Time For Some More Groundswell

This week's reading was over chapters 12-18 in Engage.

The first topic I found interesting was over real-time Internet searches. Real-time web helps users during searches to find the most recent and relevant information that is currently available. It is helping people save time and captivating their attention one detailed search at a time. 

Brian Solis explains this as "real-time web serves as a telltale source for trends and represents a leading indicator for any topic related to your interests or business." Now that's pretty cool!

Solis also talks about the evolution of media and communication in chapter 15 calling it, "perpetual and timeless." Social media is a very influential tool for business’ it can be a huge help but also show a lot of a company’s flaws because people can make their own decisions on your own page. 

People will make judgments based upon what other people are saying on your own personal page as well. It is important for a company to be monitoring these things. Brian Solis says, "Transformation begins with observation."

Solis even recommends creating a social media handbook for your business with a list of guidelines and rules.  If a company does these things monitoring and being careful about how their social media is being run, then they are successfully using this tool. 

In reality what you say about your own company is not the only thing that matters in the world of social media. What others are saying is just as important, if not more important! People have conversations and listen to word of mouth more than a statement directly from a brand. So it is imperative for companies to be actively listening and observing!

"Active listening resulting information engagement plants seeds that flourish into meaningful conversations and relationships."

Photo from Changes in the Languages of the Web

Communicating With Your Audience

This week our class read chapters 6-12 of Engage by Brian Solis. In these chapters Solis shares new information but by tying it in with information we have learned from previously read chapters.

If a brand creates a social media account for their company it is imperative that the company focuses on gaining an audience in an effective and personal way, and then hold that attention for as long as possible. Without keeping the audience having a social media account for a business is worthless.

Social media allows users to connect with almost everyone, but this is not as easy as it sounds. “Everything requires promoting through consistent and vigorous acts of connecting profiles and pages.” If a business is using social media they need to be constantly involved and updating their site.

Brian Solis says using groups seems to be extremely effective in helping your audience to connect with your product or company. Micronetworks like Twitter is an easy way to do this. Brands can share information with large groups of people quick and efficiently.

Solis also explains how apps can be extremely effective for broadening network communities.  I have never heard of a company using apps but after reading more about this, it seemed like a very compelling idea!

Solis explains again and again how a conversation with your audience is the most important key to having a successful social media presence! However, in order to gain an audience tags and headlines are a great way to make your page and information visible to the huge online presence today.

I was surprised to hear that “less is more” regarding social media. Whether that means a brand creates multiple small accounts or not, this is important. Solis says ask yourself, “who do you want to be as defined by different groups of people with whom you wish to connect over time.”

Brian Solis Engage Chapters 3-6

In chapters 3-6 of Engage Brian Solis defines social media as a “great equalizer,” in reference to online relationships with customers.

Public relations, marketing, and advertising professionals interact with their clients or potential customers in a different way today than ever before. They have had to transform after what Solis calls our “societal renaissance” occurred.

In chapter 3 Brian Solis explains the importance of interacting with customers. He says it’s “important for every company to proactively and personally recognize other bloggers.” Without doing so, having a social media outlet is pointless for a business.

I see this as a very important piece of information because so many businesses create some form of social media, but have no idea why they are doing so. The reason should be for interacting!

Brian Solis warns to “serve not only our own needs, but others as well.” If you do not do so no one will ever be inclined to check out your social media outlet.

It makes sense to me that for a business, in order to get the reaction they want from their customers online, they must show them the same courtesy by being involved on their social media pages as well!