Being “Social”
Blogs, webinars, podcasts, social websites, RSS feeds – the list continues! New media is all around us. The question most of us are asking is, “What media should I be using to communicate with my customers and potential prospects?” The key in answering this question is in first asking, “What media are my customers using and how are they communicating within their circles?”
I recently read an article called “Demystifying Social Computing” found in the February issue of Target Marketing Magazine. The article explores the topic of new social media with regards to marketing. I agreed with many of the author’s recommendations and thought I’d add a bit of advice to help you through the “Social Media” frenzy.
Survey The Landscape
Determine where your audience is spending time online. It’s important to understand your customers preferred method of communication. Don’t guess about their preference — ask them. You can gather information through online surveys, feedback forms, polls via email or have your call center representatives simply ask customers how they would prefer to communicate with you.
Customer Reviews
It’s important to ask your customers, from the business professional to the enterprise COO, to review and rate your products and services. Understand that both positive and negative feedback is valuable information in making improvements to current product offerings and in determining potential new products to offer.
Blogs
If you’re interested in beginning dialogue through a blog, sit down and outline a blog strategy. What topics are most valuable to your customers? Do they want updates about your products and services? Do they need industry statistics or industry tips? Most importantly, the key to blogging success is consistency. Be sure that once you launch a blog, you are committed to providing that information on a daily, weekly, or on a specifically timed frequency that you had originally outlined in your strategy.
There is so much more information that can be shared. Use industry publications, books, go online and research these topics –- most importantly, listen to your customers, watch their habits, develop a strategy and stick to it!
Best,
Steve
