Once you build your Facebook page, open your twitter account, and/or publish your LinkedIn profile, you must be prepared to engage your customers, potential customers, followers, fans, and critics on your new turf. You know the line, "Real estate is all about location, location, location?” Well, in social media it's all about engaging, engaging, engaging. You have to be responsive by replying to twitter mentions or Facebook wall posts, but the most successful social media players are proactive in engaging their followers. They help to increase the perception and awareness of their brand by reaching out to their customers and potential customers using social media in a proactive manner. You also have to make sure that the interaction online is genuine and natural. It cannot be forced or appear planned otherwise the message will not be received positively, thus impacting your brand.
Has your company set up a company profile on LinkedIn yet?
If not, it's simple to do and can be used as "brochure" material for sales opportunities or recruiting resources. LinkedIn also offers premium company profilesthat enable companies to target their message to specific constituents along with other features.
Have you subscribed to any LinkedIn groups or started your own?
Groups can give you and your organization an opportunity to engage and network with others. LinkedIn groups allow members to post messages about the group topic that can be emailed to all of the other group members (depending on each member's settings). You have the option to participate by commenting on the messages or starting your own. Participating in the group conversation is an opportunity to market your brand. If you can help answer a question, solve a problem, provide guidance or an opinion in a respectful and helpful manner, then you are making a positive impression on others in the group. The more you do, the more well-known you and your brand will become, which will give you a leg up on the competition.
If you haven't tried out LinkedIn's groups feature yet, I recommend you join the Happi LinkedIn group <http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2079173> .
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