Social Media – To Follow or Not Follow

What does it mean to have many followers on your social media pages? The answer is multi-faceted. We all want followers as a form of acceptance for whatever it is we have to offer. Some want an audience for our thoughts, opinions, and products or services. While others want a direct link to whatever is hip and happening because we can’t be everywhere at once. Followers satisfy all of the reasons previously mentioned and one more. The main reason we crave followers is to belong.

How do you decide who to follow on social media? Again, there are many answers. First, you have decide what your purpose is on social media. Is it to promote a product or service? It is for social engagement? Is it to meet new people far and wide? Once you get a handle on your reasons for being there, then you have to make a conscious decision of whether to follow or not to follow. Here is a list of reasons to follow and not to follow:

Social Media top reasons to follow

Shared Interest

You want to follow people who share your interest (industry/profession). Following people in your industry will ensure positive engagement. The possibility of you picking up a good tip to streamline a project you might be working on is greater when you engage with your peer group.

Admiration

Follow individuals that you admire (celebrities). You can form comradery with people when you all like the same rock star, scientist, writer, and movie star. Many an Instagram star is created because the audience appreciates what they bring to the table. People enjoy living vicariously through others.

Resonates

Follow institutions that resonate with you (school and companies). People will follow their alma mater due to nostalgia and gratification associated with it. They follow their place of employment. Many will follow product lines made by billion dollar corporates. These institutions hold sentimental value for them because of their personal successes.

Social Media top reasons not to follow

Controvesey

You should shy away from social media pages with controversial messaging. Unless you subscribe to the cause or point of view of the offender. The stigma from hate mongering can tarnish your good profile. Many engagements start out innocent enough, but somewhere along the line the true platform emerges that may not line up with your belief system.

Opposition

Do not follow a social media presence that is consistently opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. For example, If you like rock music and the page is all about classical music, sure it is an opportunity learn, but the engagement will lack sustainability. Of course, you would think it’s all about music, but hardcore fans aren’t as welcoming as they seem should your opinion differ greatly.

Bad Elements

Stay away from the spammers. I suggest you give a quick overview of the social media page before you elect to follow. There are many scammers/spammers who will fill your direct message box with get rich quick schemes, invitations to things you have no interest in, and clone your information to use in fake accounts. A person has no engagement, then don’t follow him/her. The person has an account too new, then don’t follow him/her. If the person uses a familiar hashtag, but there is no indication on their page that relates to it, do not follow.

Hopefully, this list will help when choosing who to follow or not follow in the future. In my social engagement travels, many a follower has complained about getting followed and immediately unfollowed. The follows increase your social media presence. It puts your post higher up in the food chain to get noticed. Therefore, it is a great concern for many. However, I firmly believe your follow means nothing if you are not engaging others. Should you want to follow someone with a bit of diversity. You can find me here. #FollowFriday