Spoiler alert: the secret to making people like you on social media is to stop trying to make them like you on social media. Letting go of that desire can cause some amazing things to happen. I was reminded of this principle recently.
One morning I started my day doing two things I do not do enough.
The first was to look through my Twitter stream. Usually I see links to the same articles I find on Triberr, my RSS feed and other content discovery sources. This time was different.
Immediately I spotted a tweet from Jayme with a link to a new post: “Thoughts On Love In Business.” It’s a topic I have blogged about, and I was thinking about it again for another post.
Clicks And Comments
I clicked the link that led to this blog. That’s when I did the second thing I do not do enough.
I left a comment. Just a quick response to the question posed and a “thank you” for opening the discussion. Those two things, a Twitter discovery and a comment, triggered a series of unexpected events that amazed me.
First, Jayme replied to my comment asking me to leave links to the articles I’ve written. Then a chain reaction:
• She read my posts and liked them. A lot.
• She left comments.
• She shared them on Twitter and Facebook.
• We connected on LinkedIn and Facebook.
• She encouraged her community to visit my blog.
• Some community members left comments and subscribed.
• We had an awesome phone conversation the next day.
All of that happened within 24 hours of my leaving that comment. Jayme asked if I’d be interested in writing a guest post about this experience. And so here we are.
Social Media Serendipity
Some would describe this chain of events as the law of attraction at work. Some would call it good Karma. Others would use the word “grace.” Whatever your orientation, the common idea is serendipity.
Serendipity is most commonly defined as luck or good fortune and the aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. But when I looked it up, I found a new wrinkle to its meaning.
The word originates from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip whose heroes had a gift for making accidental discoveries of things they were not in a quest for.
Which brings me back to the beginning.
What I learned from this experience is that ‘happy accidents’ can happen on social media when you are not trying too hard to make them happen. When I started the day, I wasn’t on a quest to make power connections or drive traffic to my blog. I didn’t even leave a link in my comment until being asked.
You could argue that is not savvy marketing. But in that moment I was not in a self-promote mindset. I was just following a discovery I stumbled into by accident.
And wow. At the end of the day I got a wonderful lesson on the power of a tweet and a comment to open up serendipitous opportunities on social media.
Thank you Jayme and community.
About The Author
John Gregory Olson is a B2B marketing consultant and freelance copywriter. He writes about marketing strategy and leadership on his blog. Follow him on Twitter @John_G_Olson .
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This is awesome, John! Welcome to the community and I will head over to your place next to see what’s going on in that head of yours! 😮
Cheers, sir!
Hi, Jaymz – great guest today, let’s catch up when you land!
I encourage anyone reading today to indeed check out John’s writings. He’s a hidden gem, and I’m so glad we serendipitously connected. Thanks for writing, John!
Mark_Harai Next week…I’m going to breathe a moment and you are my first priority! XO
Mark_Harai Thanks so much Mark! I am glad you enjoyed the story. It was a post that practically wrote itself. Look forward to seeing you at my place too. Have a blessed day!
Soulati | Hybrid PR Thanks for the HT Jayme. Your kindness overwhelms! To borrow a phrase (that should be trademarked) you #RockHot.
Hi John,
Nice to meet you! I’m just heading into a major development project but you are top of my list to visit when I get some air.
Jayme, like Mark Harai, is one of the most generous people I’ve met in foray into the social web. Jayme is contributing an ongoing series of posts to the Clarity for the Boss blog to help business owners get a handle on how to use social media to get business results. I am so grateful for her contribution and support!
I didn’t know that serendipity comes from the Persian story you referenced. How appropriate it connected you and Jayme! (she being part Persian). I am going to look out for the that story and get it!
Cheers,
Sharon
Sharon Gilmour Glover Hi Sharon. I was blown away when I came across that connection to the Persian fairy tale. Talk about extending the serendipity theme of the week! I’d certainly love to have you stop by when you get the time. Thanks for your comment.
Jayme, are you paying people again to like you. 😉
I made that up folks, just to be clear. But I wanted to swing by and say howdy.
TheJackB You are the meanest Millennial I have ever met. What? You don’t think you are? Are you Gen Y? Age…when you get to be as wise as I am, you need to start paying people.
Sharon Gilmour Glover Sharon, we are a testament to social friendships, aren’t we? Thank you!
Soulati | Hybrid PR Sharon Gilmour Glover We are indeed!
Soulati | Hybrid PR TheJackB Jayme, when one is a wise as you, people should be paying YOU. You got it backwards I think!!
Sharon Gilmour Glover Soulati | Hybrid PR TheJackB Muuwah! You tell that guy, Sharon!
:p @thejackb
Soulati | Hybrid PR No wonder you are in PR, your math is awesome. Class of ’69 which puts me firmly in the midst of Gen X. 😉