"King of the Hill" tells you how not to create a social media website

I was watching "King of the Hill," as I do every single night, and this episode came up about Strickland Propane and MySpace. It originally aired in November 2008. I know the show is comedy and none of it is supposed to be taken seriously, but I can't help wondering if some companies actually do make some of these mistakes (if not to the extreme).

1. Drunk videos.
No. Just no.

2. Goofing off at work videos.
It may seem like harmless fun, but if you don't stick with that job forever, people may not ever take you seriously. No posting on the website.

3. "No way to represent Strickland."
He's right. Goofing off and showing a laid back atmosphere are two different things. You can be laid back and professional, but you can't be goofing off and professional. Choose how you want to present yourself closely.

4. "...and I can't do creative things."
Goofing off and posting drunk videos are not creative.

5. "It was so much fun!"
It's great that it's fun, but as a customer looking at the site, you won't find it fun. You'll find it disorganized and worrisome to give business to.

6. "Nothing attracts customers more than fun!"
Those Luna commercials where the Luna Lady is telling us that the "other guy" is not the right choice is fun. How the "other guy" acts is fun. It also makes a point as to why Luna is the best choice. Make sure it's the right kind of fun.

7. "Nothing about the propane or propane accessories."
On a website, it's okay to give too much relevant information than not enough. If you need to take away some fun to make room for the relevant information, do it. You can always show your fun personality later on. You need to get the customer or interview first before they'll care about your fun.

8. "We need to add some new video to the site."
Current videos are a must. It's okay to add, then redo and change. Making it better and better is the key and shows that you strive for perfection and timeliness.

9. "So. Who wants to get kicked in the ding dong?"
Unless you're trying out for a spot in the "Jackass" club with Johnny Knoxville, I suggest not doing this. Just a suggestion.

In a way, Hank did have the right idea. He wasn't enthusiastic about the MySpace page (that part wasn't in the clip), but then realized the potential when it got over 40 friends that would regularly see the site. I guess just by watching the video, try to do the opposite of everything it says except #8; do new videos frequently.

Video courtesy of Hulu.