Learning from Selfies

Effective "me" marketing

By Erica Rascón on Feb 21, 2014 in Marketing

A “selfie” is a photo that you’ve taken of yourself.  Most of us admit that we’ve taken one or two in our lifetime. We also admit that we secretly loathe our buddies who post #POTH. (If you don’t know what that means, you’ve been spared.) Selfies can teach businesses a few fun yet practical do’s and don’ts for marketing via social media.

The Selfie Mantra: If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

No one is going to be drawn to your product or service if they haven’t heard of it. Spread the word generously and don’t be afraid to try new platforms. There’s no such thing as too much exposure.

Secondly, selfies focus on positive attributes: perfect hair days, pouty lips, ripped muscles. Likewise, focus on your brand’s strong points. Don’t make reference to the competition. Besides, talking about the competition just confirms that they are the industry standard. And you’ll look like a hater.

Too many selfies sends a bad message.

What would you think of a profile dominated by selfies? Chronic selfie taking is linked to alienation. Use social media to engage with fans and accept feedback rather than endlessly posting positive company updates.

Granted, a decent profile may have a few selfies. But they’re buried amongst images of the person engaging with friends or traveling with family. Use media to show your brand amid the big picture: your staff participating in community outreach, your product solving common problems, or behind the scenes with executives and developers.

Selfies in the restroom and disheveled in the AM are are a bit much, right?

Right. Make sure that your employees aren’t oversharing on social media. While transparency has its place, it’s best to keep your public face professional, relevant and customer-appropriate. This means creating and implementing sharing policies for employees, even in a small business.

Selfies in a dirty bathroom or messy bedroom are no bueno.

Clutter is a distraction from the positive image that you’re trying to create. That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your reputation management. Address your negative feedback and reviews in a constructive way. Don’t simply delete the comment or let it fester. Address it professionally and keep your best foot forward.

Also, people take selfies on their natural “good side.” Your product or business should take the same approach. Don’t exaggerating (ahem, falsely advertise) what your product can do. People will only be disappointed when they find out the truth–and plaster negative reviews across the web. Focus on your strengths. Instead of glossing over your shortcomings, work to improve them for the new and improved version of your product in the future.

Selfies with a twist are always most interesting.

The bathroom mirror selfie is such a bore. But a selfie on top of the pyramids of Giza? That’s interesting. How’d they get up there? Where are the cops? How…interesting!

Like a crazy, unique selfie, it can be hard to find your voice and stand out from the plethora of social media users. Standing out may require stepping outside of the box. After a slew of ho-hum ads, Spirit Airlines found its niche with alternative, dark humor. The brand has seriously taken off. Don’t be afraid to try a different approach.

Selfies never miss the point.

Selfie subject: moi. The end. Use HootSuite or similar products to direct social media traffic back your owned media, such as your website. This is how the ROI really comes to fruition.