All I Need to Know About Social Networking... I Learned from My Dog

I'm not sure how many of you are pet owners, but I'm pretty sure after observing my own dog for a considerable amount of time, that dogs can teach us a LOT about social networking. Here's a list of a few things I've noticed...

 

1. "Sniff out" new experiences. Have you ever seen a dog that isn't completely excited about each new item/animal/person/place he or she encounters on a walk? What if we approached social media with that kind of gusto?



2. Leave your "mark." Now, dogs certainly have a unique way of doing this that I don't recommend humans emulating exactly, but we can certainly leave our own mark online. Read blogs, and wall posts, and Tweets, and anything else that interests you, and leave comments! Don't just lurk. Get involved and get engaged. Make your social media experiences more meaningful.

3. "Wag your tail!" Have fun when you use social media. Especially if you are representing a theatre or other arts organization. How can others have fun with you if you aren't having fun? It's just like real life... only the sarcasm is harder to decipher...

4. Say "Hi" to everyone! Really! Use #FF to give people shout-outs on Twitter during Follow Fridays. Connect with organizations and people you share similarities with on Facebook. Follow people on Twitter. Ask them to follow you. Say "hi"!

5. "Dig up" interesting information. Create your own content, but use all available means to see what others have to say about arts, culture, nonprofits, philanthropy, marketing, PR, etc, etc, etc. And share, share, share! The list is endless!

Also, every item on this list can only help your organization's PR efforts. Sniff out, leave your mark, wag your tail, say "hi" to everyone, and dig up interesting information. You are noticing, asking to be noticed, and engaging with the public.

Perhaps I should hire my wee pup as a PR rep...

Until next time...
Ro Huizinga