Question

Topic: Social Media

Best Way To Get Freinds Or Fans

Posted by michelekinman on 10/21/2009 at 1:23 AM ET 25 Points
What is the best way for company to build their fan or friends.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 10/21/2009 at 2:00 AM Member
    Short question, but answer is too long. Basically, the company needs to focus on their customers as a community, not just as customers. Engage them.
  • Posted by Mandy Vavrinak on 10/21/2009 at 9:12 AM Member
    Without knowing what type of company, what type of product or service, etc., you're going to get pretty general responses.

    Best practices would include listening / surveying to find out where your potential fans are online (what networks do they use, where do they spend time online?) It does you no good to build a MySpace site if all your market is using Facebook, for instance.

    Once you determine where your potential fans hang out, you can build a presence and as Peter says, engage them... What info are they *really* interested in? Not just what you're interested in telling them.
    Is there a giveaway or promotion you can tie to friending/fanning your page?
    Can you put out some share-worthy content?
    Spend some time thinking about what would motivate YOU to become a fan.
  • Posted by Gary Bloomer on 10/21/2009 at 11:08 AM Accepted
    Dear michelekinman,

    Great responses above. Take note.

    Also consider that social media is about being social—it's NOT about selling, it's NOT about arm twisting, and it's NOT about spam.

    At its core social media is about offering people content they want or appreciate, and it's about offering value and benefits that really matter, that really help people succeed or change in some meaningful way FOR THEM—not for you.

    Social media is first and foremost about being social. It's about being the "go to" person, as being the "git 'er done" person; it's about being approachable, and it's about being interesting enough for people to want to engage with you in some kind of dialogue BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.

    This means offering THEM help, resources, and information to help them build their business or their reputation.

    It's about asking people what they do, how they do it and what they need to enable them to do more of whatever it is they do.

    You give people the things they need and you give freely, willingly, and graciously.

    Offer wisdom, experience, tales from the trenches, "how to" tips, short cuts, advice, and professional opinion that saves them time, money, and pain.

    Social media is about being seen as a trusted source, as being a teacher, a mentor, and a likable, lovable person that people gravitate towards.

    You do this—you become this—by offering value, benefits, interest, and sound bites that help people get what they want, need, desire, and dream about.

    Social media is about giving and doing so eagerly, willingly, and with intention. It's about caring GENUINELY caring about and actually giving a crap about other people.

    Social media is the rebirth of the global village: give to it and it will give to you. The more you INVEST in social media, they more it will pay off. On the other hand, the more you EXPECT or DEMAND from social media, the LESS you may get out of it.

    I hope this helps.

    Gary Bloomer
    Wilmington, DE, USA
  • Posted by Levon on 10/21/2009 at 11:42 AM Member
    3 words: Valuable Free Content.
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