Using social media for marketing is a tough balance. First you need to understand what is important to your audience. We all know that content is king. However, if your content tends to change subjects often or try to sell, you will only drive people away. The secret of using social media successfully is to concentrate on reaching the right audience with relevant communication. To engage your customers with one on one conversations.
Listening to your audience online
While your content does the talking, you should be listening as well. On most social media sites, readers have the option of posting comments. This is where you need to be listening. Many buyers will provide feedback of your product or service through these comments, thereby, making you more customer-conscious. Having a participatory approach will help you build a better image. Moreover, this will help you transform your organization, in order to meet customers’ needs.
Listening to your industry and competitors
Social media lets you closely monitor your industry and competitors. This is the best way for them to remain updated and obtain valuable feedback as well. Listen in on positive as well as negative comments about your competitors’ brands. Keeping track of these conversations gives you a valuable edge and lets you compare your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Answering your audience
This is your opportunity to have meaningful interactions with your customers. Respond to them, engage them, thank them and, perhaps most important, let them know you are listening.
How are you listening to your audience? Let us know by leaving comments below.
Business networking site LinkedIn has a slogan, “Relationships Matter”. Those two words sum up our lives, whether we’re referring to relationships with our friends or family, or in the case of LinkedIn, relationships with CEO’s and business professionals. Relationships are all about connections, and very few know about connections on LinkedIn better than Steven Burda.