Nate Riggs: Social Business Strategies; communication, social web strategies, & passion in Columbus, Ohio.

Have you ever seen an entertainer spin plates?  It’s pretty impressive stuff, huh.  The performer uses centrifugal force (yep, I actually just linked to that definition) to keep multiple plates spinning all at one time.  And the audience roars.  WooHoo!

What does this act take to get the audience excited?  For one, the spinner must have fairly decent balance and coordination.  But more importantly, the spinner realizes that keeping those plates in the air will require continuous attention, and a little bit of regular tweaking.

Without the regular tweaking to make sure the plates are maintaining the proper speed, they begin to slow down, which in turn decreases the amount of centrifugal force being applied.  If just one plate slows too much, it may start to wobble and come crashing to the floor.  A single crashing plate can start a chain reaction that brings the rest of them down, shattering a perfectly good set of dinner ware and along with it, the spinner’s pride and chance at getting the next stage appearance.

You Are a New Media Plate Spinner
Your profiles, blog, website and other new media, are much like the plates you see in this picture.  Along with other things like SMS, Email and Search Engines, they make up your Total Internet Presence.  As the spinner, it’s up to you (and possibly your company) to keep a set of plates in the air.  This, like above, will require some time and attention on your part.

Here are three simple ideas you can apply to keeping your own new media plates in the air, and your audiences cheering you on:

1. Just like the plates, if the new media properties you’ve chosen start to slow down, your audience will loose interest, get up, and go the the next show.  Fresh content is king in new media communications. Make sure to keep adding speed with consistent tweaking and updating to each one of your web properties.
2. Choose your web properties wisely.  Our friend in the picture can manage six plates and and still make herself look good.  Remember, you don’t need to be on every single social network out there – only the ones your audience really cares about.  Trying to spin too many plates at one time will result in the entire set crashing to the floor, and ultimately your embarrassment.
3. Wear your costume.  Everyone likes when someone or something looks good.  For the purpose of this post, we’ll make costume synonymous with your personal social brand or the meat behind your content.  Even before you start the first plate in motion, remember that at some point in the performance, the audience’s eyes will be focused on you and not just the plates your spinning.  Make sure that they see someone just as impressive as the feat that is being performed.

So what plates are you spinning?  Is your audience on their feet with thunderous applause?