Part 1: Understanding Social Media Psychology

I would like to begin by stating that, I am not a psychologist. I have however, had previous experience, working in the human services field for 15 years. Over the years, I’ve studied psychology, to learn about, and better serve the people I worked with. I have utilized my knowledge and applied what I’ve learned, to marketing in social media spaces.

Here is a key point to ponder that I’ve learned…..

Keep your pride parked at the back door. A little humility in the spaces, will take you far. It matters not how great your products and services are, if you come across in the marketplace, boastful and arrogant. Have you noticed how many social media experts are online?

Here is the takeaway… as I see it….

You may know more than the average Joe, about social media, and how to build relationships in these spaces. What some fail to realize, and I see on a daily basis, is that your stuff is not the be-all and end-all, of what there is to offer here online. Be open to change, learning and growing. Be wrong sometimes; admit it, its okay.

Be genuine. Be real. Be helpful.

On the other side of the coin, take pride in your products and services that you bring to the market place. Create them to serve the people in your community, to help them get the results are looking for.

I’m personally very uncomfortable being called an expert. I was recently introduced as a social media expert, for a presentation I did. I have, spent a great deal of time in the last two years, learning online marketing. A good portion of that time, I have dedicated to understanding social media psychology, and this marketing medium. This does not make me an expert, it just means, that I may know, and have an understanding of a little more. But that will no doubt change in a few minutes…there is something new being created right now…I don’t know about. I don’t have time to learn everything.

Web 2.0 and using it, to give our marketing the human touch, is still in its infancy. Keep this in mind the next time you decide to call yourself an expert. Things change every day, roll with it.

I implore you to keep in mind, how you are perceived while building community and social networking will have a direct impact, on your bottom-line. Be helpful and give value.

More importantly, don’t get all caught up in the great “I am”. By all means, be proud of who you are what you create, just don’t let it go to your head.

Photo credit: Patricia Oliveira

Tagged as: Social Media, Social Media Psychology, Social Networking