Being social online is what it’s all about with social media. Announcing something interesting, showing off something new, we use various social media channels every day of our lives to share all sorts of information and content with our family and friends. We announce engagements, births, events, and even deaths in our family. We post photos of our holidays and even of our newest pet.
When we share all this information online, it strikes an interest with our family and friends because they know and trust us. They are interested in what we have to say and they will click the photo or status update to see more. As a business, if you were to post information and a photo of your latest product, it is not going to have the same effect. Something is missing. It lacks personality and trust. For many online, it will be seen as just another unattractive advertisement.
Businesses should always try to engage with others and bring out their personality if they want to be successful in the Web 2.0 arena. Social media communities will not welcome blatant advertising and spam. People are not joining these communities to be spammed with sales messages. Social media marketing = not to be spammed.
People use various social media channels to explore their own world and interests, not your company’s latest product brochure. Become part of the user’s world that you are trying to reach as a business. It is really pointless if you are trying to bring them into yours.
Engaging with your audience
Social media = engage in conversation, engage in relationships, engage in sharing. This type of approach will build confidence in you and your business. Starting interesting discussions is one of the easiest steps you can take to engage with the audience you are trying to reach, and this can lead to sales.
Start a discussion that is not directly related to your business, but always be sure that you have plenty to say and offer on the subject you have chosen. The better the discussion, the longer it will go on, and longer conversations are better for business decisions. Publishing conversation starter topics on various social media channels is a great way to begin and to start engaging with users.
So true. I’ve said many times you must treat people online as you do in life if you expect to build quality relationships.
Indeed @maddencorner:disqus
Social media marketing is another form of relationship marketing
I agree Anton. The best ways I have seen businesses use social media is linking out to other people´s content that is useful and interesting to their potential customers, interacting and just being helpful. Unfortunately, you see so many companies just broadcasting on facebook and twitter, and you can see there is no interaction (no retweets/likes/@ mentions)
Indeed. Social media is not a one way broadcasting channel, even though many people are still using it to only broadcast their own content that usually consists of sales messages.
I agree as well. I find that to many times I get people joining one of my facebook business groups and all they do spam. Selling e-mails is the one I see the most. I think some people just don’t realize that putting in the time to add value to a group will in the long pay off. Short cuts only get you cut!