Social media is an exciting component of marketing. I would also say it is a new concept, but quite frankly, it is not. Conversations, the epitome of social media, have been around since we were all living in caves. What has changed, however, is the avenue that these conversations are taking place in.
Consumers are increasingly turning to friends, even strangers, to gain insight into what they should purchase and why. So why should brands start including themselves in these conversations? To learn, discover, and contribute to what is being said about them.
I have put together a basic guideline for brands who want to become a part of the conversation, but not sure how to go about it:
- Listen. As the saying goes, ‘you have two ears and one mouth…..’. By just listening to what is being said, you can gain great insight into the perception of your business.
- Contribute. Add to the conversation by responding to others, not by shouting advertising or repetitive messages at them. Join in. Offer solutions. Build relationships.
- Honesty. You won’t get far in this world without being honest in every message. Social media is built on trust and truth.
- Consistency. Don’t just pop in to a conversation every few months (or even weeks!). You must be consistent otherwise you are not taking this seriously enough.
- Approachability. It is important to be open and approachable, especially when there is negativity towards your brand. This tip also follows in to point number six….
- Be human. Be a ‘face’ behind the brand. Make sure you are not robotic in your messages. Play nice, be respectful and treat people like you’d want to be treated.
3 Comments
November 17, 2008 at 8:47 am
Great advice, I wish more business people would listen to this specially the ‘Contribute’ point.
November 19, 2008 at 7:36 am
[...] at Classy Marketing has just released her Six Tips to Succeed in Social Media — I won’t ruin the surprise, but to [...]
November 22, 2008 at 2:16 pm
A nice set of guidelines, I think you’ve covered it all.