What IS the big deal about Social Media?

Is Liking, Sharing, and Commenting on business and community page posts all that important?  Isn't it enough that you buy their product,  use their service, or support their organization?  You already appreciate their business or their contribution to the community.  Surely, just knowing that is enough!  Isn't it?     

View my profile on Google+

I get asked these questions in some form or another quite often.  The bottom line answer is simple ... Well, no, not really.  Don't misunderstand.  Of course, most people who have a business page or account of some sort will appreciate your support ... more than appreciate ...  grateful!!!  However, if you, as a consumer, a business person or owner, or a person who is active in or appreciates an organization of any type, and you really want to support  them, and perhaps even ensure their longevity, by all means, interact with them on social media! 

Find me here on facebook.

Here's why!  To paraphrase a recent statement I read on a Blog about social media ... Shares, Comments, and Retweets are THE holy grail ... and not just the Likes or Follows.  It's the actual interactions that bump up a business or community page in their search engine results.  So, while it's very nice to have 500+ followers or likes on your social media pages, the cream of the crop is in the actual interactions with your followers.   So, to continue down this road to its logical end:   more interactions = moving up higher in search engine results = more potential interest in your page = success!!!!  A bit oversimplified, but those are  the basic facts.  Simple, right?   Well, not so much, to use a trite current expression.

Find me here on twitter.

Most small businesses and community organizations struggle to find out how to entice their followers to share or comment on their content.  Thousands of articles, blogs and books have been written with how-to ideas, tips and rules of do's and don'ts to help with that ever elusive perfect post that will elicit those delicious comments and delightful shares!

"Content Is King!"  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have heard and read this phrase, which, by the way, is correct.  It's the content that will prompt people to 

View my profile on Linkedin.

interact.  So, the never ending search by people sitting in front of their computers (like me) searching for the magic words and images that will be irresistible to someone reading them.  And, then, hopefully, they will say to themselves, "I must share this!"  Or, words to that effect.  

                     And then ... Click!  

 So, when businesses and community pages you've already liked and follow,  post something on their status of facebook, twitter, linkedin, or google+, take a minute and read it.  If you really do "Like" it, please comment and share it with your friends, family, or business colleagues.  In the short term, the businesses and organizations will be most grateful for your support.  In the longer term, you will be contributing to the success of small businesses and your community organizations.  So, you see, you can make a difference!!!