“Keep it simple, stupid!”

I always assumed the phrase was coined by my politically incorrect math teacher in high school, but it can actually be traced back to the U.S. Navy in the 1960’s – and I can’t blame them. Just as Apple products are favored for their ease-of-use designs, it’s easy to see why simplified weaponry is preferred over the complex. Today, the phrase is more commonly known by its acronym, KISS. And as a social media manager, those four words (or letters) resonate with me more than anything else.

Let’s be honest. Nobody creates a social media profile to be a consumer. Twitter and Facebook are not Amazon, after all. And as Francois Gossieaux puts it, “social media allows us to behave in ways that we are hardwired for in the first place – as humans. We can get frank recommendations from other humans instead of from faceless companies.”

The above shows a quintessential sales-oriented Facebook feed, precisely what Gossieaux was likely referring to when speaking about “faceless companies.” And who would want to be the face of Fry’s Electronics when all they do is carpet bomb Facebook feeds with sales? Perhaps it’s why they use a fictional caricature as their mascot? Now, there’s nothing wrong with using social media to sell products – that’s precisely why companies have an online presence in the first place! But engaging hearts and minds, not just wallets, is integral to our efforts in social media marketing. And that’s precisely where KISS comes into play.

Sometimes, a post with viral potential might be right in front of your eyes. For Starbucks, all it took was a picture of their new store in Texas:

Notice how the language never instigates any form of monetary transaction? Instead, it’s all about vibrancy, and culture. Sometimes it’s just that simple.

And don’t think that simplicity is exclusive to content generation. Keep it simple and conversational when reaching out, too:

I genuinely believe that ROI potential in social media is stronger when it’s cultured, curated and conversational, not invasive. So remember to keep it simple, stupid!

Sources: Entrepreneur, Noshtopia Pheonix