Getting #Personal: How Engaging Social Media Visitors in Conversation Can Boost Engagement

A good place to keep your clients, customers, and employees engaged is online. Interaction is key, and a critical element of keeping people engaged and interested. You can do this on social networks, blogs, emails, and websites.

Here’s an example that comes from an intern of mine, who reached out and tweeted to a company that makes an interesting Mac app. Continue reading “Getting #Personal: How Engaging Social Media Visitors in Conversation Can Boost Engagement”

Are You Talking to Yourself on Social Media?

As I work with clients, or evaluate social media sites as part of the research I do on the topic, I frequently find that many sites–even those owned and managed by some top organizations–are more engaged in conversations with themselves than with interested followers or fans. They’re not sharing information that is of interest or value to their audience–they’re talking about themselves! That’s a strategy destined to fail. Why? Continue reading “Are You Talking to Yourself on Social Media?”

Are Your Social Media Efforts Addressing the Right Questions?

I work regularly with businesses, and independent consultants, on their marketing communication strategies, including social media strategies. The first two key points I address with my clients (whether for traditional or online media) are: Continue reading “Are Your Social Media Efforts Addressing the Right Questions?”

Social Media Mistakes that Businesses Make

I was recently interviewed by a journalist for a piece for a business trade publication on the common mistakes made by businesses when using social media. It’s a great topic and one that could easily be expanded to the broad range of communication tools in general because the same types of mistakes occur in old as in new media.

Focusing specifically on new media– in this case social media– though, I shared with the reporter some of the common missteps I see Continue reading “Social Media Mistakes that Businesses Make”

Connecting With Your Audiences Through Social Media

As hard as it may be to believe, not everybody is engaged in social media these days. And, even those who have profiles established on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter may not be active participants and, importantly, may not be seeing your communications, regardless of how frequently you post or how brilliant your insights are.

In my work as a marketing communication consultant I work with clients regularly to assess and improve their communications, including online communications. The first area of discussion Continue reading “Connecting With Your Audiences Through Social Media”

“If a tweet enters the Twittersphere and nobody’s there, does it make a sound?”

Recently released research from Pew should send a wake-up call to all marketers who have been–or may find themselves becoming–overly enamored of the “power” of social media.

Don’t get me wrong. I think social media has its place among any marketer’s arsenal of *potential* communication tools. But, I also think that too many marketers are far too eager to jump on the social media bandwagon without appropriate consideration to whether or not a significant percentage of their audience is out there. “If a tweet enters the Twittersphere and nobody’s there, does it make a sound?” Sadly, no. Continue reading ““If a tweet enters the Twittersphere and nobody’s there, does it make a sound?””

Do You Really Need a Web Site?

Back in October, 2009, I proposed an article on “Do You Really Need a Web Site” to some editors I work with, but the idea didn’t really seem to have traction. Today, though, it’s a topic I hear people talking about more and more, with Continue reading “Do You Really Need a Web Site?”

Twitter Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts For Your Twitter Behavior

The big difference between making a mis-step in the social media environment and in the old-world communication environment is reach. Tweet the “wrong thing” online and literally millions of people may see it. Worse yet, by the time you “take it back” it could already be too late. While there may be a remedy soon – twitter insurance – companies may pay up to Continue reading “Twitter Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts For Your Twitter Behavior”

Tweeting for Results

I’m working with a client to build awareness of her new online ratings app and she was interested in tips on how to engage followers in conversations. As I shared the following suggestions with her, I thought this might make for a good blog post (always interesting in multi-purposing!), so thought I’d share here as well. Continue reading “Tweeting for Results”

Only Eight Percent of Those Online Using Twitter?

Despite all the hype and attention in the media, only eight percent of Internet users are Twitter users according to a recent study by Pew Research. That means 92 percent of those online are *not* using Twitter. Wow! I suppose I shouldn’t be entirely surprised. While I have some “online business colleagues” who are active on Twitter, most of my traditional business colleagues and the vast majority of students in my university classes Continue reading “Only Eight Percent of Those Online Using Twitter?”