I saw this plus thought, “Just when you thought we were past preaching the obvious, we’re back to ‘be human’ again.” Jon-Stephen Stansel’s article, Be Human, Speak To Humans: Effective Social Media Management Is Human-Centered, hammers home the idea that social media management is all about being, well, human. Yet, here we are, still struggling to scrap the robot talk from our feeds. This should be as straightforward as brushes off your clothes after a tumble.
Highlights
– Social media users crave authenticity and personal engagement
– Algorithms love content that keeps users engaged longer
– Many brands fail by focusing more on algorithms than humans
– Authentic content creates trust and loyalty
The Human Dilemma
Here’s what kills me about this: we’re humans. Yet, our brand voices often sound more like an AI was set to “bland jargon mode.” You know you’ve seen it. Posts that scream “lawyer-approved” and carry all the personality of a dry toast. Can you blame audiences for scrolling past with sleepy eyes?
You’re probably thinking, “But Bart, wasn’t this common knowledge?” Well, you’d think so, right? But wait: plenty of brands miss the boat entirely by obsessing over algorithms. Yes, social media platforms are gods we all must bow to. But focusing solely on their whims is akin to chasing a tornado with a net; you’ll end up dizzy, empty-handed, and with a dash of humility.
Let’s Embody Real Talk
Here’s a challenge: ditch the algorithm worship. It’s a Sisyphean task, as Stansel puts it, to constantly tailor every detail to the latest whims of tech giants’ algorithms. Instead, why not channel that energy into curating content that genuinely resonates with your audience? Remember, they’re the ones with the wallet. Connect with them on an authentic level, and they’ll reward you with loyalty.
Want to know what’s ridiculous? The SEO world constantly tells us that audience-first content should be the focus, yet pushes back with complex jargon plus convoluted strategies that bog everyone down. It’s like telling someone to swim while tying weights to their feet.
Why is genuine engagement hard? Because brands are too busy trying to outsmart Facebook’s latest mood swings instead of speaking human to human. It’s time to stop that nonsense. Create content that sparks conversation, entertains, or challenges. Who cares if the algorithm initially snubs it? True engagement will bring it to the forefront.
When you choose authenticity over algorithmic trends, you foster real trust – something no algorithm can replace.
What You Should Do
Forget the AI overlords for a minute (you’ll see why). Here’s your action list:
1. Scrub your brand voice clean of buzzwords and jargon. Talk like you’re human.
2. Focus on sparking real conversation. Be controversial – authentically, of course.
3. Measure success not by reach alone, but by depth: comments, shares, debates.
Am I crazy here? Or just laying out what should’ve been said ages ago? Drop your take in the comments below. Tell me I’m wrong. Or, better yet, share your own horror (or success) stories of wrangling with social platforms. What’s your experience with this?
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