Paying it forward first came into our collective conscious back in 2000 with a movie starring Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. Since then, the idea of preemptive kindness has taken many forms. Most recently, we heard the story of an 11 hour pay it forward at a Florida Starbucks. Nearly 400 customers participated. Some shelled out way more than they normally would have if they stuck to their regular orders. Paying it forward is a powerful concept, one that can be used in the world of social media.
3 Ways to Pay it Forward with Social Media
1. Share
Is there a product or service you love? Don’t be shy about letting the world know how you feel. Getting the word out is great for all involved. The promoted business gets some much-needed attention and you get a chance to cultivate a relationship.
2. Start a Campaign
As we’ve seen from the ALS ice bucket challenge, social media can be a powerful fundraising tool. Pick a charity or cause and start your own campaign to raise awareness. You’ll want to include a call to action but make it easy. Who knows, you could start the next big thing! Even if you don’t, you’re still doing good work and that’s nothing to be upset about.
3. Comment
Finally, the last way to pay it forward is by leaving a word or two. The “like” button is the lazy way of acknowledging someone. Remember the feeling of getting actual mail that weren’t bills? Comments work the same way. Everyone loves to see they have a message, so add some joy to a person’s day by leaving them a positive comment.
Social media is an easy way to pay it forward. The investment costs little in both time and energy. What are you waiting for? Get out there and make someone’s day!
Photo Courtesy: marc falardeau via Flickr
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