Social media is a reciprocal relationship of “Follow and Follow Back”. This applies to anyone who has a presence on social media.
Follow selectively
That doesn’t mean you need to follow every one. In fact, I’m a bit discriminating about who I will follow back. Especially if it seems like all I’m getting is a sales pitch.
What I want to do is build my network. In my opinion, building and maintaining a social media relationship is similar to going to a networking group or being part of a group online.
As I continue to build my personal brand and business, I want to be able to rely on my network for advice, opinion and input. And you never know when that relationship will come in handy!
Where others “miss the boat”
It’s cliche, but I see brands missing the proverbial boat when it comes to the Follow and Follow Back methodology.
If you are an established brand like Coca-Cola or BMW, following back is not the necessity it is for smaller brands.
Brands who want brand awareness must be proactive in their engagement with others. This happens by being aware of hashtags, and following and tagging relevant brands, media and influencers in the industry.
Get found by others
Case in point. On Instagram, if you post a photo of a 1968 Fastback Mustang, then you should be including every Mustang hashtag that makes sense including #Ford and #FordMustang.
Don’t forget to include media tags to your favorite publications like #musclemustangsandfastfords. A saavy social media manager may pick up that you are an enthusiast, and could be a great brand ambassador or contributor.