All right, here's the no-brainer statement of the day; businesses and brands, particularly small businesses, tend to focus their efforts on social media by building and cultivating their own communities.
For whatever reason, they don't acknowledge, recognize, or think about the fact that there are highly relevant conversations happening about their brand, category, and consumers in other places around the social web - blogs, forums, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and on. Further to this, they don't think to inject themselves in these conversations.
The people who are engaging in these communities are exactly the type of people that businesses should want engaging in their communities. These are their customers, clients, and business prospects.
There is great opportunity in getting involved in these conversations, and the best part is that it isn't difficult.
Here's an easy way to get involved - COMMENT.
Chances are that you spend a fair bit of time absorbing content that is relevant to your business or brand, and leaving insightful or interesting comments can actually work toward your social media and business objectives. Leaving high-quality comments can demonstrate your expert knowledge, earn you increased exposure, and encourage reciprocation of contributions in your community.
Demonstrate your expert knowledge
Find content that sets you up to build on the points being made, contribute your own perspective, provide additional support, or otherwise add value. Highly interested community members are more likely than others to read comments and discover the value in the knowledge you are imparting, which means you'll be engaging the exact people you should be hoping to engage.
Increase exposure amongst your target demographic
By leaving high-value comments, you'll become known for your contributions and be looked upon as a source of relevant knowledge and expertise. With your reputation on the rise, people will seek out the source of the information you are leaving in comments, which will ultimately work toward converting these individuals to becoming followers, fans and advocates of your brand on social media.
Encourage the reciprocation of comments in your own communities
If you give a little, you can expect to receive a little in return. Sustained engagement by way of comments will earn you the attention of the people who manage those communities and can result in reciprocated commenting on your content. In the end, you'll be helping each other with your contributions. It's win-win all around.
Adding commenting to the list of tactics you employ to support your social media strategy can be incredibly beneficial to expand the scope of your influence on social media. You'll be able to reach a broader audience that is also highly relevant, add value in new ways, and potentially begin to establish strategic partnerships with the managers of the communities you target with your comments.
What role does commenting play in your social media strategy?
What benefits have you experienced by commenting in other communities?
It would be great to hear your thoughts and discuss this further in the comments.