What works?

http://thesocialosophy.blogspot.com/2009/10/getting-back-what-you-have-in.htmlThere are so many questions swirling around the social media phenomenon lately. It's the proverbial new kid on the block (although, relatively, social media as a communication function has been in use for a while) and everyone wants to get in on the hype.

But what do we do with it once our Facebook pages are built and our Twitters are tweeting and our connections are growing? Where do we go? How do we know what is a viable course of action for what we want to accomplish? There are a lot of things out there that work and provide good results. While this is encouraging for the growth of the technology and innovation, it makes it difficult for us to narrow down what works, and what best practices are.

However, as with all things, there those principles that, when applied, will point you in the general direction that you need to go. Here are a couple of things that you can be doing right now as you figure out specifically where you want your social media strategy to be heading.

1.) Offer Value.

The people who will engage with you will do so because of what they receive in return. Simply telling your potential consumer base that you make the best widgets in town will not be reason enough for them to spend their money on your product. They are being told the same thing by every other widget maker on the block. But if they know that your widget Facebook page gets them great news on widget technology, offers them specials for being engaged with you, and provides them with unrelated content like X-Games videos and interesting swine flu articles, they will consider you a resource, and you will be the obvious choice for their next widget purchase.

2.) Ask for Engagement.

Good, quality content will generate organic engagement, all on its own. But the guy who sets up a hot dog stand and opens his newspaper will not do nearly as much business as the guy who opens his cart then pulls out a mega-phone and begins hollering about the virtue of his franks. Do not be afraid to ask people for feedback. Let them know that you want their opinions, questions, comments, and queries. They will respond in turn.

3.) Follow Through

If you are going to pull out your megaphone, be prepared for the onslaught, and decide ahead of time how you are going to respond to positive and negative feedback. Then respond. Leave no comment unanswered, no question unacknowledged, and no message unattended. Give people a return on their investment, and you'll see a Return on Engagement.