Being Authentic and Geeking Out on Social Media

Social media has revolutionized how we connect, share, and gather information. Pew Research Center recently noted that 72% of online adults are on some sort of social media. For a geek like me however, it has transformed how I partake in the greater geek community. We post videos, retweet the latest rumors, and record podcasts on everything from movie reviews to computer hardware breakdowns. I know back in the day, my nerdy forefathers (and mothers) had a harder time even learning about new stuff much less sharing their passions with other people. I appreciate their sacrifice in the form of ridicule and ostracizing which paved the way for nerds like me to be able to see Thor on the big screen. Also, for the record, I’ve blogged on this before but I think everyone “geeks out” about something, so I hold no ill will towards sports nerds or car geeks or whatever else anyone is into. Being passionate about a hobby is awesome and everyone needs to feel that way about something where you can’t help but talk about it endlessly.
More on this, I am personally a fan of a lot of different, nerdy things but whenever I can connect with someone else about those or just get some authentic attention from my favorite brands, whatever they may be, it just multiplies the geek out moment. If I’m sharing thoughts about your latest product and you start a conversation, I’m far more likely to speak positively about my experience to my friends. Business is relationships so if I can feel like I have a relationship with the brands I care about, it makes it so much more impactful and creates a lot more loyalty from me based on that experience. Also, I trust the word of people I know more than the advertising I hear, so being authentic, positive, and approachable on social media will create a word of mouth about your brand that is invaluable to your business. Just in interacting with brands on Facebook, it was recently reported that 77% of companies reported getting customers through this social media stalwart, and 80% of customers preferring to interact with brands there as well. There is definitely more room for growth on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine too.
So, I think what my personal strategy overall has been when operating on all the various channels of social media is to just be my real self. This person is a professional, a nerd, and a human being who has many interests. I hate it when I see people I know who are super private or have separate accounts for their work life apart from their “real” self when they clock out. I feel like being open, honest, authentic, and genuine on the digital landscape makes far more sense than trying to hide parts of yourself when there seems to be no reason to be. You’re just duplicating your efforts and making it harder to connect with others who want to genuinely engage with you. All it takes is just having some quick critical thought when posting so that it is something that is relevant and appropriate for your audience. I don’t find it hard at all to showcase a holistic picture of myself on social media that isn’t scandalous or muted in some way.
My experience so far with this has been somewhat limited but I feel like I’m connecting with people who share my interests and appreciate what I put out into the world. I can get the latest scoop on everything geeky, read thought provoking professional articles, and just see all the cool things my friends are up to. I have definitely finally found my voice in the digital forum, which I hope is one people respond to and has a positive impact. I’m a bit biased but I think it will. So fly your geek flag high, take down those walls, and get out there being your authentically awesome self!
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