#KindnessIsAwesome - Being a Brand Advocate for Your Audience

In 1974, Elvis Costello sang so brilliantly “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and, Understanding.”  This song is quite timely right now when it seems like our social media feeds are often consumed with negativity.

This is exactly why #SociallyKind Project has been developed to encourage awareness about spreading kindness through social media. 

As a business owner, leading by example is a great way to encourage kindness in social media feeds. This is also a great opportunity to be a brand advocate for your audience and spread a little kindness.

Don’t feed into negative behaviors online

Take a moment and look at your social media accounts.  How many of these posts from friends and family members set your blood pressure boiling?  Are they posting political issues or depressing and controversial stories that add to the environment of negativity? You can’t control the behaviors of others, but you can set an example by not feeding into the negativity you see. YOU control your social media feeds. Utilize all the privacy options and settings available to you to train the algorithm to display things you are interested in (and not show you all the garbage that you aren't). And while you’re at it, why not share something positive on your profile to add a little kindness in the newsfeeds of your friends and family?

How can you use social media to spread kindness? 

This is such an easy way to share kindness on your social media: follow your business connections online to create a network of linked businesses.  Even more importantly, pay attention to what they are posting about.  Just like in everyday conversations, if you pay attention to what other people are talking about and show an interest, then you are showing them kindness and courtesy.  If you know that an associate is interested in environmental issues and “going green,” for instance, you can post articles and stories that may appeal to that associate to help build a friendship and online connection with your brand.

Show them how it's done

If you want your audience to spend time getting to know, like and trust you by liking, commenting and sharing your content - then show them how to do that. Interact and engage with them in social media. People  feel a need to reciprocate and may not understand how social algorithms work. If you want them to see more of your content, they need to engage with your stuff. If you want them to like your posts, start liking theirs first. Set aside time each day to go through your feed(s) and engage with your clients, power partners, influencers and leads. This will teach your followers, by example, and convert them from lurkers to online brand advocates.

Ultimately, when you are being a brand advocate on social media, stick to the idea of being authentic and original.  If you do that, and show a legitimate interest in your connections and their areas of concentrations, then you are going to create a real conversation and emphasize kindness in your work. Just another great way to #BeAwesome with your online presence. 

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Hollie Clere of The Social Media Advisor is a “#BeAwesome” Developer, Social Media, Brand Builder, Content Manager, Trainer and Author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+,YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and the tools to manage them.

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