Why Should I Share Their Content? They Don’t Follow Me

By on December 19, 2011 in Blog Coach, Social Media with 6 Comments

Pouting About Social Media Sharing?There are sectors of Social Media and Social Networking that may have reason to place importance on such matters as:

  • Do they Follow Me?
  • Did they Unfriend Me?
  • Am I in their Circles?
  • But people in my Tribe don’t like her …

Stop it.

We’re in business now, so let’s graduate from that thought process, hmm?

There are plenty of people who write some brilliant content. Maybe their content helps my intended audience get smarter and grow stronger. And so I curate it and share the content in various places – even if they don’t follow me.

And why not. I recommend books, movies, and restaurants all the time even though those folks probably don’t know me either. How ‘about you?

As I noted in Why and How I Use Twitter:

I share items with three peoples in mind (in this order):

  1. Customers I Serve (and to a certain degree, the followers et al who are part of my “audience”)
  2. Those I link to – a distant second place. I don’t practice “linkbait”.  I may share on occasion as a way of saying “thanks” to the content creator.
  3. Me – Sure, findability and keywords and all that is in my thought process, but if there’s no value for my customer – there will be no value for me.

Keep in mind the 5 Things About Your Intended Audience and you’ll be equipped to quickly determine whether to share something or not.

Photo on Flickr by ale © colour

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About Mike Sansone: Conversation Conductor & Social Mediatician: Amplify Reach, Relationships, and Revenues for Small, Rural and Independent Business. Blogging & Social Media as Conversation Stations.

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  • http://all.pro Maranda

    Excellent thoughts Mike! I share things because they interest me or because I think my audience might like / grow from it. Your thoughts also work on the flipside here too with people who are only want to share the things that “a-listers” write. 

    • Anonymous

      Good point Maranda, I share because I believe it’s worth spreading, whether “they” share my stuff or not. I make it as easy as possible to share my content, but if it doesn’t that’s no big deal. If I can affect one person in a positive way, I’m good.

      • http://www.converstations.com MikeSansone

        Amen Stephen!  And thanks for being one who shares so freely. I’m digging our conversations (and about to share our recently recorded one soon:-))

    • http://www.converstations.com MikeSansone

      I think we can hope, even anticipate reciprocity but shouldn’t expect it, right?

      As long as “A-Lister” keeps putting out valuable stuff (for my brain and for those I work with, readers, etc) – I’ll continue to share.

      Thanks, Maranda – for being a true A-Lister in creating, curation, and conversation!

  • http://bloggingtactics.com/ Linda Norris

    Interesting reading. I lean towards sharing that which I think is helpful, worth sharing and from wherever. Whether or not it is reciprocated is immaterial to me because while I source information to share, as well as helping others, it helps me build my knowledge.

    • http://www.converstations.com MikeSansone

      Your thoughts get an “amen” from this corner, Linda. I like how you mention building your knowledge. Maybe a good litmus is that if a piece makes “me” think, I should share it.  What’s valuable to one, is probably valuable to many.

      Great addition to this conversation. Thanks!