Blog: What We Learned From the 'Harlem Shake'

For those of you who don’t know (because you were living in a cave or severed all human contact), the Harlem Shake is a video that has gone “viral” on YouTube. Plenty of brands, colleges, and social media users have made their own version of this silly video. But what can social media business folks learn from the latest internet sensation?

 Timing Is Key

If you decide to post a Harlem Shake video later this week, you’ll be too late. It’ll be “soooo last week” and no one will want to watch it. Social media content follows the same rules. Still posting about the Super Bowl black out? Irrelevant. Stay in tune to all things related to your business, your brand, and your fans’ interest. Posting content at the right time, about the right topic can put your business on the map.

Be Spontaneous and Take Chances 

Always keep your followers intrigued and excited with new, interesting content. Make custom photos, infographics, or link out to a vine. I’m sure the guy who started the Harlem Shake videos didn’t expect it to become a hugeinternet success. Do something different; you never know what will come of it.

It Takes a Team

Social media cannot be properly handled by one person. It takes a team to build your strategy, monitor your community, and design your content. Imagine the Harlem Shake with just that one person dancing themselves the whole time? That would ruin it! That person would look ridiculous and would not be as interesting. Similarly, your social media team of experts would go unnoticed without a strongteam supporting it.

If you’re reading this, then in fact, you do know a team of Social Media Experts.