What I learned about Social Media From Star Wars

With the recent celebration of  Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you all) Paul and I decided it was time for another post pairing. (Funny how we choose to do that with the science fiction themes…) While Paul is taking the “Dark Side” on the subject (why wouldn’t he – they have cookies), I am posting from the view of the “rebel scum”

Here is what Star Wars has taught me about Social Media.

“Do or do not, there is no try”:  (Yoda)

“In social media it is more along the lines of  “Use or Use Not, there is no try”
Just having a social media profile is not enough. There needs to be an active presence, especially a business. Just creating a corporate Facebook page and never engaging with your fans is not enough. Do you have a corporate Twitter profile that is set to private? If a business decides to be out in the world of social media, it needs to be active and engaged with other users.

“Into the garbage chute fly boy”: (Leia)

(This one is more geared towards Twitter) Twitter can be a bit intimidating at first for the new user. All those @names and #hashtags in the stream moving so quickly you don’t know where to start. A great way to dip your toe into Twitter is to “lurk about” and slowly get to know what is going on, but there comes a point when you just have to jump in and become part of the conversation.

[It was a] “Boring conversation anyway“: (Han)

You can’t be boring in social media. Get to know your audience and find ways to share information that they will find interesting and entertaining. Don’t go in and “sell sell sell” tell stories, share things that are interesting, become involved in conversations, show a real human personality. Have fun with it and others will too.

Another word of wisdom from Han Solo, “Laugh it up Fuzzball” also works here.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this”:  (everybody)

The internet is a big place and has lots of corners of less than respectable reputation. If you think someone or something is sketchy, it probably is. Be mindful to watch out for trolls and spammers. A safe social media environment is a happy social media environment.

“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for:”  (Obi-Wan)

With all the social media sites out there, the “big ones” being Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and now Pinterest, you need to know what ones will work for your business and what ones you can “move along” by. Find out where the people you want to talk to are and grow your presence there.

“Beep beep boop boop”:  (R2D2)

This quote means something different to everyone. Just like with social media you need to find your own voice and project that voice out into your community. Be original, be unique, be you.  (how’d you like that one Frankie B?)

“…Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”:  (Yoda)

One of the most basic rules of social media is to be nice. You by no means have to be sunshine and lollypops but remember to keep respectful. You or your business may face negativity in the social space, remember to handle it properly. One aggressively negative comment can go instantly viral and ruin reputations.
Trivia – How many social media lessons can you create from my favorite quote from “Empire Strikes Back“?

“Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder. “

Put your ideas in the comments – The winning lesson will become legen…. wait for it….dary

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*UPDATE* I was very excited to be asked to come on The Pulse Network to talk about this post! Below are the highlights and a link to a post about the interview.

Lights! Camera! The Pulse Network! – How the interview came to happen

Yoda Wisdom for Social media – The Pulse on Marketing

Han Solo Advice for Social media – The Pulse on Marketing