Six Amazing Social Media Startup Secrets!
Now, how many times have you heard that word “amazing” lately? I’d be willing to bet you’ve heard it a bunch of times this morning, before breakfast. What I really want to talk about is how people are misusing words, both in headlines and in posts on social media. So here’s my not-so-secret rant about amazing! And secrets! Heck, I’ll even throw in a cat video so you can get everything in one place and you won’t have to read another post all day. Now THAT is amazing!
There Are No Secrets
Disclaimer: There are no secrets here. All of the things I’m about to tell you are not amazing. They’re not even awesome. They are merely adequate.
Make the Headline Match the Content
Maybe I should rethink using the adj. "amazing" when talking about chocolate milk? Maybe not? http://t.co/znzAsb4n8W
— Brian Nowak (@BrianMNowak) November 24, 2013
If you’re promising something that’s amazing, we’d better read something amazing. As the comic Louis CK says, “We go right to the top shelf with our words.” “Really? You were amazed by your chicken wings?” If your chicken wings are amazing, what are you going to do for an encore?
Startup Secrets to Awesome Social Media!
Do you really think a 300-word blogpost is going to give you all the secrets? The secret is that social media success for startups–or anyone, for that matter–is a combination of hard work, creating great content, and good timing. That’s it.
Look This Way
The Secret Is There Are No Secrets
When you hear an incredible promise for a fantabulous post, and you actually get nothing, do you not feel cheated? We all see the same 20 articles, repurposed every month. It’s like that article about Super Fast Weight Loss or the Secret to Transforming Your Health! that gets recycled in every women’s magazine every month. The internet is no different than that women’s magazine.
Good Is Hard Enough
The moral of the story is that not every blogpost is going to be amazing. Some will be just barely adequate. Like this one.
Do You Disagree?
If you do have a secret, tell me all about it. Really.
“But wait… there’s more!”
You make a great point. I’m happy with good.
But as marketers we’re trained to hype everything up.
I agree with your thought that we’re cheated when a headline over promises.
It’s like paying $5 to see the bearded lady at the Circus.
She has a few post-menopausal chin hairs. Big deal.
Hi Bridget,
You’re right. We ARE trained to overhype everything. But I really like the “under promise over deliver” model of marketing, which perhaps doesn’t really exist many places!
I love the circus analogy, but of course you knew that! I’m all about the circus!
Amazingly,
Carol
Thank you for your incredibly fantabulous commentary, Eric! Outstanding!