A Very Fulfilling Final Four Year

Never before have I enjoyed a Final Four so much. In fact, never before have I enjoyed TWO Final Fours so much.

The storylines were thick for me this past weekend.
1. I had my hometown team going up against the team of the state I now live in.
2. I had my favorite college basketball team going up against my father-in-law’s favorite college basketball team.
3. The chance for another major state university in South Carolina to join Coastal Carolina (school I work at) and Clemson as national champions was on the table…twice.

In the end, it all seemed to work out perfectly. Well, I should probably wait until later tonight to say that. But as of right now, things are about as good as they can be.

Gonzaga defeated South Carolina in the men’s basketball national semifinal round on Saturday night. To be honest, I was cheering for the Bulldogs all the way. I have roots with Gonzaga and I have cheered for the Zags my whole life so I couldn’t help it. However, if the Bulldogs did stumble, it wouldn’t have completely destroyed my life. I would have taken solace in the fact that my wife (who openly cheered for the Gamecocks during the game) and my father-in-law would be happy campers. I also would have delighted in the fact that it would set up South Carolina to win a national championship and make our state look really good. If you remember, CCU won the baseball title in June and Clemson took home the football trophy in January. For the University of South Carolina to complete the trifecta with a basketball title would have been huge.

Turns out that even though the Gamecock men ended up losing, a basketball national championship for the state was still won. The women’s basketball team at the University of South Carolina cruised through the women’s Final Four to achieve glory. The Gamecock ladies defeated giant slayer Mississippi State to bring the third major NCAA sanctioned national championship to the Palmetto State in nine months.

Don’t think the Chanticleers and Tigers wanted to see the Gamecocks falter on the national title stage. Both fan bases of CCU and Clemson enthusiastically cheered for the University of South Carolina, a sentiment that was shared on social media by both schools. I had the pleasure of working with Robbie Fitzwater, Clemson’s social media director, to engage in a good natured Twitter dialogue that left no doubt that our schools stood behind our rival in Columbia. The conversation was a huge success as it was heavily retweeted and picked up by the media.

We ended the dialogue with GIFs wishing South Carolina good luck. The GIF rotated between a CCU baseball national championship graphic, a Clemson football national championship graphic, and a South Carolina Final Four graphic.

So with Gonzaga advancing to the national championship and with the state of South Carolina already capturing its third national title in nine months, there remains just one thing left to do: The Bulldogs need to win!!

It would be a huge deal if the little Jesuit school in eastern Washington pulled off the win tonight against North Carolina. It would make me extremely happy and it would cap the most memorable Final Four year of my life. Let’s see how it all plays out. Go Gonzaga! Don’t Blink.

Feeling Good Thursday Rundown

Thank you for once again returning to Don’t Blink. It is another Thursday and that means I get to bore (I mean “entertain”) you with another rundown. And we are off…

Patriots Day – I want to start off my Thursday Rundown with “Patriots Day” just because it was such a great movie. Sidney and I went on premiere night last Friday and we really enjoyed the film. It managed to effectively capture the spirit of the city of Boston. It also kept our eyes misty the whole time, especially at the end. The performances by Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, and Kevin Bacon are solid. The last outstanding movie I saw was “Hacksaw Ridge” and although I would say “Patriots Day” might not be on its same level, it is still a film I recommend.

I recommend the movie "Patriots Day."

I recommend the movie “Patriots Day.”

Long Hair, Don’t Care – Most people know I used to have really long hair and most people have seen a couple of the classic photos that are widely circulated. However, not everyone has seen this horrific mug from my junior year of high school. Sorry to make you throw up your dinner.

This was my junior year high school photo.

This was my junior year high school photo.

Getting the Ax – Because I am a social media professional, I always pay attention when other social media professionals get fired. Last week, the social coordinator for a school district was let go after she had some fun with a student who misspelled the word “tomorrow.” I make it a point to never get sarcastic or condescending with anyone while I am behind the accounts of my employer but I know several counterparts who will push the envelope. Not saying that it is bad one way or the other, I just choose not to. Anyway, I actually reached out on Twitter to the woman who lost her job and she responded. Our conversation is below.

I had a Twitter conversation with Katie Nash, the social media professional who was fired from her position at a school district.

I had a Twitter conversation with Katie Nash, the social media professional who was fired from her position at a school district.

