So…How Are You?

A problem with social media for business, is that too often the focus is on what the business wants. When setting the social strategy, the business will assume they know what they should be saying and they know what their audience wants…and to a point, that is true. But do they have the answer to what their audience wants when it comes to social interactions?

Businesses will say, “Post this offer because it is great and everyone will redeem it.” But will they? Is that offer an offer social users want based on their feedback, or is it an offer the business created because they have a surplus of specific products or a new service they want people to try?

Sometimes the difference lies in the fact that businesses quickly forget to ask their audience “How are you?” and “What do you want?” They are so busying pushing information, they forget to ask simple questions and start collecting information. A simple “How are you today?” will more likely yield Facebook and Twitter comments than a special tweeted out twice in one day.

Even more effective…ask specific people, specific questions. The Boston restaurant, City Table, recently tweeted to three of their top social followers about their favorite desserts. From tweets, City Table knew those followers visited the restaurant so it made sense to ask their feedback. It wasn’t information they were just offering…it was good, solicited feedback from a strategically selected social group.

So don’t forget, a simple “How are you?” or “What do you want?” is a great idea here and there. Ask, and you shall receive.

Jen Cohen is a social media and marketing maven knocked down many times in 26 yrs. Something Creative http://somethingcreativemarketing.com