People are going to say bad/mean things about you. It’s a fact of life. It’s also something that prevents many businesses from participating in online communities and other websites that offer user generated content.
We can’t invite conversation about our product (business, brand, etc.) because someone may say something negative! This is a comment that I hear all too often, and it’s true—if given the opportunity, someone, at some point, could say something critical or disparaging. But guess what… someone, at some point, will say something critical or disparaging whether you participate in social media or not.
According to a new study by Cone, a strategy and communications agency, you and I are among the sixty percent (and rising) of Americans who use social media. More interestingly, among those of us who use social media, the vast majority—93%—expect companies to have a social media presence.
Your customers want to engage and communicate with you online. If your business does not have a social media strategy yet, it’s clearly time to develop one. Here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction:
Don’t confuse “Web 2.0” technology and design patterns with communication. Social media is not about Ajax, tag clouds, RSS feeds and embedded Flash video players. Social media is about sharing content and having conversations. Those of us who do want to engage with your business online are not looking for a sales pitch.