Social Media in Times of Uncertainty

We are living in uncertain times - I don't need to tell you that though right? Just open your email or scroll through Twitter. What has been happening with the Coronavirus pandemic is something that has rocked many of us, and has affected virtually all of us in one way or another.

In times like these, it's easy to push your social media strategy to the bottom of the priority list. However, as a social media strategist and someone whose livelihood is wrapped up in helping professionals get smarter about how they use social media - I thought it would be important to chime in here with a few tips and recommendations for how to use social media in a smart way during times of uncertainty.

Here are a few thoughts in no particular order:

Tip 1: Respect. During times of uncertainty, everyone is going to react differently. Some react with emotion, humor, sadness, anger. It's important to remember that people deal with some things differently and when it comes to social media - social media for many people is a gathering place to come together with friends and family.

Especially with so many of us practicing social distancing in person - this online community we all have is going to be more important that ever. It's easy to judge, to type out something out quick and not think about the person on the other end of the screen. However, now more than ever - I would just advise you to think before you type and also give others grace as they work through their range of emotions on Facebook, Instagram or any social platform.

Tip 2: Be mindful of what you share. During any crisis, there is going to be a lot of news and things that change moment to moment. We all have a responsibility to share things that are truthful and from reputable sources. Be wary of click-bait headlines or articles that use scare tactics headlines to get you to click and share. Before you share, look carefully at the source of the article or video and if needed do a quick Google search. Sharing relevant information is important - but it's equally important not to share things that are not accurate.

Tip 3: Be helpful. If you are using social media for business - think about ways you can use your business to educate or help others during this time. For my real estate friends and colleagues this is a great opportunity to get on video and talk about your local market and how you may be adjusting your business to serve your client's needs first.

Here are two great examples of real estate agents getting on camera to educate their clients and community on what is happening and more importantly - how this may affect their real estate transaction. Katie Clancy with William Raveis Real Estate (disclosure: she is part of our #GetSocialSmart Academy) did a great Facebook Live talking about the market and things to consider and how things may change in the market (and what to do now!) Also, John and Michelle Ternullo from Leading Edge Real Estate created a great quick video sharing how they are adjusting their business and getting creative with helping their clients through things like open houses. Click here and here to see both videos.

Getting on video and sharing your opinions and thoughts is more important than ever. Stay in your lane though - don't try to be the expert on the crisis but be the expert on how this affects your clients or your community. That fine line is key! Be open, be honest and be helpful. For us, we do Facebook Lives each week for our #GetSocialSmart Academy members - this is an opportunity to teach and connect with our community and during times like this - this type of valuable community and literal face-time is so important.

Tip 4: Turn off automation. If you have anything automated right now - it may be the time to turn that off. I don't think there is anything wrong with scheduling some content during 'normal' circumstances - but we are not in normal times. Be mindful of what is happening and don't have automated content that may do you more harm than good. There's nothing worse than during a crisis someone tweeting about the latest home design trends! :)

This being said, if you are producing regular, helpful, pillar content (i.e. video content, podcasts, blog posts etc.) I think that it is fine to keep with your posting and publishing schedule - but you may need to adjust some of the content, timing or posts. Be mindful of that and make sure you have the apps on your phone that you need to make those changes on the fly if needed. If you have others on your team responsible for content or social media - make sure they are all on the same page.

Tip 5: Now more than ever - be present. Now is not the time to hand off all of your social media to a virtual assistant or to outsource it completely. This crisis we are in will pass - and it's important that you still show up not just to post but to authentically connect and engage with others. Now more than ever is the time to show compassion, to reach out and connect with folks, to check in on those who may need help, to post a kind word, etc. Show up, be kind, be present (and if need be - unfollow anything in your feeds that isn't healthy for you.)

I am sure there are more things that I could share here - but this feels like a great start to a larger conversation. I would love to hear from you. What would you add to this list? Please comment below and let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

I am the CEO/Founder of Katie Lance Consulting and we help real estate agents and brokers get smarter about how they use social media. I am a speaker, author and mom to two amazing boys. Follow me here on LinkedIn or let's connect over on Instagram.