Social Media Resolutions for 2012

Everyone makes resolutions.  Whether to lose weight (yes), workout (yes), increase business (yes), or re-connect with old friends (yes), the new year brings with it a new beginning.  A time to start over, to reflect on the past year and what went right, wrong, and nowhere.  A time to do better.

And, social media is no different.  The new year is a time to reflect on where we were, where we are, and where we are going within the social sphere.

And here they are, some Social Media Resolutions for 2012, in no particular order:

 

1. Be yourself.  One of the most important social media tenents is to be yourself.  Don’t try to be something you aren’t.  Be honest, be real.  Don’t we all like that?
2. Share more meaningful content.  Give your fans, followers, connections what they are looking for – information.
3. Engage.  Be active and responsive on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  Don’t just lurk, but interact.  Show what you know, and who you are.  Don’t be afraid.
4. Are you using all networks effectively?  Look over your social strategy and spend time where it is most beneficial.  Maybe you are not getting anything out of LinkedIn.  Maybe it’s not for you.  Spend your time where you are most helpful/get the most benefit.
5. Don’t be afraid to try the latest and greatest.  Are you on GooglePlus?  Maybe you should be.
6. Don’t always be selling.  In fact, do it very little.  No-one, not even you, likes to be sold to all the time.  That’s not what social is for.
7. Evaluate your efforts.  Is it worthwhile to be on Twitter 24/7?  (The answer is probably not).  Are you using your Facebook Page effectively?  Learn to use analytics to help you be more effective.
8. Start a blog.  Write.  Don’t be afraid.  We all have something to say.
9. Have fun.  If you aren’t having fun, why do it?  It can’t all be about the bottom line, can it?

So, there you have it.  Some of my suggested resolutions for 2012.  Have you made any social media resolutions for 2012?  What are they?  Did these help?  Feel free to sound off in the comments.

And, as the year comes to a close, I just want to thank Basil Puglisi and Digital Brand Marketing Education for allowing me to be here, week after week, helping and learning.  This has been a remarkable journey, and I look forward to 2012 with hope and optimism.  For all of us.

Happy New Year!

 

Resources:

Social Media Trends & Resolutions for 2012

5 Resolutions for a Successfully Social 2012

Social Media Resolutions:  How Do I Start 2012 Off Right?

5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Social Media Professional 

Image courtesy of Radiance6:  http://www.radian6.com/blog/2010/12/social-media-new-years-resolutions/