Assessing your social connections…
Power has shifted to people, but people need to be nurtured within a creative process.
You may be rather adept at using social media; have countless followers and likes, but are you simply “broadcasting” within social media channels under the guise of being engaged? Engagement within social media is only the first step. The difference between engagement and true connections lives within how you prepare, respond and adapt.
Goal: Emotional attachment to brand and personal-brand-ization
Communication must be extraordinarily relevant and avoid intrusive sales-like dialogues, rather stimulating interest with images, ideas and news that is truly important to your audience.
Disrupting the process?
Be careful not to disrupt the natural process of communication or links/connections between like-minded individuals. This natural process of influence is a splendid learning opportunity and brings key variables of influence into view. This information is required to continuously refresh offerings.
Warning: Avoid Intrusive communication
32% “I was no longer interested in the brand”
Audacious social media practices can stifle the voice of people and hinder valuable context. Avoid authoritative positioning and more importantly create a flexible plan for every phase of interaction.
Creating a system of knowledge will enhance communication and the collection of insight that can be used throughout your business. The results…fresh and compelling dialogues that will naturally influence people, create learning platforms and inspire a creative business.
Social connections are a likely driver of online purchasing
Source: TNS Digital Life
Connecting
A humble approach is needed; one that begins with listening, quantifying and only then responding. Ensure relevance and inspire sincere interaction. Plan for active connections that provoke devoted anecdotes and enduring emotional ties.
Consider
- People-to-People
- Collective design
- Sources | extracting stimuli
- Response scenarios
- Creativity| Genuine perceptions
- Cross-business momentum
- Role of analytics
Authentic characteristics and “living” context will introduce new ideas, while defining alternative agendas for the future. Set strategic priorities and design with a flexible model.
Understand influencers; define their alluring characteristics and attitudes. Pay attention to insightful responses and the perception of influencers. When and how people respond will offer important behavioral clues.
Nurture dialogues | discussions
- Stimuli – Stimuli – Stimuli
- Non-intrusive| content and timing
- Bring original content into play
- Strengthen connections between like-minded
- Recognize how and when to re-engage
- Captivate the audience via shared experiences
- Refine themes as they emerge
- Appoint multiple points of participation
Respond – Genuine responses are worth more
- Applaud influencers
- Show how interaction and shared ideas have been implemented
- Rewards- should not be monetary, but more of a nod up and with exclusive access / benefits
It is impossible to understand what is happening within social media without a thorough examination of the context
- How they got there
- Why they stay
- Emotional connectors
- Progression of influence
- Style | Behavior
- Dreams
Disruptions… Don’t just sweep difficult subjects and occurrences under the rug. Use them to illustrate commitment to advancements and allow disruptions to guide productive learning.
Observe and Measure
What is the ultimate function of analytics? Expand analytics as a multi-use and continuous source of enlightenment. Use context to create a persona-based segmentation of people and their idea of loyalty.
Example: Dialogues can become a journal…
We suggest that you are mindful of the importance of “organic growth” regardless of the social connections and environments.
Many are working to define accountable measurement for “marketing”, but the goal of ideal-marketing is to seamlessly integrate messages within natural social connections, experiences and other occurrences far beyond marketing. Sometimes, even the thought of measurement can disrupt this natural process and not offer a strong account.
Platforms will come and go, but true connections and emotional strings are sustainable.
