Do you know those who feel they are giving it all but not being reciprocated with comments and shares of their material, asking,”what’s in it for me?” Of course there will be frustration, but what better way to define that frustration than looking closely at relationship types. Let’s get personal!

Social media can often behave like a one-sided relationship, a bad relationship, or be the relationship of your dreams with someone who is totally “into” you and hangs on your every word and desire. If you find the latter, please do share your secrets!

Social Media’s One-Sided Relationship

In a one-sided relationship there are several factors which upset the dynamic of give and take. One side tends to be excessively giving, looking to constantly please, giving beyond what’s expected or wanted. The other side is the recipient who continuously takes for their own self-gratification, rarely going out of their way to give back because they are satisfied with all that they are.

In social media networks it’s easy to see the push and pull of those trying to be noticed. They tend to post in inappropriate places, or make unfitting comments, with the hope it will boost their content or credibility. However, it doesn’t work when the push is too hard or excessive. The givers give and the takers take, but the relationship goes nowhere.

The balance is reached when the “giver” learns to ask for and receive what they need from others, without a sense of obligation or reciprocation. The “taker” must learn to experience the act and joy of giving to others.

In social media relationships the scales are often precariously balanced between pushing too hard and confidently awaiting responses. If the scales tip too far one way or the other, the desired result isn’t met.

Social Media’s Bad Relationship

The adjectives to describe a bad relationship would include neediness, manipulation, argumentative, intimidation, blaming, and many more.

When seen in the context of social media they all contribute to the negative responses and drama often seen played out on networks. When respect for others is lost in social media we see the bottom fall out with unhealthy responses.

Turning negative responses into positive reactions takes skill, and turning a bad relationship into a healthy one takes time and effort. It’s imperative to continuously monitor your social media reputation and if there’s something negative to overcome or respond to, it must be done with a positive approach.

A bad relationship can swiftly ruin all that you’ve worked so hard to achieve. It’s worth every effort to be a proactive member in your social media relationships as well as your personal ones.

Social Media Relationship of Your Dreams

As stated above, if you have the secret to the perfect relationship, please share!

In the same manner as healthy personal relationships, associations made on social media need to follow the same guidelines. By creating trust, respect, accountability and fairness in what and where you post adds to the process of building lasting and rewarding connections.

Using your participation in social media for an end result, or only to be reciprocated, isn’t always the best reason for an engagement. The expectations of an end result leave less room in the process for developing genuine and sincere social relationships. Let the process unfold naturally with no expectations and all else will fall into place.

So, what’s in it for me, me, ME!?

What do you want?

Be honest about your needs and goals, learn how the process of relationship building works successfully, on a personal level and in social media, and put it into practice.

Routinely take a step back and objectively look at where you’ve been and where you are now. Look at the connections you’ve made over the past year, the increase in traffic to your site, the feedback you’ve received, and how your work has positively impacted those you’ve come in contact with. Your return on investment, ROI, isn’t always measured by numbers, but shows up when you see how much closer you are to your goal.

If what you are doing isn’t satisfying to you, or if you don’t feel you are receiving as much as you’re giving, it’s time to re-evaluate your strategies and make some practical modifications to your overall plan.

Social Media: What’s in it for ME! Me? me…