Say “Yes, And!” to Social Media

In improv comedy there is a philosophy which allows actors to move gracefully through scenes despite not actually knowing what the other person might say next. It’s the philosophy of “Yes, And!”

What this means is that no matter what a scene throws at you, you accept it as it is (in other words, you say “yes”) and then you add something to it.

Agreeing and then adding your own thoughts is a great tool to facilitate any conversation. As such, it also works in social media. This is because social media, at its most basic, is just a way of communicating with people. So ask yourself, how do you other people perceive you when you speak to them?

Be a Charming Dinner Guest

The basics of successful Inbound Marketing are similar to that of a dinner party. You don’t interrupt people, you don’t walk away in the middle of a conversation, and if you open your mouth to speak, you should make sure you have something worthwhile to offer.

Chances are, you already know most of your conversational strong points. Maybe you’re seen as naturally charming because you have a lot of entertaining stories. Maybe you’re full of little-known facts, or maybe you are patient and enjoy listening to others. Whatever your strong suit, you probably don’t over-complicate things by trying too hard. You just… talk. And so far, it’s worked for you.
In social media, as in life, we speak when we have something worthwhile to say. Nothing is more cringe-worthy than someone talking just to hear the sound of their own voice. That’s why Inbound Marketing focuses mainly on useful (and therefore hopefully viral) content.

Now, what do you have to tell people that is actually useful?

Citizen Journalist

One of the more useful aspects of social media is that we hear from smaller voices that normally would not have a platform. These important voices are often on the front lines of experiences in marginalized areas. They report on everything from natural disasters to tiny local events. People enjoy sharing this information because they often have no other way to learn about these things.

So ask yourself, what you are on the front lines of? Can you use Facebook Live to broadcast an important seminar or a luncheon? If you’re at a convention, are you Tweeting (and if so, are you using the correct hashtag)? Do you utilize Instagram to show people the human side of your company or is it just marketing jargon and ads?

We all have access to some bit of information that no one else has access to. The trick is figuring out what that is. In the end, only you know.

Sharing is Caring!

And once you figure out what information you have exclusive access to, ask a Copywriter to help you find the best way to share it.Make sure that your Social Media Manager knows how to interact with others in a genuine and caring manner. Never put anyone else down for their viewpoints on the things you have shared. Set up a content calendar and make sure that everyone is on the same page as far as what information is going out at what times.

And when people start to respond to you, always say “Yes, And!” to keep the conversation going.