Why Businesses Should Create a Partnership with Social Media
You are not alone if you are confused by the overwhelming social media take over. Many businesses feel like they are being held hostage by the variety of networks that are integrated into their news, spoken word and old-fashioned inbox. It being 2010, it is time to jump aboard the Social Media train and collaborate with the communication revolution.
Social media has become an important key player in the way we live our lives. For most, it is about Tweeting in the morning instead of reading the comic section in the newspaper, or about updating their Facebook status to ask their friends what they should even have to eat. It is a constant stream of input, crowd sourcing and connectivity that is unlike anything before its time.
People have demanded a faster way to meet others and to have a homeroom that incorporates people they knew or know as well. It is about sharing moments that would have been left unsaid, about being a fly on the wall from reading other peoples walls, literally.
Social Media is a town hall meeting that never ends. People get to voice their thoughts and receive instant feedback. They also get to find other like-minded people and have the influence to begin trending topics and form pages dedicated to animals, businesses, and people. It gives a comfort that there are more people out there like them and so people attach themselves to a particular social network they feel as though they fit in the most.
This is why it has become a necessity to begin a partnership between your business and Social Media. First and foremost, it is where the people are. Secondly, it is where your competition is and thirdly, it is where you’re company’s future lies.
Whether you decide that now is the time to get on board with social media or not, you must realize that in order for your business to remain successful, there will be a time in which you will have to decide. Television and Radio are not going to disappear; however, they have become secondary to the power of social networks. Why is that? It is due to the ability to share with others instead of shoving something in someone’s sight. Advertisements are still valid and don’t see a forth coming end in sight, although their effectiveness may have dimmed. People have made it clear that they want a dialogue and to have questions or inquiries answered in a reasonable amount of time.
With that said, there still lies confusion on how to use social media for business and even harder to take the sell out of the salesman. Even if you begin to use social media for your business, keep in mind, there is a right and wrong way of using it to your advantage. As difficult as it may seem at first glance, it really comes down to two things, using common sense and displaying credibility.
Making Sense of Social Media
The best way to communicate with potential buyers is to first ask yourself how you would like to be spoken to. After evaluating the answer, I am sure your conclusion does not resolve into long links of inventory…right? Instead, I am sure you would rather be acknowledged as a human being, perhaps wished upon you a good day, a knowledgeable article about the products of the company you have interest in or even an incentive to entice you to not only become a fan but to want to share with your friends the great business you have joined. It truly is that simple. It is about switching off the sales pitch and turning on a smile. Customer service has always led to customer satisfaction and this is where your social media success will begin.
Social media is not about setting up links and wishing for the best, or getting to it when you can; it is about integrating this medium into your business as a partnership, until then it won’t make sense. You need to come up with a Social media plan that incorporates your employee’s time, social abilities and then unleash them onto your social networks. You need to keep current and relevant information at the finger tips of your acquired fans and earn their respect by sharing the people within the business. The fans will readily have your contact information within the page so they don’t need a constant stream of what there is to be purchased, unless you come up with a clever or creative way to share it.
Your business’s social networks need to be implemented into your business meetings and daily routine in order to keep on top of them and not letting them go to the waste side. As time consuming as it may sound it is crucial to building an online community that will have the possibilities of turning into leads.
What the heck is Socialbility?
It may surprise you to know that by being social, and dividing up fun facts, informative articles, community events and employee activities will be what earns your business’s credibility. People like businesses that show a good mood within their text and by keeping their page actively enjoyable more so than sharing what is on sale or what new product they have. Yes, those are important too, but not if that is all you have to offer. Be social and credibility will evolve, hence socialbility. Don’t hide behind your business, in social media; it is like hiding behind a window, your fans will see right through you.
Your presentation is of importance as well so be creative with what you are allocated and to use URL Shortner’s to keep your site looking clean and fresh. If you stick to the two words in Social Media by being friendly and sharing content that is in a variety of formats, you will make sense to your fans and earn sociability in no time.
Erin Ryan has a passion for Social Media and is currently working within the industry as a Social Media Specialist. Contact Erin on Twitter @4u2wear2
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Found this post to be very enlightening. Simple yet groundbreaking for someone like myself who is just starting out in the professional social media circus! I like you reiterate to Listen.
Your process of incorporating a plan was very helpful as well. When you got started who were the influences you followed? I’m having to instruct non profits how to be more social without doing ALL the work for them. It’s proving to be a challenge. What do you have to say to that…in keeping from having to do all the social media work for someone else’s co.?
Hi Jason! I am grateful that you enjoyed the article and thank you for your comment as well. To answer your questions…the people I felt or are influenced by are; JD Rucker, Jason Urgo, Patrick Parise, Louie Baur, Tim Fox, Joel Mackey and countless others. They have all expressed innovative thinking and helped me keep thinking outside of the box.
In regards to your second question, when it comes to Social Media for business, including for non-profit, it must be the organization and/or companies to be responsible to maintain their social sites. It is not wise to have social networks that are not represented by those it states to, people want sincerity and that is something that cannot be faked. So, my suggestion would be to guide them, collaborate clever ideas for their social sites, but ultimately to have a true relationship that is not built upon false pretenses, is to take the time to connect with the fans, followers or friends that have enlisted to the site or page to become a part of a community and to build relationships. It is worth the time and effort. I hope this helps.
What a brilliant article! It’s the perfect support material when it comes to explaining social media to my clients.
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome article Erin. The smart businesses will adapt and learn to treat their customers as people and friends first rather than leads. Its ridiculous how many great personal relationships I have made within social media and I don’t even care if I ever sell them a thing.
Tim F.
Hey Bebop Designer and Sogeshirts
Thank you both for your comments. @Bebop I am glad that you will be able to utilize this article to help better explain Social Media for business to your clients. To @Sogeshirts, I hope this happens to, that people within business remember the people first. Again thank you and keep an eye out for more of my articles to come
I really enjoyed the article. It is not necessarily new information, but it is a fresh perspective on topic of social media.
Erin,
I have come across your blog recently and have read up most of the articles in the last 2 days. am interning for an online marketing firm and it seemed to me that all everything would talk about is Social Media, and all i could feel was lost.
Your articles have been a really precise and clear insight into what this hoopla around social marketing is all about and how one should use it…..one of ur best lines which is now a FB status for me has been “…… Social networking is to relate and communicate, not to advertise like a pest, and than hope for the best”.
Keep your articles flowing. Am sure you have enlightened many people on the way.
Cheers.
Nayan, IMI, India
Hi Search Engine Optimisation Consultant
Thank you for your comment! I agree it is not “new” information for some, but for others it may be. I am glad you saw it as a new perspective and hope that others will too.
Hi Nayan
I am truly honored that you have found great insight in this and other articles that I have written regarding Social Media. I can understand feeling lost within this new and fast-paced Industry and it is such a pleasure knowing that I have been able to help guide you in some direction to understanding this growing medium.
Thank you for adding my quote as your Facebook status and for spreading the word. I appreciate your feedback and look forward to more. Please feel free to add me to your Social Networks