As a personal trainer, social media has been a game changer for my brand. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram are not only alternative methods of sharing information with my readers, but, in my mind, they are continuous conversations I can partake in and also gain valuable information from. Whether you're preaching about health and fitness, or spreading the word about your new startup, a tweet or Facebook post can go a long way.
While many fear and become overwhelmed by the constant flow of 140 characters, I enjoy it.
"Figure out who (or what) you are before jumping in, and build from that."
And so does Steph Parker, the Digital Strategist at allen & gerritsen and a popular General Assembly instructor. Parker often sells out her GA workshops, where she teaches individuals about the power and potential of social media.
Before you surrender to the wild world of tweets and hashtags, likes and shares – or even if you consider yourself a pro – it's wise to take a step back and reconsider your game plan.
Lucky for us, Parker is here to coach us with her useful tips. Now that's worth a retweet or a favorite.
Caroline Earle: What is your favorite form of social media?
Steph Parker: It’s a toss-up between Twitter and Instagram. If you’ll count it, Runkeeper is on that list as well. I moved to Boston from Philadelphia several years ago, and my entire running crew is back home, so niche networks like this have been invaluable for fostering a sense of community from afar.
CE: Can you provide some helpful tips for someone brand new to social media?
SP: Figure out who (or what) you are before jumping in, and build from that. It may be slow, but you’ll attract the right people that way. I’ve had my Twitter account for six years, yet I’ve only massed about 1,300 followers. It’s been slow and steady, but those 1,300 people embrace what I’m about.
I’d rather have 1,300 people who engage with me than 13,000 people who don’t pay attention to what I say, or take action when I try to call them to it. The same goes for brands. You can usually do more with less.
CE: What is the most helpful social media tip you've ever received?
SP: Be real, present, and transparent.
When I first started out in advertising, I felt like I had to post a ton of articles about marketing to prove that I knew what I was doing. I quickly learned that being myself and pursuing my interests ultimately did that for me instead. I’m a human being, and I want to register as one when people find me online. If they don’t like who I am first, they probably won’t care as much about what I have to say.
CE: Do you ever completely unplug?
SP: Sometimes. Social media has changed a lot of things we do, as a society. Instead of reading the newspaper, for example, I scroll through my Twitter feed. To me, that’s different than opening Facebook to see what someone I knew from high school is up to, which I do a lot less frequently (except when I am hopelessly bored).
I am a lot less engaged overall when I’m not at work because I don’t need to be plugged in. The way I see it, if something is important enough to impact my life, I won’t have to check social media to find out about it. Everything else can wait!
CE: How do you maintain a balance with regards to social media and your own life?
SP: It’s taken practice. When it comes down to it, social media is an opt-in thing. We only share the things we want others to see. I try to be cognizant of that, which makes seeing photos of a party I wasn’t at or a relationship status update from an acquaintance a lot less of an experience.
We’re all curating information based on how we want to be perceived. None of what we consume on social media detracts from what we’re doing or who we are in the real world, if you break it down that way. Besides, this “FOMO” thing doesn’t matter as much when you realize the things you missed while you were out living your life are only a few scrolls down the page.
Editor's note: Parker will be teaching one of several General Assembly workshops at BostInno's State of Innovation event June 16. For more details, see below.
