Best Practices in Social Media: Guy Kawasaki’s Essential Advice

Best Practices in Social Media: Guy Kawasaki’s Essential Advice

Social media is a dynamic landscape, and few people understand how to navigate it better than Guy Kawasaki. As a marketing guru and author, Guy has distilled the art of social media into practical, powerful habits. Here’s how you can apply his best practices to build a standout presence online, and it's reflective of Guy's counsel on social media to date.

1. Focus on Value, Not Volume

Before you hit “post,” ask yourself: Is this content useful, entertaining, or educational for my audience? If not, rethink it. Guy stresses that every post should be something your followers would be proud to share. Value always trumps noise.

2. Be Visual and Concise

Social media is a visual medium. Use eye-catching images, infographics, or short videos to make your posts pop. Keep your text brief-think punchy headlines and short, engaging sentences. People scroll quickly; grab their attention fast.

3. Give Credit, Build Community

When you share someone else’s content or idea, always tag and credit them. This not only shows respect but also helps you build genuine relationships in your industry. Social media is about connection, not just broadcasting.

4. Use Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags make your content discoverable. Use relevant, popular hashtags, but don’t overdo it. A few well-chosen tags are more effective than a wall of them. Think quality, not quantity.

Geographic hashtags have utilities for brick-and-mortar retail businesses. #ElkoNV #RenoNV

5. Post Consistently (and Repost Strategically)

Don’t be afraid to share your best content more than once. Different people are online at different times, and repetition increases your reach. Find a posting rhythm that works for you, and stick with it.

6. Engage-Don’t Just Announce

Social media is a two-way street. Respond to comments, ask questions, and join conversations. Engagement builds loyalty and trust, turning followers into fans.

7. Polish Your Profile

Your profile is your digital handshake. Use a professional photo, write a clear bio, and include links to your website or portfolio. Make sure your profile reflects your brand and personality.

8. Experiment and Stay Curious

Social platforms evolve quickly. Try new features, formats, and trends. Don’t be afraid to experiment-sometimes the best results come from trying something new.

9. Grow Organically

Avoid shortcuts like buying followers. Focus on building real relationships and delivering consistent value. Authenticity always wins in the long run.

10. Follow the 80/20 Rule

Talk about yourself or your brand only 20% of the time. Use the other 80% to share useful, interesting, or entertaining content. This keeps your feed fresh and your audience engaged.

To Recap:

Social media success isn’t about shouting the loudest—it’s about delivering value, engaging authentically, and building a community. Follow these Guy Kawasaki-inspired tips, and you’ll be well on your way to making a real impact online. To guide your strategy with clarity and purpose, consider applying the GREAT method—a framework for meaningful, consistent engagement.

Be GREAT on Social

Guy's approach to winning on social platforms follows five principles I call being GREAT:

G - Give value before asking for anything
Share useful information, solve problems, or entertain—don't just pitch. For every promotional post, share three that purely add value to your followers' day.

R - Repurpose relentlessly
One good idea should become 5-10 pieces of content. Turn your blog post into Instagram slides, a YouTube video, LinkedIn article, Twitter thread, and podcast episode. Work smarter, not harder.

E - Engage authentically
Social media isn't a broadcasting platform—it's a conversation. Respond to comments within an hour. Ask questions. Hold live sessions. People follow people who acknowledge them.

A - Amplify others
The fastest way to build your network is to highlight others' work. When you share someone's content, they notice. When you add your perspective to it, you both win.

T - Test constantly
What worked last year won't work next year. Run A/B tests weekly on headlines, posting times, content formats, and call-to-actions. Let data, not assumptions, guide you.

Platform-Specific Tactics That Actually Work

The best social strategy isn't platform-agnostic. Here's what's actually working right now:

LinkedIn:

• Native documents outperform external links by 3x

• Personal stories with business lessons generate 7x more engagement

• Comments on trending topics within 30 minutes of posting can drive massive visibility

Instagram:

• Carousel posts with 8-10 slides get 3x more saves than single images

• Using 3-5 relevant hashtags outperforms using 30 generic ones

• Vertical video still outperforms all other content types

Twitter/X:

• Threads of 5-7 tweets with one clear takeaway per tweet drive highest conversion

• Quote tweets with added value outperform retweets by 6x

• Tweeting 5+ times daily consistently outperforms tweeting 1-2 times

The Content Pyramid

I organize my content into a pyramid:

• Top (10%): Original research, unique insights, breaking news

• Middle (30%): Curated content with your perspective added

• Base (60%): Engagement with followers, responses, amplification of others

Metrics That Actually Matter

Stop obsessing over follower counts. Track these instead:

1. Engagement rate (especially saves and shares)

2. Click-through rate to your owned properties

3. Conversion rate from follower to email subscriber

4. Response rate to your comments and questions

The Real Secret: Remarkable Consistency

The difference between social media success and failure isn't talent or luck—it's persistence. I've posted daily for over a decade. The most successful creators I know have all done the same.

Social media platforms reward consistent contributors. Their algorithms favor accounts that reliably generate engagement. When you show up daily with valuable content, the platforms will amplify your reach.

Final Thoughts: Be Positive or Be Quiet

In a world full of cynics and critics, be the account that makes people feel better, not worse. Share solutions, not just problems. Amplify good news, not just crises. Offer hope, not just criticism.

The most valuable social media currency isn't followers or engagement—it's trust. And trust comes from consistently delivering value with a smile.