What do Social Media and a Backyard BBQ have in Common?

With summer in full swing, many of us will be enjoying backyard BBQs. There is a certain unspoken etiquette to such functions that can also apply to social media.

Like informal summer gatherings, online platforms, such as Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, Plaxo, etc., offer wonderful opportunities to hang out and engage with large groups of people. There are some people who are close friends, some you know vaguely, some you don’t know and some you hope to get to know. The best interactions are casual, not forceful.

For example, most of us would not aggressively approach a group engaged in conversation at a BBQ and spout off a top 10 list of successes or a rehearsed elevator speech about our company or services. It’s more likely that we’d politely wander over; linger long enough to listen and get a good grasp of the subject being discussed; and then insert ourselves into the conversation as appropriate. Our chatter would likely be on topic and not overly sale-sy.

Think: How ‘bout them Yankees? (or fill in favorite team); not how ‘bout that quarterly report? Or: Where are you heading for vacation?; not where’s your bottom line heading? Make a great pitch – on the ball field; not in the boardroom. This is the time for refreshing libation rather than professional ovation.

Smart, effective (and non-irritating) users of social media follow similar principles.

1)      Observe and listen first to get a full understanding of the topic of interest.

2)      Determine if you have anything, personally or professionally, to offer.

3)      If so, gently insert yourself into the discussion in a helpful and friendly tone.

4)      Give enough on-topic information to convey that you’re knowledgeable (and available if they’d like to hear more) but not so much information that you bore people or seem boastful.

Every day, more people are wisely jumping on the social media bandwagon — and then quickly realizing they don’t know the first thing about how to ride it. BBQ etiquette is easy enough to remember and can help guide us all.

Happy summer!

 

– Diane Blaszka

– Tom McManimon

 

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Why Does My Company Need a Facebook Page?

Facebook is for kids.  Facebook is only to re-connect with old classmates.  It will cheapen my brand.  I don’t have the time.  It’s not for business.  Do these reactions sound familiar when a social media presence for your company is proposed?  Put them out of your mind; like it or not, Facebook has become a strong component of business marketing.  According to a recent Regus study, 35% of U.S. businesses have used Facebook to win new business.  With over 500 million active users, Facebook offers up a captive audience for brands to utilize thoughtfully.  Social media is rooted in creating conversation and promoting brand awareness with an interactive community.  A successful marketing plan includes innovative ways to reach your customers and expand your share of voice.  Perhaps the most important reason to create a Facebook page is to give your company a personality, which will cultivate loyalty among customers.  In addition, it is a proactive way to own your reputation in the online space.

A basic Facebook business page will give a company an area to share information with customers, including new collection launches, sales, promotions, photos, and any other company news.  As a value-add to customers, Facebook should also be a place to share non-brand related news, topics of interest and community events.  This approach makes the social networking site feel less like an overt sales pitch and more like a shared experience.  Customers like getting to know the company behind the products and tend to favor ones that have a sincere interest in their client base.

As you build followers on Facebook, careful attention should be paid to feedback and suggestions from customers.  It is also important to communicate with your followers.  Maintaining frequent interaction with users is another way to create credibility for your brand.  With Facebook’s open forum, it can also be a valuable market research tool.

Still need convincing?  Just Google “Facebook for business.”  Do your own research.  Facebook is a valuable platform that businesses large and small must consider.

-Jordyn Haas

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So, What’s Your Story?

Next time you’re networking, remember this: you have but a brief moment-sometimes seconds-to tell your story. It is in how you tell your stories and how you direct them that make them memorable…or not.

Storytelling is an indication of ones emotional intelligence – perhaps even more than their rational intelligence. It is our opportunity to project our passion or passions. Our opportunity to take people to a new place -that is as visceral & visual, emotional and unexpected as we choose to make it.

When you connect others to your passion…through things like the highs and lows of voice, your vocabulary, posture, humor or a smile, and even your dress…you become more memorable and effective. This reveals your humanity.

Still, knowing your audience is everything. This helps make your “story” relevant! And so, we rub elbows time and again to learn the latest and greatest.

In the advertising business, it’s been said: Features Instruct, Benefits Sell. When meeting with others, LISTEN first!, When you speak, don’t speak so much of WHAT you do…as much as how you BENEFIT others. Get to know them…what their needs are…what moves them…you will be able to respond in terms that are meaningful to them. Speak more in terms of what you can do for them…(or site cases “stories” where you have helped others)

Do this and you will have more stories to tell in the future.

The point: Make sure YOUR storytelling leads to best sellers!

—Tom McManimon

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