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Do You Think You Suck At Social Media Marketing? Think Again!

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Like a lot of people, I have been inspired by the past 2 weeks of Olympic sports. The moment that stood out to me most was the commentary about Evan Lysacek and his work ethic. Lysacek's coach wasn't able to get him to stop practicing at times. And it sure paid off! That gold medal didn't get around Lysacek's neck because he wished for it or hoped it would happen. It happened because he put in the work. And the same applies to social media marketing as well.

Have You Ever Found Yourself Saying "I'm Just Bad At Twitter!"?

Davina Brewer's article, Twitter's Big Secret - It's Hard Work!, summed it up very nicely in the title. When you come across a big name on Twitter, it's easy to think they just magically were blessed with a legion of dedicated followers that retweet everything they say. It's not that different than thinking Evan Lysacek was born with a pair of skates attached to his feet and was a master of jumps and spins as soon as he could stand. We're so accustomed to seeing the results that we forget it took actual hard work and not giving up to get to that point.

If you find yourself thinking that you're bad at social media, it's time to take a different approach. Instead of comparing yourself to the Twitter Olympians, strive to be better than the ones who have given up right before they were about to be successful.

Here are 3 things you can do today so you don't miss out like the quitters have:

1. Look For Blog Posts To Comment On

While I know tools like Twitter and Facebook have been in the spotlight of social media, there is still much to be said about the power of commenting on blogs to engage thought leaders in your niche. It shows that you have taken the time to appreciate something they have created. Not only will you be showing your support to that blogger, you will also be setting the foundation for future engagement.

Another good idea is to comment on the blogs of up and comers. If you're a regular commenter adding value to their blog, they'll seek you out on social platforms to talk even more.

2. Spend Some Time Listening First

I like to spend my free time learning French and Mandarin Chinese. Over the years, I've learned more about what the language learning process entails and surprisingly, it's important to have a silent phase. While your teachers may have made you speak since day 1, they were actually holding you back. It's important to learn the language of social media and see what others are doing first.

Trying to talk too early means getting to the point where you're broadcasting information rather than engaging.

3. Look For Your Golden Chances

The best conversations you will ever have on Twitter will almost never be related to your niche. Maybe you'll find someone who has a funny story to share about their kids. Or you'll find out that you and your new Twitter friend were at the same exact restaurant at the same exact time just a few days ago.

Your golden chances in social media are the ones where you can start to show your personality and not just your business interests. These golden chances are key to truly enjoying social media and sticking with it for the long term.

Have you ever thought you were bad at social media? What made you change your mind and stick with it?