Inaugruation – As I have mentioned before, I am looking forward to tomorrow’s Presidential Inauguration from a historical standpoint. For someone like me who is a fanatic of the United States Presidency, I am mesmerized by the peaceful transition of power. I hope the big day goes by smoothly and everyone stays safe. Despite what we all think of President-Elect Trump becoming President Trump, take time tomorrow to appreciate one of the defining principles of our democracy.

Baby Update – Sidney hits the 29 week mark tomorrow. This past weekend she dressed up the crib for our daughter who will be here sooner than we know it. Sid is in full nesting mode and has gone about preparing the nursery with enthusiasm and care. The daddy is doing his best to get himself ready for the amazing gift of human life that is about to come.

A look at the completed crib.

A look at the completed crib.

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Enjoy the weekend with the Inauguration and NFL Championship games. God is good and life is good…remember that. Don’t Blink.

Top 10 Mistakes Made By Social Media Professionals

This afternoon I once again had the opportunity to meet with my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group. For this particular meeting I decided to present to them the Top Ten Mistakes Social Media Professionals Make. As most in the room want to work in social media upon graduation, it was a very relevant topic.

I got to meet with my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group today.

I got to meet with my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group today.

However, I wanted to have fun with how I presented it. For each item on the list I created a stupid meme to go with it. Since not all group members were present at today’s meeting, I decided I would make the material available to them via this blog. Please know that each meme involving me is completely fictitious (I was explaining what not to do). During today’s meeting, each item on the list was complemented with a full slide of information. For tonight’s blog post, each item will be complemented with just a couple sentences.

1. Posting to the Wrong Account

Those costumes aren't really even that good.

Those costumes aren’t really even that good.

Believe it or not, this happens a lot. Social media managers must make it a habit to pay special attention to their smart phones to ensure they are posting to a personal account as opposed to their employer’s account.

 

2. Duplicating Content

My swing is too ugly to even post to one account.

My swing is too ugly to even post to one account.

All social media accounts are different and should be treated as such. Unless you want your company to come across as lazy and lacking in social media understanding, never post the exact same content to multiple platforms.

 

3. Not Well-Thought-Out/Insensitive Posts

I never considered posting any flood photos on our official @CCUChanticleers accounts.

I never considered posting any flood photos on our official @CCUChanticleers accounts.

We live in a world of political correctness and whistle blowers. To avoid controversy and embarrassment, don’t post anything that someone can get mad about or offended by.

 

4. Sacrificing Quality

Don't rely on your inferior skills if someone can do it better.

Don’t rely on your inferior skills if someone can do it better.

You represent your employer with the content you post. If you have a team that includes designers, videographers, photographers, etc….use them! Anything that is blurry or looks like a third grader did it should not be used.

 

5. Not Respecting Analytics

Personal preference can cloud your social media judgment. Always depend on analytics.

Personal preference can cloud your social media judgment. Always depend on analytics.

It might not be the most glamorous part of a social media professional’s job, but it is important to analyze and respond to analytics. The top way to make your social media program better is to make adjustments based on what analytics tell you.

 

6. Not Staying Ahead

Interesting fact: I never had a Myspace page.

Interesting fact: I never had a Myspace page.

More than most professions, staying ahead of the game in the social media industry is critical. Talk to people younger than you, read newsletters, experiment, and never get complacent. Make sure to put yourself in a position to be at the forefront of new trends.

 

7. Engaging in Social Media Feuds

Fortunately, this situation actually turned out really well.

Fortunately, this situation actually turned out really well.


The above meme is in reference to the dialogue our @CCUChanticleer Twitter account had with the Twitter account from the University of Wisconsin this past March. Respectful and witty banter with competing/rival social media outlets is okay but ugly feuds are not. Remember, no one wins when official voices for universities/companies act like kids.

 

8. Not Treating Your Audience Right

Being angry and being a social media professional is not a good thing.

Being angry and being a social media professional is not a good thing.

We have jobs because of our audience. Always treat your followers well and kill the negative ones with kindness.

 

9. Not Realizing That Social Media is a 24/7 Job

Social media pros can never be found asleep on the job.

Social media pros can never be found asleep on the job.

You want to work in the social media industry? Get ready to always be on the clock. However, don’t go overboard. Realize that 24/7 doesn’t mean you are tweeting from your official accounts for no reason at 3 a.m.

 

10. Not Knowing Your Worth

You might feel so lucky and blessed to work in social media but don't sell yourself short.

You might feel so lucky and blessed to work in social media but don’t sell yourself short.


