Social media has become a huge part of our daily lives. Friends and family can keep us up to date on everything from their favorite new restaurants to their latest vacation photos. And with more than half of all online Americans logging on to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ each day, it’s no wonder so many people are curious about these sites and how they can start using them to promote their personal brands.
Think of social media as a conversation between friends and family members. If you want to stay in touch and get more information about your friends, family, and colleagues, you should start using social media to reach out to them. The people who you want to keep up with can only see and read your posts if they choose to follow you. That’s where social media curating comes in!
Every week, hundreds of new posts hit your news feed. How do you stay on top of it all? Luckily, there’s social media expert Joanna Geary, Senior Director of Curation at Twitter, who answers your questions about posting on social media, from hashtags to staying relevant.
Table of Contents
What’s the best way to start your day on social media?
Start your day on social media by filling your feed with content you find interesting and relevant. Like the posts that inspire you, or retweet your favorite accounts.
Does Twitter have a character limit, and if so, how do you get around it?
Twitter has a 140-character limit. The character limit is intended to challenge users to express their point in a concise manner.
The good news is there are ways to get around the 140-character limit, such as using an image, or referencing other content with text rather than linking. It can also be helpful to think about what you want your tweet to accomplish before you start typing (e.g., find a friend, invite followers for a chat).
Another way to get around the character limit is by retweeting someone else’s post. You can add commentary after their post, if necessary, and it will count towards that character limit.
How do you stay on top of all the different posts, comments and updates on social media?
Geary: It’s really about finding the best place for you to be in for your job.
For example, if you’re a content creator and you want to know what’s going on in your niche, Facebook is the place to go. If you want to know what’s happening with your professional network, LinkedIn is where it’s at. And for Twitter, I think it comes down more to what kind of content are you looking for? Are you coming here for news? Are you coming here because of celebrities? Or are you coming because of niche interests?
Is it okay to post about bad news on social media?
Different people have different opinions about this. Some people like to post about bad news because they want to inform the public and create awareness. Others feel that it’s a form of trolling. Regardless of your personal opinion, make sure to consider how you want to present this information before posting any type of content on social media.
How do you react to negative comments or feedback on social media?
Twitter’s Senior Director of Curation Joanna Geary recently sat down with Forbes in order to answer questions about social media. She responded to the question, “How do you react to negative comments or feedback on social media?” by saying that she has learned from experience that it is never a good idea to reply and get into an argument on Twitter.
Bottom line
It’s all about posting quality content
Twitter is a great tool to stay on top of what’s trending. But in order to reach your targeted audience, you have to post engaging content that your followers will want to share.
Joanna Geary, Twitter’s Senior Director of Curation, shared some tips with us on how to post quality content that resonates with your followers.
“It’s not just about capturing the most-shared hashtag,” says Geary. “To create an engaging tweet and experience for your followers, make sure you’re posting tweets relevant for them.”
Geary recommends starting with a question or thought-provoking statement. For example: “What are the three qualities you look for in a shoe?” Then include a link to your product page where the answer can be found—or even better, ask followers what their favorite qualities are and share their replies. This is an effective way of starting conversations and increasing engagement. You can also try tweeting out links or articles related to topics that interest you or would interest your followers.
