The Easiest Way to Fail at Social Media for Business

What we’ve got here is . . . failure to communicate. One of the easiest things to do, but one of the most often overlooked aspects of using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, is replying to followers and fans. Reply, reply, reply . . . it really is that easy.

Imagine if I was talking with you and kept telling you story after story. Then you would respond to one of my stories with a similar story, but I didn’t seem like I was listening and never even commented about your story. I just kept talking about my stories. No two-way communication, just me talking to you.

That’s how a follower or fan of your business feels when they don’t hear from you. They retweet your updates, or ask a question on your Facebook page, but never hear anything back. It’s like they don’t even matter to you. Is that how you want your fans, followers or potential clients to feel about you and your business? You don’t care about them?!?

I thought about this problem yesterday while checking out The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Facebook page. A fan had asked how they could sign up for the Dino Dig next year, and I’ll admit that I didn’t think she would receive a reply. But, lo and behold, I just checked out their Facebook page today and there are two replies from The Children’s Museum answering both questions! That, my Facebook friends, is how you do it.

So don’t ignore your friends, fans and followers . . . give them some comment love. Thank them for their retweets on Twitter, respond to comments on your blogs and answer questions on your Facebook page. Listening and conversing with others on social media sites is the best way to split up all of the sales pitches you are throwing at them, and the main reason why you are using social media. Look, listen, communicate, make relationships and get more business. If all you do is talk about yourself, people will stop listening. Two-way communication folks . . . it really is that easy.

Look & Listen – who ever thought Mister Rogers could teach us about social media?

Look & Listen
© 1970 Fred M. Rogers

If you will look carefully,
Listen carefully,
You will find a lot of things carefully.
Look … and listen.

It’s good to
Look carefully.
Listen carefully.
That’s the way you learn a lot of things carefully.
Look. Look…and listen.

Some things you see are confusing.
Some things you hear are strange.
But if you ask someone to explain one or two,
You’ll begin to notice a change in you.

If you will
Look carefully.
Listen carefully.
That’s a way to keep on growing carefully.
Look, look, look, and listen.

Keep carefully growing your social media presence by looking, listening and then – communicating.