Social media is a legitimate career route and the value of professionals in this industry is only rising. You are working in a position that is highly influential and highly scrutinized. Make sure you are compensated appropriately for it.

———————–

To my fellow social media professionals…do you have any “mistakes” I should add to the list? Believe me, I would love to create additional memes. To all the aspiring social media professionals out there…I hope this taught you something or made you laugh (hopefully both). Don’t Blink.

Twitter Polls

I know when I write about social media I immediately lose probably 50% of my audience who couldn’t care less about whatever new app or new feature I am going to detail. Around 25% are indifferent and will still read what I have to say. The other 25% read my blog solely for the social media aspect. So, as much as I hate to alienate my audience, tonight I am catering to the “social media savvy” 25%.

Twitter recently came out with Twitter Polls. Users can now ask a question and receive an answer that doesn’t make their audience feel like they are overly endorsing an account by retweeting, replying, or liking. Now, Twitter users simply just choose between two choices and fill in the corresponding bubble with their mouse or thumb. The vote is immediately counted and the polls stay open for 24 hours. Once the time expires, voting is closed but the results continue to live on Twitter.

I debuted the feature on our @CCUChanticleer account yesterday. With the date falling on a Teal Tuesday, I asked our audience who was and who wasn’t wearing teal. We received some good news and some bad news. Starting with the bad news, most people WERE NOT wearing teal. When it came to the good news, almost 200 people replied. For the first time using the tool, the participation wasn’t too shabby. It is important to realize that the vast majority of Twitter users don’t even know about Twitter Polls yet.

Unfortunately we didn't have as many people wearing teal as we would have liked.

Unfortunately we didn’t have as many people wearing teal as we would have liked.

Later on in the day I asked a question I had a little more fun with. I quizzed our audience on whether they would rather take a photo with our mascot Chauncey or our brand new bronze statue replica that was installed last month. The real thing won out in a landslide.

Statues are cool but it is all about the real deal.

Statues are cool but it is all about the real deal.

There are limitations to Twitter Polls. You can only offer two options for your audience to choose. You can’t participate in Twitter Polls via third party platforms such as TweetDeck or Hootsuite. Most maddening, you can’t tell who voted. Mind you, I am not just talking about not seeing what side someone voted on, you can’t see who voted in general. As a social media marketer, I would have loved to see the 200 people who voted in our initial poll but I will never know. Of course this anonymity probably encourages participation but it still leaves me wondering.

Do you think I could stay away from trying Twitter Polls on my personal account? Come on now, you know me better than that. The first question I asked was something a third grader would write on a crumpled piece of paper and pass to a classmate. Luckily my self-worth was affirmed by my Twitter followers.

Obviously a quarter of my Twitter audience feel that I am a big jerk.

Obviously a quarter of my Twitter audience feel that I am a big jerk.

The second question I threw to my 1,585 followers centered directly on www.brentreser.com. I think the eight people who responded were just trying to be nice.

BREAKING NEWS: We did a scientific poll and figured out that 6 out of 8 people read Brent Reser's blog!

BREAKING NEWS: We did a scientific poll and figured out that 6 out of 8 people read Brent Reser’s blog!

Then last night as I was watching the latest GOP debate, I thought it would be interesting to offer up the below question. You still have a couple hours left to vote! Can’t say if the majority of the respondents are correct or not!

As of 6:31 p.m. ET, you still have three hours left to vote.

As of 6:31 p.m. ET, you still have three hours left to vote.

Go ahead and try out Twitter Polls. Mention me in the Tweet that is sent out containing the poll and I will make sure to vote myself. Don’t Blink.

Retiring From Individual Social Media Contests

Last night Sidney and I sat together in the emergency room at Grand Strand Hospital. Her mom had to pay a visit for kidney stones. As we waited, Sidney pulled out her phone. Noticing that she had a Facebook Message she opened it up to read the contents. The message went something like this…

“Yo, hope you are doing well. Could you please click here and ‘like’ my Halloween photo? I am entered in this costume contest and would love your support.”

This request sent Sidney on a small tangent about how she dislikes these random requests, especially from people she barely knows or who she hasn’t talked to in a long time. I heard her out and nodded my head.

Is it just me or does it seem like there are a million of these social media costume contests this year? You know, the ones where you “vote” for your favorite photo by “liking” it. The person who submits the image that receives the most likes receives a lucrative prize. I have seen these contests floating around my newsfeed on a very consistent basis the past several days. I know they provide great content and encourage massive engagement but I am kind of hoping that someone next year introduces a different social media method that rewards great costumes.

