If you have a Twitter account with a dwindling list of influential followers, read up. There’s a lot you can learn from reality TV stars who have no trouble courting a Twitter audience of millions.
The success of reality TV has turned its stars into social media powerhouses. What is it about shows like American Idol and others that we find downright endearing? Why do millions of loyal viewers tune in on a weekly basis, and follow the personalities on Twitter? Here are three ideas to borrow for your own social media efforts, from the shows we love to hate:
Get personal. Sharing (and over sharing) is the hallmark of what makes reality TV such a success. Getting an inside look into famous families helps audiences identify with their lives and stay interested. Take a page from the Karsdashians and inject a bit of personality into your social media; don’t just be a megaphone for your brand. Share both the funny and informative via Twitter and LinkedIn, and you’ll keep your followers coming back.
Stir up controversy. Reality TV is all about drama. Just tune into any of the Real Housewives of [insert city here] series to see the spectacle unfold: screaming arguments, overturned tables and bad attitudes. With record viewer numbers, it’s worth trying a similar, albeit less extreme, approach with social media. Use your blog as a soapbox to take a stand on an important industry issue; encourage debate in the comments to get readers engaged.
Diversify. The stars of MTV’s Jersey Shore have mastered this: Snooki penned a New York Times bestseller, the Situation launched a vodka line and Ronnie backs a popular weight loss drug. It seems you can’t turn a corner without seeing one of their smiling, over-tanned faces endorsing a new product. Your social media strategy should operate similarly, with a variety of social outposts where you can reuse your content to reach a larger audience.
Of course, these tips may only resonate if you watch any of these ridiculous shows. Which, of course, none of us do…
