Okay Geek Farm
t3chh3lp Interview - Social Media Superhero, MissDestructo
Ricardo Trejo
You may have heard of her, you may have not, but one thing that you are aware of is social media. And as a self dubbed Social Media Superhero, Miss Destructo makes the rounds finding businesses to aide them enter the new digitally interwoven world.
Whether you use them or not there's no denying the power of social networks, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter - they've all changed the way we communicate, but more importantly they've changed the way companies advertise to their audience. Here's where our interviewee, Miss Destructo, comes into the picture. With thousands of people following her on Twitter she's become a bit of an official unofficial guru to this new trend in advertising. Whether it's her snazzy style and blue hair, or her love for Bruce's Yams, she's got our attention and we'd like to ask her a few questions.
I got a chance to have a short interview with her, to ask her what she thinks people should know about social media and about herself.
Interview after the break...
Miss Destructo - how exactly did you come up with that name?
I break things. Men's hearts mostly. *laughs* No really, I am six feet tall and quite clumsy. Nowadays, I mostly just destroy people's social media boredom. Keeping things interesting on twitter, I don't think many people forget my hour long MST3k style tweets of the movie Highlander or the constant chatter about Bruce's Yams.
You describe yourself as a "Social Media Superhero" - what exactly does that mean?
Being a social media superhero is being unselfish, going the extra mile to help other people using social media and to be an inspiration to others.
As this persona, how did you accumulate such a following on Twitter?
It's taken about a year of networking in real life and through twitter. Give help, put out unique content, be humorous and positive. Once you build a solid base of friends or fans, word of mouth does the rest.
What do you think people, and businesses especially, should know about social media? Things like Facebook and Twitter in particular?
Stop trying to measure success on followers, and try to get people who will be loyal fans of what you are doing. Quality is much more beneficial than quantity in social media. You can be successful with 100 loyal followers (that have a large following themselves) conversing and retweeting you as much as you can do with 10,000 random people that hardly talk with you or your company.
How can you personally help people spread their message or product using the wonders of social media?
First I teach them on how to promote themselves first using social media, you have to first be a "Trust Agent" a'la Chris Brogan's book Trust Agents. I have a rule "don't be a pitch", you have to gain the trust of your audience before you start promoting services or a product. To get support, give support. Any person or product I support has helped me in the past. If a company approaches me, I always do my research to see what they are lacking in their social media marketing that made them come to me. Sometimes, I will reply to them "I've got a great idea for your social media campaign to help get your message out" and then they go "Oh really? We're listening..." I help them out and sometimes I gain a new client from this... Social media is social and needs to be a two way relationship. Not a one sided relationship, never use people.
If people are interested in your services how can people reach you?
I am currently seeking new clients seeking innovative social media strategy help and advertisers for my website! Also if you want my blue head to yammer on about social media topics at your event, I would love to speak! Email me at missdestructo@gmail.com
And finally, how tasty are Bruce's Yams?
*puts can down* They are yamtastic!
MissDestructo can be followed on Twitter - @missdestructo - where you can view some of her work, connections, and antics on an hourly basis - she updates a lot! But that's a good thing.