But back to the business of this blog post. Why did I just silently nod my agreement with Sidney? Was it because I actually ran a social media costume contest on our @CCUchanticleers Instagram this past Friday? Hardly. I didn’t voice my strong opposition to people begging for social media love because I once ran a big, desperate campaign myself.

Over three years ago I entered a Mother’s Day Facebook photo contest. The image that received the most likes and comments won a getaway prize pack for the mother of whoever submitted the photo. I spent way too much time and energy trying to generate likes and comments for the photo I entered of my mom and I. Trying to do all I could to triumph over the competition, I harassed and pleaded with way too many random Facebook friends to show their support for my photo. Ultimately, I was successful and won my mom the grand prize. (For a way too detailed account of my involvement in this contest, click here).

However, looking back at my effort over 40 months later, I don’t feel much like a social media all-star. Instead, I feel a little embarrassed. Listening to Sidney’s opinion of these “Facebook campaigners” and seeing for myself how desperate people come across when plugging their contest efforts, I think I look a little dumb.

When you enter one of these contests, it becomes the sole thing focus on. It seems like the most important thing in the world and it clouds your judgment into thinking that others do as well. This haziness in the head is what caused me to reach out to people I barely knew, people I had not talked to in a few years, and even people who I didn’t even respect. Sure I won the grand prize and my mom had a wonderful time staying at Northern Quest but I do regret bothering people who didn’t owe me a thing.

I agree with Sidney. Social media contests encourage us to awkwardly reach out to folks we probably shouldn’t. When we take the bait, it doesn’t always portray us in the best light. I am taking my victory from the Mother’s Day contest and retiring from individual social media “liking” contests. Don’t Blink.

Talking About Social Media Control

A great part about my job at Coastal Carolina University is that I get to meet with diverse groups on campus about social media. One day it could be with an academic department. One day it could be with athletics. One day it could be with a student service organization. One day it could be a one-on-one session with a Vice President. Not only do I get to talk with a wide range of groups, I also get to talk about a wide range of subjects within social media.

This week I had the privilege of attending the monthly staff meeting of a department on campus. I was asked to speak about the handling of negative social media. You know, I am talking about the non-positive posts, the obscene comments, the spamming links, etc. that any social media program will encounter. This particular group that I was meeting with had a certain episode the month prior that sparked the invitation for me to drop by on that particular morning. With the warm smell of just out of the oven cinnamon rolls and fresh donuts teasing my nostrils (they have breakfast potluck meetings) I delivered my opinion.

My message was a simple one and it centered on one word: Control.

I strongly believe that any person or any group managing the social media campaign of an organization or business should run it in a way that gives them complete control. Critics might challenge this by saying that running a tight ship on social media takes “the voice” away from the audience and makes the social media administrator look like a tyrant. Absolute nonsense. You can run a program that gives the audience complete creative autonomy and an outlet to voice their opinion while still remaining at the steering wheel.

First off, I think all business Facebook pages should have the wall post capability for fans turned off. A Facebook wall is prime real estate marketing territory, one of the most coveted avenues of any business. Money, time, and creative spirit has been poured into the creation and maintenance of that page, thus making the wall sacred. To risk giving someone the chance to write a condemning manifesto wall post for all to see while the page administrator sleeps is not smart.

Secondly, just because you invite your audience to comment on any social media channel doesn’t mean they have a First Amendment right to have whatever toxic filled message they compose stay up. If someone writes something that has a curse word, strays completely off topic, or is self promoting then by all means delete it right away. If the person offends again then ban them. Your social media channels are your marketing tools, they aren’t a platform for people to cuss, ramble on, or promote. There are millions of message boards out there for that purpose.

Finally, run your social outlets in a way that you feel comfortable. Don’t let your audience, a social media “guru”, or a third party dictate how you administer your social program. If you have been trusted to make the social media decisions in an organization then most likely your bosses have faith in you. Honor the folks who provided you with such a crucial responsibility to put the best foot of your organization forward in the social media realm. If that means enabling more privacy settings, deleting a comment, or editing a post you made then so be it.

With my social media responsibilities I do all I can to portray Coastal Carolina in a transparent and humble light. We are not immune to criticisms or suggestions from our audience. If someone has a valid point I will make sure we take the heat. The post will stay up and I will address it in a respectful and apologetic manner for all to see. But that doesn’t mean our social media program is a complete free-for-all for people to hurl mud at anything and everything. That is where the control and comfort level must come in. The best social media administrators will find that fine line between what is acceptable and what isn’t. Don’t Blink.

