Social media lessons for real-life communicators

The social media world is fraught with potential minefields that could make or break your communication objectives. You could argue that it takes someone who understands online communication and its audiences to get it right, but a few basic rules could go a long way to ensuring that you communicate effectively.

In fact, there is no better teacher than social media if you want to be a better communicator, even in real life.

Here's a list of some lessons from social media on being a better communicator:

1. Know who your audience is. The people who follow you on Twitter are not necessarily the same people who visit your website or engage with you on Facebook. You need to tailor your message for your different audiences while still maintaining the underlying message. In real life, you learn to know which words and tone to use when communicating with different people. You might begin an email to a friend with “Whatsup?”, but you certainly wouldn’t dare communicate with your boss like that.
2. Know which information is relevant. A company blogger understands that the only thing that will make audiences return to your website is content that is relevant, informative and sometimes entertaining. What you blog is not about what you are interested in or what your company thinks is important, it is about what your audience is interested in. In real life that lesson should help you become a more engaging and interesting person and to keep up with current affairs, so that you don’t bore your guests at a dinner party or become that person who says weird things when you go out with friends.
3. Be creative with words. I was always taught the importance of reading. The basic reason is that you learn to become more expressive because of the vocabulary you build up. So, the same way you would describe a picture on Facebook rather than just state what is in the picture, in real life you should be able to use words creatively to expressive your thoughts.
4. Be concise. If you are a regular tweeter, then you should know how to express yourself in 140 characters. In real life, you learn to get straight to the point rather than ramble on.
5. Be innovative. In social media, what sets you apart from others is the sort of information you post and how you do it. You should always strive to be different from others or you will get lost in the crowd. In real life, make sure you stand out by using different tools and methods to get your message across.
6. Forget SEO. This is a contentious point, but one I would stand by. Do not try too hard to be seen. If you provide the right content, the right people will come to you. This goes back to providing relevant information in an innovative and creative way.
7. Be authentic. if you are not honest, sincere and true to yourself, you will get caught out. Personally, there’s nothing more off-putting than that Facebook friend who creates a false front online when you know the truth about her offline. Do not try to be who you are not – have an authentic voice. And in real life, sincerity and remaining true to yourself is as important as the information you are trying to share.
8. Keep up, or you will be left behind. The speed at which social media evolves means that you need to keep yourself updated about the latest trends and technologies to remain relevant. If anything, social media is proof why people should continue to upskill themselves. Life-long learning is key to remaining on top of your game. In real life, maintain a curiosity about life. Read, explore, study – try to make sure you know more today than you did yesterday.