The Golden Rule of Social Media: Give More Than You Take

Shift your perspective from “self-promotion” to “providing value.”

Marie Ennis-O'Connor
2 min readAug 18, 2024

Social media is crowded, and people’s attention is limited. Instead of constantly broadcasting what you want to sell or achieve, focus on how you can enrich your followers’ lives. Think about the questions they might be asking:

  • What can I learn from this?
  • How can this entertain or inspire me?
  • Does this solve a problem I have?
  • Can this make me feel understood?

When your content consistently answers these questions, you’ll build a loyal following. People are more likely to engage with, share, and support someone who genuinely wants to help them, not just make a sale.

Here are some practical ways to apply this mindset:

  • Share your expertise: Offer tips, tutorials, or insights related to your field or interests.
  • Tell stories: People connect with narratives. Share personal experiences, anecdotes, or customer success stories that are relevant to your audience.
  • Spark conversations: Ask questions, run polls, or encourage discussions on topics that your followers care about.
  • Show your personality: Let your authentic self shine through. People want to connect with real people, not just faceless brands or profiles.
  • Be consistent: Regularly post valuable content to stay top-of-mind with your followers.

Remember: In the world of social media, genuine connection beats relentless self-promotion. By focusing on providing value to your audience, you’ll build trust, loyalty, and a community that truly cares about what you have to say.

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