An Everlasting Approach To Social Media

Businesses new to social media are a lot like the children in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Both are heading into unfamiliar, confusing places with little idea of how to behave. Luckily for you, they went first. We have the benefit of analyzing what they did right and where they went wrong.

Don’t Just Consume, Consume, Consume. The first to go in the factory is the not-so-gaunt German named Augustus Gloop. This Deutsch defeater of all things food consumed without tasting, talking, or stopping to breathe. Social media is a big conversation and you should be in the middle of it. Engage your community instead of sitting idly by and consuming their content. If I wanted advice on food, I would ask Gloop. Be the Gloop of your respective trade.

Violet, You’re Turning Violet, Violet! Gum chewers anonymous’ Violet Beauregarde relapses and chews the “three course dinner” gum, which is promptly followed by a pretty accurate blueberry impression. The way people consume information and news is changing to one big conversation. Try to change with them; don’t go back to the same tactics you have played time and time again. Is your marketing feeling a little stale? Take a new approach or look at it from a different perspective to give it some flavor.

But I Want it Now! Veruca Salt has a sense of self-entitlement that would make Paris Hilton blush. Veruca wants everything, and she wanted it five minutes ago. Don’t fall into the trap of expecting instant results. It takes time to form relationships with people. Just remember to be patient and persistent and your return on investment will be worth the price of a golden egg.

Don’t Stare Too Long at the Teevee. This television-obsessed Mike Teevee is so driven by his own agenda that he is blind to the perils that eventually miniaturize him. Many businesses share or tweet content that is solely about them via links, stories or pictures. Instead, position yourself as an expert, engage followers, share interesting things that pertain to your business or inform others and you will get the attention you seek.

Be Yourself. Charlie Buckets was himself, and look what he got—a chocolate factory! Pick a person in your company that likes to write and is highly sociable; they make the best social marketers. However, we are not all without faults, including Charlie. One swig of a fizzy lifting drink almost cost him happiness, but he owned up and fixed the problem. As a business, you shouldn’t delete negative comments about your business (unless malicious). Show your community you are dedicated to fixing the problem by replying and offering to fix the situation. People, like Willy himself, will notice this and reward you with their pocketbooks.

With the instantaneous nature of social media it is easy to get frustrated with slow results. But keep in mind that forming relationships takes time and effort; raise the fun before you raise the funds.