Another column for Turn The Page. If you’re dying to
read the other two they’re here. But it doesn’t affect the plot to just read
this one.
As you examine
your social media goals for 2013 you may feel like you’re making a plan and
then watching it unfold. But the reality is that social media isn’t something
you can just send out and then go back to work. It demands attention. And the
kind of attention it wants is personal attention. Sort of like me.
So keep these
things in mind when you “put it out there” as my grandma would say:
-When a post goes
up and a comment is made answer it. Nobody wants to shout into the darkness.
You’ll be amazed how much insight you’ll get with interaction.
-If a negative comment comes
up don’t delete or even worse, ignore it. Answer it, address the problem and
promise to do better.
-When a Tweet gets
reTweeted say thanks, note who sent it and follow them. ReTweet other
interesting content as well as your own.
-Thank your
customers from time to time. A public thank you will draw new customers. And
it’s simply good manners.
-Be funny-everyone
likes a good laugh and humorous content is more likely to be shared. A man sits
at bar and the bartender says, “Try the peanuts, they’re complimentary.” So he
looks into the bowl and a peanut says, “You look very nice today.” Get it? Now
share this blog.
-Be broad. It’s
not just about you and your business. So go beyond how great your pies or
widgets or blankets with sleeves are.
-Be helpful. Offer
useful information. Are you a landscaper? Offer advice on how we all need to be
watering our yard this winter to save our trees.
-Generate new content continuously.
This means posting regularly. It also means adding a new blog post every
week at the minimum. Blogs don’t have to be long but watch your typos, grammar
and don’t steal other people’s content.
Social media
efforts require interaction, just like customers do. Your goal is to make more
customers so creating a dialogue, attracting visitors and then making them
happy is the circle of life of social media. So pay attention and hakuna matata
or something.
