Mark Zuckerberg had a fun idea in 2004, when he first unveiled Facebook. He had no idea then of the incredible social revolution his creation would launch. Today, most of us use some form of social media occasionally, if not daily, and most of our favorite businesses are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms that enable them to interact with us, their customers, better than ever before. Thanks to social media, we have a new way to promote planetary wellness and social awareness. Best of all, everyone who cares can share important messages without much effort at all.
Build Up a Following
Social media followings grow naturally, so long as people are interested in the information we have to share. Whether you're an individual hoping to build up a circle of volunteers, or a business with environmentally friendly food or other products to promote, there are a few things you can do to build up a social media following and help it to grow.
Begin by deciding what your mission will be. Make it clear. If you're offering earth-friendly water bottles, for example, let people know why they are superior. Share information about the manufacturing process if you can, and provide some details about how your product is better than unsustainable options. People naturally want to do good things for the planet - often, they just have no idea how to begin.
Be sure you encourage people to "like" you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. If you're in business, consider giving a little goodie, like a coupon, to people who interact with you. Just send them a link to a coupon they can print out, or give them a code to enter into your website shopping cart. Once you have a few followers, share away. If people like you and like your message, they'll automatically share with others. Create a blog, and use it to talk about issues that are close to your heart. You don't have to write a lot, and you can even use it just to promote links to information you think others will find compelling.
Make it Fun and Engaging
People love social media because it's fun and engaging. You don't want to lose those those elements, yet you don't want to lose sight of your message, either. So, between calls to action and promotions for your group or product, post photos and messages that are funny, inspirational, and positive. Be careful not to become a downer, or you could lose some of those friends and followers you worked so hard to build. In addition, there's a popular rule you can keep in mind as you create posts and other content - that is the 80/20 rule. Make at least 80 percent of your posts fun or inspirational, with no more than 20 percent promoting your product or message. Even people with the best intentions become weary if they receive the same messages over and over again, with no breaks in between.
Keep on giving people items of value (coupons, information, and other little goodies), and encourage them to share with their own friends. Keep your content meaningful and useful, and never engage in activity that could be considered to be spamming. Remember, your goal is to get people talking and to keep them sharing. This way, your message is like a stone cast in a still pond, with ripples extending off into the distance. Toss just a single stone, and the ripples will eventually stop. Keep casting stones every now and then, and the ripples will continue, merging with one another along the way. That's the effect you're going for.
Finally, be sure to get your audience emotionally involved. After all, it's our home, planet Earth we're talking about! Planetary wellness concerns us all, and with just a little effort, you can use your personal "brand" to make a huge difference.