Social Media
What's your Social Media Interaction objective
Ok, so you've decided to create a Twitter account for your business. You've created the profile, loaded the logo and the wallpaper looks fab... now what?
Charlene Li, co-author of Groundswell has identified the following five objectives of Social Media Interaction to keep in mind:
1. listen... to your customers
2. talk... have a real conversation with your customers
3. energize - get your most passionate fans to do the talking for you
4. support - solve problems or give advice/help
5. embrace - move past asking questions to actually implementing suggestions
Now that you know the five, your job is to pick one and learn to do it really well. For example, decide whether you want to talk on behalf of the business or energize the fans. Once you master one objective, take the learning and move on to another interaction objective. This approach keeps your business goals clear and linear, while making you appear knowledgeable and professional.
They're not Twits, they're Tweets.
And Twitter is more than just a time-waster for bored staff members to say how bored they are in 140 words. Twitter is a Social Media phenomenon that can help build your business and brand. Here are just three key ways you can use Twitter to create more awareness:
1. Relationship Management - Stay on top of what is being said about your business/product. Remember, this is a consumer to consumer arena and what friends or fellow tweeters have to say about you is more influential than ever. Get in there and monitor the conversation to ensure it's positive. If it isn't, Twitter provides you quick, easy access to fix the problem.
2. Promotional/Marketing Communication Opportunities - pre-announce new products, promote events, link to your blog, get feedback, announce deals and keep on top of your product conversations. Talk about a prime branding opportunity.
3. Build Business Networks - Twitter is about building relationships. You'll be surprised at how accessible the front runners in your industry are on Twitter. You can follow them and anyone else you think is interesting at the push of a button. This approach is ten times better than a cold call, and a thousand times better than traditional selling. Jut follow the conversations for a bit, then introduce yourself.
Keep in mind that Twitter is a long-term relationship builder. Offer advice, provide links to important information and keep it real. Remember, you're not likely to get a direct client from Twitter. You're more apt to get referrals from people who trust you and find your tweets valuable.
The thing about Twitter is that conversations about you and your brand are going on with or without you. Here's a prime opportunity for you to engage with a SM site that has grown exponentially, and appears to be continuing it's skyward climb at a staggering rate. It doesn't cost anything except your time. If you're simply too busy to do this yourself, hire someone to manage your Social Media Marketing. These new marketing professional are out there and know the ins and outs of tying great campaigns together.
I'm available for consultation so give me a call.
FTC sponsored conversation updates affect you if using paid blogging as part of your marketing mix.The Federal Trade Commission’s recent proposed updates to the “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” will be voted on this summer. It's a good idea to get to know the nuances of utilizing online tactics like paid blog posts as outlined by the FTC. http://blogs.forrester.com/.