What’s the recipe for social media success?

Social media success is a relative term, and it means different things to different people.

But, we all want it – at least, in a way which is relative to our own requirements, needs and commercial imperatives. For some people, like a chap I spoke to recently, social media success for him was seeing a tenfold financial ROI on social media engagement. Have to admit, I think he’s going to find social media engagement a disappointment on that single basis. For others, like my typical client, social media success is about more subtle– but equally important – metrics to define success online. A natural by-product of successful social media engagement should also be a financial return over time, of course. So, what’s the recipe for social media success? It’s a simple dish, best served with passion, I’d say. My ingredients are not difficult to add into your social media mix. They are: * Little and often Effective social media engagement is very much like trying your favourite food: it’s most enjoyable when tried little and often. Give your audience regular titbits, useful content, interesting links to information – and be consistent with it. Don’t dump a six-course-meal equivalent on them, then disappear for a week or two. Social media success needs little and often to build trust. * Tasty treats Effective social media engagement is very much like your treat meal, too: it should be an absolute savoury delight, filled with the best ingredients, prepared with care, attention to detail, and a loving touch. If you feed your audience garbage, they’ll soon leave your social media platforms for more flavour-some spaces online. Social media success needs to be full of tasty treats for them. * The vital ingredient – you Effective social media engagement needs one vital ingredient – you. Many businesses and individuals forget to add their uniqueness into the social media mix, resulting in a poor end recipe for their audiences. Give them the full-fat you, not a diluted, weakened version. Passion is the flavour of the day, and don’t scrimp on the servings for delicious social media success.