Being on social media is important for artists, but using it effectively is another matter, and clumsy posting can often do more harm than good. Here we look at twelve important questions to ask yourself before you post on any social media.
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Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0
As I’ve said many times here and in my book Social Media Promotion For Musicians, just being on a social network doesn’t mean that you’re using it effectively for promotion. There’s a mindset that’s needed before you can use any network as a promotional tool. That said, we see many celebrities, athletes and politicians get in to hot water over something that was posted on a social network in haste. Here are 12 questions to ask yourself (thanks to this Time article) before you post to almost anywhere online that will help you not only to focus your content for greatest impact, but stay out of social trouble as well.
1. Is the message educational, informational, or entertaining? Stop if it doesn’t fit into any of these categories.
2. Is the voice correct? Remember to stay within your brand and not get too personal.
3. Is it too long? Shorter posts get more engagement.
4. Is the URL correct? You did remember to include a link, right? Make sure you check that it’s working
5. Should I target a specific audience with this message? Sometimes it’s better to just talk to a specific portion of your audience or fanbase (like superfans for instance) that addressing them all.
6. Did I use the right keywords and hashtags to maximize exposure? Keywords and hashtags are still important. Stay away from vanity hashtags that may look good but don’t supply the needed SEO that hashtags are meant for.
7. How many times have I already posted something today? Too many posts in the day may mean that this one could be ignored. If you’re going to post a lot in a short amount of time, warn your followers.
8. Did I spell check? Poor spelling is something that people notice immediately and it detracts from the message of the post.
9. Will I be okay with absolutely anyone seeing this? Stop and rewrite if you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable about something in the post. Follow your gut on this one.
10. Is this reactive communication or is it well thought-out? If you’re angry, take an hour to calm down before you post. A quick reactive post is how flame wars start.
11. Did I make the most of visual content—images, video, slides? Visuals increase engagement on almost all platforms.
12. Did I make the most of my update text—headline formulas, polls, quizzes? You only have so many chances for attention, so make the most of them.
The best way to use social media as an effective promotion tool is to post great content. Follow these 12 questions and you’ll always be sure that you’re in the ballpark.
You can read more from Social Media Promotion For Musicians and my other books on the excerpt section of bobbyowsinski.com.