Do You have a Social Communications Strategy?
I have one simple thought for today. If you are going to venture into the world of social media, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, or your flavor of choice, make sure you have a plan.
These days, almost everyone expects you to have a presence on these networks, but if you don’t have a plan, it is worse than not being there at all.
I recently had dinner at a local restaurant. When the service didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I decided to fill out the new “comment card” and post something on the restaurant’s Facebook page. I was going to use Twitter, but unfortunately, they didn’t have a Twitter account.
I made a simple post about my dissatisfaction and waited to get a response. I did eventually get one three days later. I am very happy with the end result, and the Manager did a wonderful job in making things up to me. He won a fan back by his phone call and email.
In talking with him, he did reveal to me that he was struggling with social media and wasn’t sure of the etiquette or how to respond to comments. This is my point. If you are not sure what to do or how to do it, hold off on getting started. Get some advice, make a plan, and then make the leap.
If I would not have been able to find this company on Facebook, I would have asked to speak with the Manager right then. He would have been able to solve the problem, and that would have been the end of it.
By opening his restaurant up to the social world, he is taking on the responsibility of managing that part of his business as well. He must react in a timely fashion and make sure he doesn’t miss anything that is posted about his business.
