Monday, June 2, 2014

Social Media Monday—What FINDING BIGFOOT Taught Me About Growing My Social Media Network

by Edie Melson

I have a dark secret to confess.

I’m a HUGE Finding Bigfoot fan. I don’t watch many reality television shows, but I never miss an episode of this show. No, I’m not a particular Bigfoot believer or naysayer. I’ve never had a Bigfoot encounter. Truthfully, I’m at as much of a loss to explain my fascination as my long-suffering husband is.

A new season is about to begin (June 6) and as my husband begins to roll his eyes and make disparaging remarks, I feel my own excitement building.

So in anticipation of the upcoming evenings with Bobo, Ranae, Matt and Cliff, I’m going to share what this show has taught me about growing my social media network.


1. Sharing your passion can make you irresistible. I really think it’s the four BFRO (Bigfoot Field Research Organization) members who keep me coming back episode after episode. The same magic can happen when you open yourself up and let others see your passion through social media.

2. Expertise doesn’t always look the part. These guys don’t look like what you might think researchers should look like. But they have decades of experience with this one subject. We each have different life experiences and those have made us experts in unlikely ways. Embrace that expertise and share it with those you interact with through social media.

3. Keep it real. These four, and others who appear with them, aren’t worried about looking foolish or even a little bit silly. They are who they are and they’re not trying to be anything else. The social media audience today is skeptical and can spot a fake a mile away. This isn’t the place to be fake.

4. The real joy is in the journey. Truthfully, I think finding irrefutable evidence of Bigfoot might be just a bit anticlimactic at this point. The same can be said of social media. There’s no magic number of followers or interactions that signals an end to the journey. The point IS the journey.

5. Embrace the slang. These shows have spawned a lot of additions to popular slang—from the now common acronym BFRO to Squatch, the slang term for Bigfoot. Speaking the language is part of being in the club. The same is true for social media. Learn the lingo and join the fun.

6. Don’t take yourself too seriously. These cast member know that for all their expertise, they’re still searching for Bigfoot. On social media, it’s important not to take ourselves too seriously either. Lighten up and don’t be afraid to show some of the goofy things you do. (Like being a huge fan of Finding Bigfoot!)

7. Treat others with respect, no matter how far-out their ideas. Part of the premise for the show involves interacting with others who’ve had Bigfoot sightings. Some of those interviewed are a wee-bit less than credible. But they are always treated with respect. There are all kinds of folks on social media. Respect them, no matter whether or not you agree with them.

8. Sharing the journey with like-minded people makes all the difference. These are four unlikely sojourners, but they share the same passion. Their camaraderie is part of the allure of the show. Banding together with others on social media can increase your reach and help you out when your own numbers falter.

9. Never give up. These Bigfoot hunters have been at this for years. With social media, numbers will ebb and flow. The ONLY way to fail, though, it to quit.

Now it’s your turn. Are you a fan of Finding Bigfoot or another random show? Share your passion here and lets take a little light-hearted joy in the journey!

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

TWEETABLES


20 comments:

  1. My husband has watched this show and I'm always guaranteed to get a good laugh from these guys. (I'm a huge Bigfoot skeptic!) But you are right, they keep plugging along even though there is not one piece of scientific evidence for the existence of these creatures (such as no one has ever found a carcass of of a "Squatch," As writers, the road may seem long and hard, but we must never give up.

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    1. Joan, great comparison! Thanks for joining in the fun, Blessings, E

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  2. Edie, thanks for such an insightful piece. I too am strangely drawn to this show (I feel like I should preface that statement with: "Hello, my name is Spencer..."). I was never able to put my finger on why that was, but I think you hit the nail-on-the-head in point #1. They are passionate about finding something that may or may not exist. Perhaps what keeps me coming back is not so much the subject matter, but to see whether their faith wavers.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! Blessings, E

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  3. Thanks, Edie, for your wisdom. I always appreciate your blogs. Also had a wonderful, exhausting time at BRMCWC.

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    1. Marjorie, I'm so glad you had a good time at BRMCWC! Thanks so much for taking time to comment, Blessings, E

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  4. Great article, Edie! I used to watch Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, for the same reasons...

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    1. Jennifer, I did too! I'd forgotten how much I looked forward to that show. Thanks for the reminder and for stopping by, Blessings, E

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  5. Must admit, Edie, I'm scared of big hairy things that can stomp me out of existence, but I love your advice here. #9 really caught my attention: I will not give up on chasing my "Bigfoot."

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    1. Elaine, Bigfoot is definitely NOT something I ever want to run in to either! Blessings, E

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  6. Not a fan, but as a young Navy Brat camping in Washington, I always kept my eyes open. The closest I found was a VW Bus full of Deadheads (it was the 70s after all). Seth Grodin talks about this type of club membership in his book TRIBES. Each of us will start a tribe or become a member. It's in our nature. What's important for us is that 99% of the population will probably not read anything we write. But the 1% (or less) that does is who we're marketing to. Don't be concerned with the 99% who won't buy your book no matter how awesome (or offensive) your tweets are.

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    1. Ron, all good thoughts! Thanks so much for sharing, Blessings, E

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  7. Love that show! It's always something along the lines of "the fact that we can't find a Squatch is proof that they're here." So much fun!

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    1. Tom, I know, it's so ridiculous it's addicting! Blessings, E

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  8. LOL Edie! Something I didn't know about you! Truthfully, I didn't even know the show existed.

    Guess we can learn lessons from just about any source if were looking!

    My favorite is being real. That seems to draw people back to our blogs. Not being the expert or absolute best at something. It's more about growing with your blog and readers and sharing what yo learn along the way.

    Oh, what's that out my window?? ;)

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  9. Hello! Thanks for enjoying the show and writing about it!

    Keep it squatchy!
    Cliff
    www.cliffbarackman.com

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    1. Cliff, you have totally made my year by stopping by!, thank you and good hunting!

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  10. Nice blog and very true 😊 Love the show and the characters in it - they all bring something different to it ! Ranae trys to keep them grounded but even she has to question her thoughts with some of the evidence !

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    1. I love watching her struggle with the evidence! It's such a great dynamic on the show. Thanks so much for stopping by, Blessings, E

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