Can we jump on the ilink Bandwagon because we do not want to overlook the movement, or are we methodically looking at integrating the new avenue into our overall marketing plan?
I obtain excited when I hear about a new way to communicate with my consumer bottom. There is nothing more important than opening a dialogue with a client as they can provide the critical information that is required to move the company's product or service forward.
A customer is a very precious entity and much more companies need to appreciate that along with their product or service that their own customers' information is one of the most important resources that they have. A company may not haphazardly change a design or distribute a product for an unknown channel, nor would they randomly promote their particular service in unknown markets. Yet, companies are jumping within the Social Network Bandwagon to communicate with their customer, but many you don't have a plan of action, they are just excited to tell a person that they are now embracing Social Networking. Companies are spending money to be upon or a part of Social Networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube . com, MySpace, and Flickr to communicate with a customer that they have no idea, in a fashion that may not complement how their consumer communicates. Thus, they run the risk of being disingenuous as well as losing touch with a very valuable resource.
Social Networks could be a very powerful ally, but like all marketing channels, simply because it exists does not mean it is right for you.
So , if you are looking in order to jump onboard the Social Networking Bandwagon, what should you be searching for, how should you act, and what should you not do?
I have an extremely basic way to look at social networking that revolves around the word interpersonal, which I like to equate to interacting at a social event [party]. At a party if you want to be successful mingling with the some other guests you have to listen to what other people are saying, you may get to know more about the people you are talking with so you have more info to keep the conversation flowing, you communicate in a honest fashion, and lastly you do not want to dominate the conversation or else you may be talking to yourself by the end of the evening. In many sociable environments you typically run into the same people over and over again, if you were successful in prior interactions then you will be a individual they may seek out to talk with.
Another important point for the term social is that social networks are typically an informal gathering of people who might be interested in exchanging information or just socializing. This is the key element as to why social networks are successful for general consumer utilize, but have a hard time being accepted into the business environment. Folks access their social network of choice drawn in by a desire to take part in a special interest forum, to hear what someone at a distinctive event has to say or to view a video on a topic that they have an interest in. They are interested in actively or passively participating, but that is their choice and there is no buzz or alternative motive to being a part of that social networking. Thus, if you are a business, you are interjecting a business conversation possibly directly or indirectly into a social network, which can create a barrier for open up communications, and communications is the reason you want to participate in a social media.
So , if you jump on the Social Networking Bandwagon without a intend on how you want to use a specific social network, you may end up pushing your own message to the customer and not listening to what they are saying; you can't earn their trust. If you do not earn their trust then you definitely cannot take the next steps with regards to opening a discussion, which would preclude you from soliciting information about your product or service.