What small towns can teach you about social media

Jason Falls, a social media and PR consultant (and blogger at Social Media Explorer), talks about community and, concurrently, social media, in a different way. Falls recently spoke about this topic in Chicago at UnGeeked E’lite, a retreat for people interested in social media, marketing, and branding.

He suggests that “communities are networks of trust.” Based on his experience as a social media pro and small-town guy, Falls drew comparisons between the online community and that of a small town. If you’re exploring social media platforms—or you’re in the thick of them—your end goal is to build a loyal and trusting community. Take Falls’s lessons from a small town and apply them to your practice:

1. Cool your heels, partner. People don’t take kindly to visitors who come into town guns a-blazin’, strutting around as if they own the place. When creating your social media platforms, take it slow. Listen, watch, and research to understand the community’s wants and needs. Only then can you properly address them.