More Than Meets the Eye

On Wednesday night my boss took me out to dinner. We went to probably the most recommended place in Conway, the Riverfront Bistro. During the start of our delicious dinner he looked at me and said, “So do you have any questions for me? It seems like I already know pretty much everything about you.”

My dinner at the Riverfront Bistro. Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with apples and onions. The side is the macaroni and cheese noodle cake.

My dinner at the Riverfront Bistro. Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with apples and onions. The side is the macaroni and cheese noodle cake.

Bill reads my blog on occasion so he has a pretty good grasp on how I spend my time, what I value, opinions I hold, etc. After he asked the question I had a good laugh and admitted that I don’t know if it is exactly a good thing that I pretty much tell the whole world everything that is going on in my life. But then again I really don’t…believe it or not I have a small personal life (just like anyone) that doesn’t show up on a nightly basis in Don’t Blink.

But for the most part Bill’s question spoke a lot of truth. If anyone takes the time to follow me on social media or read my blog they are going to pretty much know what is up with me and who I am all about. I am very transparent and I give my audience a very real look into my life. If anyone wants to know how I feel about something they pretty much just need to do a keyword search on my blog and chances are I have already covered it in a post over the years. No need to actually ask me in person.

Since moving to Myrtle Beach, Bill is not the only one who has pretty much said “I feel like I already know you.” Numerous people on and off campus have told me that introductions and small talk aren’t necessary because they pretty much know so much about me. At first I am always flattered that they take the time to read what I have to say and follow me but then that feeling I alluded to above of doubting myself for putting so much out there starts to creep back. However, I am usually always able to shake it.

You see, I think having a solid foundation built by the time people meet me for the first time is a plus. Pressure is taken off, both for me and the person I am meeting, when you feel like you aren’t on ground zero. Like Bill said, he felt like he already knew me and I much rather start a relationship at that point. It also builds confidence to know that if someone is talking to me for the first time and they mention that they read my blog and follow me on Twitter that they have some interest in me. Cause let’s be honest, if you think what I say on my blog is junk and that it makes me sound like an arrogant jerk chances are you will do what you can to avoid me.

So in this roundabout way I don’t have a problem with my transparency over my personal new media accounts. I credit my blog and my social channels for helping me easily connect with lots of people here in South Carolina. Now that the blog reading and the initial in-person introductions are done I am excited to move onto the next phase…showing these people the Brent that doesn’t live behind a computer screen or an iPhone. I will do my best not to disappoint. Don’t Blink.

My Personal and Business Guidelines for Liking/Favoriting on Social Media

Yesterday I described my policy for “liking” photos on Instagram. Basically I explained that I only like photos where I can tell that a degree of effort was put forth in producing the posted image. When it comes to Facebook statuses/comments and Tweets I am a little more lenient. Let me explain.

When it comes to Facebook statuses I make it a habit to like the big news conveyers. You know, when people announce via a Facebook status that they got a job, got engaged, graduated, had a baby, etcetera. It is important to celebrate other people’s success and sometimes liking the status announcing it is the only way to do so. I also like funny, creative, and informative statuses as well. I am pretty much down to like anything as long as it is not a rant, a ploy to get sympathy/pity, or a “20 things you didn’t know about me” disaster.

I am even more liberal on comments, especially if someone leaves one underneath one of my statuses. I appreciate engagement on the content I post and if someone takes the time to leave a comment I will make sure 98% of the time to like it. The 2% exception comes from a friend of mine who has a knack for responding with “no one cares,” “loser,” or “get a life,” each time I post a link to my blog. But for the most part, even if someone is disagreeing with me, I will like the comment as a token of appreciation for taking the time to respond.

With my post yesterday I explained that while on Instagram I won’t go blindly through my feed liking photos. However, I almost find myself doing the exact opposite when it comes to Twitter. I don’t have a problem favoriting tweets. I think the discrepancy between liking/favoriting on the two services for me is that people are just more refined with Twitter at this point. Because Twitter has graced our lives for much longer than Instagram I think we do a much better job composing quality tweets as opposed to quality Instagram photos. Similarly with me liking comments on my Facebook posts I will almost always favorite tweets that are directed my way. Again, it is just my small way of saying thank you.

