Are you a social media jerk?
We all know at least a few. It might be that person who just doesn't get that nobody wants their game invites, the direct selling rep who won't stop adding you to party groups or a small business that really just doesn't understand the concept of marketing.
The truth is, you can gain thousands of followers a year naturally without being a jerk.
If you're afraid you might be a social media jerk, here are a few tips:
1. Don't follow to get followers
Article after article from so-called "social media experts" are published, advising people to use following and unfollowing as a way to grow their audience.
The idea is that you follow lots of people. People see that you follow them, look at your profile, and might follow you back. Then you unfollow all of the people who didn't follow you.
This is an awesome way to grow an unengaged audience and annoy everyone else by messing with their follower count.
Following and unfollowing is an awesome way to grow an unengaged audience and annoy everyone else by messing with their follower count.
This happens all to often, sadly, with marketing companies who provide social media and SEO services.
Do this instead: Follow people relevant to you and your niche and interests. Unfollow people who end up disappointing with content that is useless, irrelevant, or doesn't meet your expectations.
2. Engage with your audience
Companies like Buffer do a phenomenal job of engaging with their social media following, and they get major love, especially on Twitter.
Most companies and bloggers don't have the time to be a part of online communities and have genuine conversations - they have social media accounts for their blogs, and also personal accounts.
Do this instead: Pretend to engage with your audience by using them and leveraging their content to your advantage. If someone posts something relevant to you, re-post or re-tweet it (with proper credit and permission if need be). Use it for a "round-up" blog post, or ask if you can share it on a different platform. Sharing the content of your followers is a great way to fill your content calendar, while also making your followers feel included.
3. Don't automate comments begging for likes/comments/link clicks
Have ever left a comment reading something along the lines of: Great content. Check out the link in my bio!?
If you think you are being smart or sneaky by automating click-bait-y comments, you are sadly mistaken.
It's easy to spot automated comments because they're often slightly off-topic and always desperate.
Do this instead: Take all the time you spent setting up your social media automation, strategically choosing people to spam, and writing a few versions of generic and click-bait-y comments, and put that time towards having genuine online conversations. Even a half-hour a week will help you build your online presence without annoying people.
Can You Succeed Online Without Being a Tool?
You don't have to act like a jerk to build a successful online presence, be it for personal or business purposes.
You can easily build a following of thousands by taking a few minutes a day and strategically following people and engaging with your audience. If you don't have the time, consider delegating social media tasks to a (reputable) social media company, or hire a virtual assistant for a few hours a week.
The internet is a much nicer place when you are not spamming social media with selfish promotions and providing no value in return.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.