Pass it on…
We share everyday. Websites, funny videos, informative articles…even celebrity gossip. Thanks to social media, sharing is now a normal function of our daily lives. I share things with you, you share my articles with others, we all keep sharing. I’ve even seen cases where other Realtors in San Antonio have shared one of my posts in their newsletter (with proper attribution). The real question is, does anyone care about what you share?
Having your posts (or updates or tweets) shared is a great feeling. It gives validation to the author – that they wrote something that was worth telling your friends about. Every time I see any of my stuff shared by someone, I get a little giddy. The thing is, with all this sharing going on, there’s something missing from some of it.
The caring.
When you share something, do you just throw it out there or do you tell your friends, your readers, or your followers why they should care? As more and more people share, dilution becomes a factor. Think of those funny forwards you used to get. Okay, maybe they were never funny, but the first time it was no big deal. The second and third, it was still okay. By the time the forward had circled the globe a few times and you were receiving it from your mom, your dentist, and that kid you never really talked to in middle school, well it was kind of annoying, wasn’t it?
I’d never encourage anyone not to share. What I try and do with each and every share (and I don’t always do it successfully I’ll admit) is tell a bit about why I’m sharing it. In that simple act lies the important part – caring. It shows why I care and tells my readers why they might care. It doesn’t make them care, but it gives them enough info to click that link and decide for themselves.
So next time you share something, whether from your friends or from this site, stop for a second and care about it too. It will make the internet a much more caring place.
Hint, hint – don’t be afraid to use the sharing buttons below to share this article with your friends.
image courtesy of wlodi
