BOSHspeaks-Target Your Messages-Know Your Audience
What social media users need to understand is that each social media channel attracts a unique audience, who will choose to communicate in a particular way, using various tools to carry on a web conversation.
I know that I am not the only person frustrated by senders who don’t understand how to properly use a social media dashboard tool.
This post was inspired by those who send pre-programmed auto-tweets!
If you’re not familiar, these are the short messages that appear in your various news feeds from friends or connections that use Twitter. They are further identified by the little blue bird (Tweetdeck) or owl (Hoot Suite), that sits to the left of visible fragmented sentences with unusual symbols between words.
SAMPLE:
[RT sum @BOSHnewmediaCom find au2-tweet #messages @FB annoying http://ow.ly/7Crye]
These posts are initiated from the registered user of the Twitter account and are auto-programmed through a social media dashboard. A dashboard can manage several accounts, allowing the user to load and automatically send messages to number of social media channels, such as Linked In and Facebook, at a scheduled time or in real time.
If you are using a social media (SM) dashboard, you likely understand what I am talking about.
The rest of you are probably scratching your heads over misspelled words, abbreviations and # or @ symbols that sometimes dominate your message stream. They often arrive in frequent batches and carry little meaning or conversation value at the receiving end of the chosen social media site (aside from Twitter).
A SM dashboard is designed to improve communication, engagement and measurement.
Those who send frequent one-way messages to multiple social media sites, in dialogue that is not understood by the receiver, use it incorrectly.
When you text, chat or use instant messaging (IM) you use abbreviated versions of words and quick response characters that can save you time and are easily translated by the receiver. That’s if, the receiver can comprehend the chat language.
If you are a Twitter user, you deliver one way messages in 140 characters or less, making reference to others by using the @ (at) symbol or by joining group conversation using a # (hash-tag) symbol. Often an abbreviated reference link is added to encourage a click.
This explicit style of conversation is unique to Twitter.
Each of the hundreds of social media channels contains their own digital dialect.
It is necessary to learn how to communicate effectively online in a variety of formats.
Facebook users are highly conversational in nature, and can carry on multiple exchanges at one time, using several methods including chat, wall posts, sharing and notes. A greater opportunity for distribution and banter, using multimedia platforms that include images and video, exists on this social networking site.
Seldom, on Facebook, do conversations take place in short form or “code”.
Linked In provides a means to engage with business connections and groups, so that users can join, converse and immerse themselves in forums, events, discussions, and more in-depth conversation. The dialogue here is more sophisticated, taking place amongst an educated audience.
Now, I’m not saying that I prefer one social media channel to another for connecting or conversing. I use a variety of social media tools and encourage my clients to do the same.
But one must understand that each social media channel has its own unique purpose and is designed to attract and address a particular audience.
If you are using any of the many available channels, know who is your audience and whom, in particular, you are conversing with.
Learn how to use the right method of delivery so that you can best relate and deliver a meaningful message, in a language they can understand.
If your friends on Facebook are not using Twitter, they will be confused by your constant stream of meaningless tweets in their news feed and quickly become frustrated that you have little desire to address their individual needs or conversation with your pre-programmed one-way digital dialogue.
Auto-sends may be viewed as impersonal and offensive, especially to those 
who don’t recognize your chosen Internet language.
It’s the quality of messages and conversation that builds online relationships.
Manage your messages and mind your social manners by striving for two-way conversation with your active participants. Know your audience and address appropriately to engage them, interact and enhance conversation.
That’s the “social” part of social media!
Are you targeting your audience with your messages?
How do you feel about auto-programmed tweets appearing in your news feed?
