How can you truly contribute to a conversation using social media? Hint, you should read this before you reply.

Have you noticed how suddenly you are getting more responses to your blog and social media posts? That’s a good thing, right? Content is king, and your goal is to put content out there and start conversations with people who are potential customers or partners. It’s supposed to help your business.

But, have you also noticed how the majority of the responses you receive are meaningless replies often from people who obviously haven’t even read your post?

So many people will post a response to the title of a blog or post without ever reading the post. Unfortunately that is doing the absolute opposite to what was intended. They are spending their valuable time blindly responding to posts to get their name known. It’s like roulette. Keep posting things and maybe one of them will hit the winning number. If you are a small business owner, your time is so much more valuable than this. Most people will just get frustrated and stop following you. You’ve turned a positive opportunity into a loss.

I know there is an overwhelming amount of information out there. And you are trying to keep in front of people on social media all the while trying to do the real job of running your business.

Here are some tips: 

·       Dedicate time each day for social media (I choose first thing in the morning and after the chaos of the evening). It only takes about 15 minutes at each sitting to review articles and posts and respond to some. If you miss a day, the world will not end.

·       Open only those articles or posts that pertain to you and will benefit you (note: this is why your title is so important!). Your time is priceless, use it wisely.

·       Out of those you open and read, respond only to those posts you are most knowledgeable about and where you can offer real information to readers.

·       Please don’t blindly respond with a link to your blog about marketing tips or how to set up a business when the post is about how to plant sunflowers that will bloom all year round. You are only doing yourself a disservice and wasting other people’s valuable time.

·       Do respond to people who offer valuable feedback to your posts.

With everything you post, think about whether or not it is meaningful and how it represents your brand. Post wisely and you will get far better results.

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Kerry Brooks is Co-owner of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing and support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff. Visit the ProfessionalEdge website at www.gettheprofessionaledge.com, email info@gettheprofessionaledge.com, follow them on Twitter @profedge, or like their Facebook page.