Behind every Facebook page and Twitter post is a REAL LIVE PERSON! Can you believe that?
Social media sites signify a major modification in web marketing. They undergo a metamorphosis from a content-oriented web into a person-oriented web. It's a casual, informal, nonchalant marketing tunnel where you can promote your brand and mission while leaving your too tight of a tie and too high pair of heels at the door.
Social Media Is: a conversation between friends; exchanging information, learning about one another and most importantly receiving opinions.
What do you want? What do you need? What are your ideas? How do we make you happy? What can we do to fix your problems?
These are all questions a company wants to be asking themselves when creating content for their social media platforms. When a sincere tone of voice is recognized, the content is given genuine value; the company becomes approachable and then seen as sociable. This improves the flow of the conversation and raises the amount of interaction with their social media following. Now, you're an easy-to-talk-to company. That IS the GOAL! We cannot stress this enough. BUT... this can also become a common social media problem.
Many companies use a social media strategy that does not fit their brand. These companies simply follow tactics with no idea of the whom, the what and the when on the receiving side. DON'T BE A DEAF COMPANY. A company needs to listen through social media monitoring, understanding who their target audience is, how their brand is being represented, and aware of what their leading competitors are doing on social media. If not, missed opportunities will occur in important areas such as sales, marketing and customer service.
Companies have a problem taking off the blazer, kicking up the feet and turning into Joe Shmo. Why? Afraid. Ignorant. Uneducated. Bigoted. The lack of effort companies put into learning social media is the main reason why that company fails. Companies must be willing to try different ideas. With a nose turned down to experimentation, companies leave little room to learn what is effective for them.
"I did it! I made a blog, now where is everyone?" A mistake many companies have when they create a blog is being inconsistent creating content and lax in areas of extending their reach within the World Wide Web community. A neglected blog will grow cobwebs and be dusted away left lost floating in Internet space. A blog that is updated every couple days, is being promoted on blog forums and is connected with Twitter and Facebook will become your shiny new trophy. This blog will grow your social media following, this blog will engage your community, this blog will create conversation, and this blog will get the word out that your company exists.
