Catfishing
As bad as that is, there’s actually another online scam that could affect you without ever having contact with a catfisher: social media identity theft. The tales are many when it comes to this scam.
One true example is a popular stylist who shared way too much about her life online. She discovered (just in the nick of time) that a catfisher had opened social media accounts with nearly identical page names, her profile picture and fictitious dialogues that copied her writing style to a T.
The catfisher even actively chatted with her online friends! Right before she realized her online identity had been stolen, the catfisher had started posting snarky comments and sharing salacious stories that were clearly intended to damage her reputation.
Personal vendetta? Maybe. Too much time on his hands? Probably. Has a mean-streak a mile wide? Absolutely.
The moral of the story is to always be alert. If users mention “your other page” or tell you that they love your latest post and you have no idea what they’re talking about, never assume that they’re innocent mistakes.
If you find that you’ve been catfished, report it to the social media company’s fraud department without delay. If the offending account isn’t taken down in short order, be persistent until it disappears for good.
Walk, Trot or Run
How fast do you want to build your social media accounts?
Increasing your social media presence is a personal endeavor that has to resonate with your personality and attachment to all things virtual.
● Walk: You want to build a salon community page that focuses on your business, staff and clients. Instead of being focused on the number of followers you have, your main concern is delivering news and highlights about your business’ activities. You post once or twice a week and are content with slowly growing your page.
● Trot: You want your page to grow as fast as possible, but it isn’t your first priority. Your ultimate goal is to expand the reputation of your salon beyond your immediate area, but not at the expense of your brick-and-motor business. You also love receiving online features, but not to the point that they’re an obsession.
● Run: You’re bewitched by social media. Your goal is to become an online sensation, attract as many clients as you possibly can to your salon and share your work with a huge audience. You know your number of followers at any given moment, because you’re constantly checking your posts and other artists’ pages who thrill your creative soul. You post at least once a day and check your pages a dozen times a day.
How fast you grow your pages really boils down to not only what you need in order reach your online goals, but also what you want to accomplish on social media. Whether you choose to do this by walking, trotting or running is perfectly fine—as long as your efforts yield the desired results.