebook, in my very humble opinion, is NOT real. It is extremely one-sided and for the most part, people don't ever seem to be sad. You only ever get the one sided happy perspective of how amazing our lives are. Nevertheless, how do we really know that this is the truth? We don't.

The problem with stalking your ex, is that you will start to believe that he is having an incredible time of it. You will start comparing your life to his and guaranteed you will feel that moving on for your ex was easy, when in fact you just don't know. Assumptions only ever bring suffering.

Instead, focus on your life and what you are doing and this will start to bring your self confidence back.

How To Deal With A Break Up On Social Media

Oh break ups! You have the raging row, you storm our the house, you put the angriest song on and drive home. What is our first instinct? Get on social media, slam him, put independent woman quotes, tweets 'girl problems' on the twitter. Don't worry we have all been there, you're not alone – in this digital age people are very quick to take to social media to express emotions (especially when alcohol has been involved.) But it's become a general second nature, think of all the photos of dinner in instagram! But when it comes to break ups? DON'T DO IT. 

Instead, practice some social media break-up etiquette. Now, every break-up is different, so not all of these rules will apply to any one relationship. They are more like guidelines for a happier social media life. So, heed the warnings! Here is our advice 

Do NOT rant about your Ex on Facebook. Everyone wants to do this. It has become almost an instinctive reaction to either good or bad news. The whole Facebook world needs to know about it, right? Wrong. Please, keep that shit to yourself. Because you know what? Think about it when we see people post stuff like that, we laugh? we analyse? And we make assumptions etc – so don't let you be that person.

 

If you do want to post something, then post something positive, something good in your life and about new beginnings etc. So don't post that clearly attention begging status such as 'Why do bad things always happen to me?' it's attention seeking and quite frankly annoying. Post something positive! This IS a new beginning. 

Yes, feel free to delete your Ex, unfollow him, and basically eliminate him from your social network. It’s your personal network, and if you don’t want to see him/him to see you, by all means, get rid of him. It can also be wise to do this especially if you find yourself continuing to check his facebook/twitter/instagram it stops you from being able to. 

Defiantly do this to avoid the urge to stalk your ex after a few wines at 2am. This is the biggest problem! As when you accidentally hit like his status from 2011 or a picture, or see new girls commenting etc well it's only going to make you feel bad.

 

However, I would advise against blocking the Ex, (unless necessary). I know not everyone wants to be friends with an Ex, but he/she was very close to you for a reason. By not blocking, you leave the option for friendship open. However if he is cheating, lying horrible bastard? Well they by all means block away. But from experience I am friends with a few exes, and only because the door was left open. 

There is then the problem of the mutual friends, or being friends with his family and friends. Now deleting them all straight away can look bad, so possibly if you can just do it slowly weed them out over a few weeks. That being said just because you met through your ex as long as it doesn't cause any drama then why not stay friends with them? 

Angry? Got some pretty racey photos of your ex? Well don't post them, don't honestly. Even if he has done you wrong, what are the chances he has something you might not even know about? Save them for a laugh, but if you post them it makes you look angry and upset (even though you might be) but you're asking for a war, and trust me no one will win. 

Finally, when in doubt, do NOT post anything when you’re upset, angry or sad. I’m talking anything. It could be liking a status, tweeting something snarky, or just writing “I Miss You” on his wall. Don’t do it! None of these are things that you’re going to look back on in 24 hours and think, oh yeah, that was smart. 

Break ups suck. It’s a fact of life. But Love is great, and people will continue to search for it. Just remember, along the path to finding that right guy, you’ll have some stumbles. 

So, just make sure your social media self doesn’t create more issues and drama than your real life.

Why Does Facebook Suck?

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 I have always been one of those rare creatures that doesn't and never really has used facebook. My personal account is only there because I use it for the Wonderland Clothing page, and to be honest I probably only know around 5 people IRL on my friends list (I get a lot of random adds and have no idea who they are!) However, over the weekend I was talking to my friends (noticing a pattern of blog posts here!) anyway we all decided that the following were the most annoying things about facebook. 

  Little Alfie did a #2 in the big boy potty last night. 

I have to say that sharing this kind of information with people on facebook is just not necessary. I do not care that your child has taken a shit for the first time. People on twitter don't do this, so why do people on facebook? I find it even crazier that since I barely know people on my friends list, I still get to see these updates - so adding randoms and sharing this information just seems insane to me! Leave this kind of stuff for at home, only.  

The people with perfect lives. 

You know the ones I mean, they basically have the greatest lives in the whole wide world, everything is so great and they must tell you this throughout the day. Nothing ever goes wrong, social life, work life, everything is great! They tend to have 'cheeky' glasses of wine, feel 'blessed' and call their significant other 'hubby' etc. Enough, if life was that great you wouldn't need to tell the world. 

 
The Gym Bunnies

I honestly don't understand why people feel the need to share this information with people, I really don't. When I go to the gym (which is sometimes, aherm well never) I am feeling sweaty, unattractive, hungry and do not feel the need to tell 800 people I am there. I don't care if you go to the gym, anymore than I care if you go to the supermarket. So stop it. 

Facebook Hashtaggers

It's for twitter, not for facebook. Leave it at that. 

 

 

My Life is Over

As fun as it is to watch people air out their dirty laundry on facebook, and basically beg for attention and sympathy posts etc I just cannot deal with it. I am sorry your baby daddy left you for your dads best friends gay uncle, but I also don't really care. 

Facebook Relationships. 

 

Publicising completely private moments gives me the creeps. Quit bragging and go hang out with each other... in person.

 Facebook Chat

Pretty much letting creepy men talk to you, and not taking a hint. Honestly some of the messages I get are literally insane. 

On that final note, this is why I am sticking to twitter! I tweet over at @oxWonderland - if you tweet leave your handle in the comments!