Being able to understand the use of social media is like putting together pieces of a puzzle
How strong is your online presence? Do you have a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or even still holding on to a Myspace page? What about video – can we see you on Vine, YouTube or Snapchat? Have you ever asked yourself why you have so many accounts?
Being social media efficient is a skill and there are benefits to having multiple online channels for your brand identity. Most people use social networks to simply stay connected with friends and their social community. Others, like me, see more opportunity for embracing every single social channel available.
Not everyone is prone to know what social media can do, and if you are familiar with each platforms’ use, then you’re probably a savvy social media user. Here are a few ways to determine if you actually know what you’re doing on social media or not.
Hashtags are good for engagement. If you want to find other people talking about what you’re talking about, it’s time to start hashtagging in your social accounts. Hashtags help you see a community of people who share similar interest as you. They can also help you filter information for social media. There’s much to gain from using them as well, such as followers and likes.
Social media has become a vital force in consumer interest. If you’re a business or organization selling a product, you may have already heard that social media can help drive revenue. However, the most successful businesses have more than one social media account aside from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Advertisers have created Snapchat and Vine accounts in order to stay connected with potential costumers. There’s revenue from being socially equipped and most businesses have taken heed of this.
Personality is everything. You can learn a lot about a person from an Instagram post or status on Twitter. These social platforms allow you to show the universe who you are.
Networking has become easier with social media. Sites such as LinkedIn have proven that you can find work or even others who are filling shoes you’re trying to fill. You can go beyond Indeed.com or Monster.com to find jobs and employers online. Simply put in the kind of job you desire and your city or state in Twitter with hashtags and you can find those employers looking for people like you. There are career pages on Facebook that can connect you with employers as well. Utilizing social media to network can grow your career pursuits.
Measurement and performance. Not many people use social media to see how many people may have clicked on a link they’ve posted, but this information is available for those interested in seeing how they’re doing. I like to check Twitter new analytics dashboard to see how many people saw my tweet and how much engagement came from my posts. It helps to know that I’m not just tweeting for my own use. I like using Facebook fan pages because they provide a real interpretation of how many people saw your post and click on your page. Being able to use this data can help you with marketing or publicity objectives.
So just how social media savvy are you? I took this personality test from University of Phoenix and discovered I ranked high (score was 130 out of 150) in my savviness. You can take it for yourself below, and when finished, share your results in comments below!
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Here’s a short quiz on the basics of social media to find out how well you measure up:
1. The # or hashtag:
a) refers to the number of posts you’ve made on the same subject
b) has to do with locating another website on the Internet
c) is used to reference a specific topic so that other people can find it
2. When the @ symbol is used in a post it’s:
a) to direct a comment toward a specific person
b) the connector between your name and your email address
c) a key I don’t use on my electric typewriter
3. Which social media sites use a hashtag?
a) Twitter and Facebook
b) Instagram and Twitter
c) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Linkedin
4. TBT in a tweet stands for?
a) Throwback Thursday, where you post old photos of yourself
b) Two backstage tickets, when you’re reselling tickets to an event
c) Throwback Tuesday, when you post old photos of yourself
5) What’s the difference between an RT and an MT?
a) The letters R and M
b) RT stands for regular tweet, which is under 140 characters, and an MT is a medium-sized tweet, that goes over 140 in length.
c) An RT is retweet of a tweet, and an MT is a modified tweet, when you’re retweeting someone’s tweet with new information added.
6) When someone uses “Hootsuite” they’re using:
a) a social media site where users assume an owl avatar
b) a platform for raising money through crowdfunding
c) a tool that allows you to schedule your social posts
7) When someone’s in a “hangout,” they’re using:
a) Instagram
b) Google+
c) Pinterest
8) If you’re looking to network to find a job the best platform is:
a) Instagram
b) LinkedIn
c) FourSquare
9) If someone tweets: “#FF @StacyT, @icecream, @deluxrecruiting,” they’re saying:
a) I think these tweeters have a good sense of fall fashion
b) I recommend following these tweeters
c) Here are some good fast food restaurants
10) Which social media platform do companies use most often for handling customer service?
a) Facebook
b) Instagram
c) Twitter
11) Which of the following terms don’t apply to LinkedIn:
a) Circles
b) 2nd degree connection
c) Endorsements
12) Which are the three best social platforms for promoting your crowdfunding campaign?
a) YouTube, Facebook and Instagram
b) Twitter, Pinterest Google+ and Slideshare
c) It depends on who your audience is
13) If you’re a “plusher,” it means:
a) you have a lot of followers on Vine
b) you’re active on Google+
c) you display a lot of plush animals on Pinterest
14) When sending an “InMail,” what platform are you using?
a) Facebook
b) Twitter
c) LinkedIn
15) The biggest different between Facebook and Twitter is:
a) You’re likely to interact with friends on Facebook and the public on Twitter
b) You post more pictures on Facebook and more text on Twitter
c) You can use Twitter to promote a business, but not Facebook
What’s your social score? Tally your answers by giving yourself 10 points for every correct answer:
150-110: You’re an Expert. Kudos! You’re up to speed on using social media. You’re likely already actively networking and promoting yourself or your business on several platforms. You probably don’t need any lessons. Get back to work.
100-60: You’ve gotten your Web feet wet. While you may have done a little posting, it’s clear that you’re no pro. If you’re interested in using social media to further your career, or gain a loyal fan base for your small business or community, take a look at the problems you answered incorrectly to try to figure out which platform you’re most in the dark about. Says Sarah Milstein, author of The Twitter Book, “I recommend spending more time experimenting with an application online to understand where you’re getting hung up so that you can improve your knowledge.”
Below 60: Yikes. Your low score indicates that you’re probably not very familiar with how to use social media, and when you attempt interact, you may be choosing the wrong platform entirely. Even worse, you may not even have a LinkedIn profile, which means you’re missing the boat on networking for your career.
(answers key: 1:c, 2:a, 3:c, 4 :a, 5:c, 6:c, 7:b, 8:b, 9:b, 10:c, 11:a, 12:c, 13:b, 14:c, 15: a.)
Bonus: Take this quiz and see how much you really know about the social media world. I scored 100 percent.
Follow Social Media University on Facebook. Follow Deontae on Twitter @deontaemoore.
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