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My feel good approach to liking and favoriting comments and tweets on a personal level does not extend to how I administer them while running social media accounts on a business level though. Rather, when it comes to Facebook and Twitter for Grizzly Athletics I use tough standards similar to what I impose for my personal Instagram use when recognizing responses.

I always respond to questions and inquiries with Griz Social Media. However, when it comes to Facebook comments and tweets I am only liking/favoriting the cream of the crop. You see, we get so many fans who contribute to our social media outlets in varying degrees of quality that I feel it is our responsibility to reward those who go above and beyond while encouraging the others to reach that same level.

When a fan pours a lot of effort into crafting a thorough, supportive, and rich response to a Facebook question or feature he/she will receive a like from the Montana Grizzlies. Although we very much appreciate the standard “Go Griz” response the user who quickly types that out will not get a like. Many organizations and brands believe that every comment or tweet deserves a like or favorite because it gives the user “a special connection to his/her favorite team” but I don’t subscribe to that thinking and this is why:

Don’t you find great validation when your boss tells you great job on a project that you worked your butt off to complete and that you exerted a lot of effort into? Okay, what if your boss took time to tell you great job on a project that you hastily completed and that you knew very well didn’t reflect your best work? On ensuing upcoming projects that might encourage you to continue to put forth mediocre efforts. I don’t want to get into that pattern with fans. I want Griz Nation to strive for that coveted like or favorite each time they comment on Facebook or tweet at us knowing that only the very best will get recognized.

A great social media program is composed not just of great content provided by the brand but by great content provided by the customers/fans as well. While doing my best to enrich the content that Grizzly Athletics puts out on a social media level I also want to continue to push our fans to do the same. When quality keeps rising on both ends, the program keeps getting better and better.

——-

So if you missed it, let me recap everything:
Level of Difficulty Getting Me to Like Your Instagram Photo: Hard
Level of Difficulty Getting Me to Like Your Facebook Status: Medium
Level of Difficulty Getting Me to Like Your Facebook Comment: Easy
Level of Difficulty Getting Me to Favorite Your Tweet: Easy
Level of Difficulty Getting Montana Grizzlies to Like Your Facebook Comment: Intermediate
Level of Difficulty Getting Montana Grizzlies to Favorite Your Tweet: Intermediate
Level of Difficulty Admitting to Others That You Read My Blog: Hard

Don’t Blink.

My Personal Policy for “Liking” Instagram Photos

Not long ago I wrote a post about my quest for Instagram likes and my fascination with people about five years my junior and younger that can pull in triple digit likes with as much as a grainy selfie. While I highlighted my desire to receive big time likes for myself at that time, I hold no animosity towards the people who scroll past my food pictures and arena images without pressing that “like” button. Quite the opposite, I actually applaud you.

I am a big believer in sparingly distributing “likes”. You see, when I go through my Instagram or Facebook feeds my thumb is not going up and down clicking away. I don’t give out likes in the way that I give out candy. Rather I reward them based on the best content that I see. That means I am not liking someone’s Snap Chat screen captured photo they post to Facebook. Or I am not liking an Instagram photo that someone took of another photo that carries with it an awful glare. Or I am not liking a photo of someone’s dog that was taken while the animal was jumping up and down resulting in a blurry mess. I refuse to pad someone’s “like count” when they are producing garbage.

Someone will get my seal of approval with a quality, creative, or appealing image. By my best estimation, I probably like one photo for every four that I see. What separates the fourth of pictures I like from the other 75% that I just pass by? Effort. As I explained at the beginning of this paragraph I need to see an attempt at a meaningful photo. You and I both know the distinction between a good photo and a bad image. If someone I follow took a quality photo of his young kid in an intimate moment I am going to like it. If someone rearranged her desk items in a creative pattern and applied a sweet filter I am going to like it. If a girl I follow who I find attractive posts an appealing image of herself I am going to like it.

I don’t do “likes for likes”. I don’t give in to people who solicit them (unless they ask me personally, then I will). I don’t have people I follow who will receive a like from me no matter what they post. Plain and simple I distribute likes to images that deserve them. When I like a photo, it is a compliment to the person who took it.

SIDE NOTE: There is one time I will like my own Instagram photo. If I post an image and it has garnered 9 likes I will go ahead and like it myself so it will display “10 likes” under the image as opposed to a long slew of nine usernames. True stuff.

I do change my philosophy up a little bit when it comes to liking Facebook comments and favoriting Tweets. But that is a blog post for tomorrow! I hold my standards high for social media photography and I think that is a good thing. Don’t Blink.