7 Things Teenagers Can Teach You About Social Media Success


This article spoke to me as I consider myself a digital native, especially in terms of the fact that I was there to experience the birth and growth of social media as its ideal user, a millennial.  After reading and considering the 7 things given by the article I decided to give my own personalized list for social media success.

1.  If you're selling a product create a content community around that product.

Content communities are created for, "the sharing of media content between users"(Kaplan).  Furthermore, "the high popularity of content communities makes them a very attractive contact channel for many firms"(Kaplan).  This interactive nature of these communities is what drives user engagement.  Creating contests or other events a community can take place in online, for example photo competitions involving the product for sale, help customers feel connected with businesses.  This can drive growth and existing user engagement on a social media page.

2.  Create an account for everything.

This is the classic see what sticks approach.  As a millennial I notice that I get more engagement on some social media than others.  For example I typically get more likes on Instagram than I do Facebook because liking photos on Instagram is one of the few ways you can interact with other users posts.  This means if I want to share a photo to a receptive audience I typically go to Instagram over Facebook.  Seeing what services bring users and interaction to you is a smart way to know what works. Sticking to what works will help grow your brand.

3.   Do not stop posting.

A common mistake users and businesses make is to stop posting if initial engagement is low.  The key is to keep posting until a solid image is created for your brand and an audience will begin to build itself after that point.

4.  Engage with existing users in your field.

If you follow and interact with other users that have the same interests and posts that you have you can both help grow each others brands.  Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that allow for users to interact and talk with each other on a public forum can help bring other users and an audience to a conversation.  This can help attract followers and really help both brands grow as they become synonymous with good conversation and insight on whatever shared interest.

5.  Read as much as you post.

It is important to see others users post and see what works for them.  Learning what others do to get engagement can really help kickstart your own page.  Essentially let others do some of the trial and error for you, and piggyback off of what seems to be working for other social media influencers.

6.  Know your intentions.

Know what your end goals are for social media.  Some users want to connect with friends and family and keep their followers and connections small.  Others want to build either influence, and brand, or a business.  This calls for more engagement and followers, leading to a much more public presence.  Knowing what you want in advance can help you keep goals in check as you begin to use social media.

7.  Install mobile applications on your phone.

Using social media on mobile help users interact and post on the go.  Some social media like Snapchat and Instagram can only be accessed through mobile applications and do not have desktop sites.  Knowing how to use social media on the go can really open up doors to larger potential audiences.

Kaplan, Andreas M., “Users of the World, Unite! The Challenges and Opportunities of Social Media,” Business Horizons (2010) 53, 59-68

Boitnott, John. "7 Things Teenagers Can Teach You About Social Media Success." Entrepreneur. Entrepreneur, 13 Dec. 2016. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.