Lots of companies want to take advantage of social media. But is your company ready for social media?
It’s tempting to jump and “get your feet wet.” Experimentation is a good thing — I don’t want to discourage you. But before you start flinging profiles up all over the web, take a second to assess your preparedness.
Do you possess these 12 traits you’ll need to succeed in social media?
Trust
- Do you trust your employees? Are you willing to let them represent your brand online?
- Do you have faith in your ability to meet customer expectations?
- Can you trust others to carry some of the load, rather than doing it all yourself?
- Do you trust your team enough to let them experiment?
Responsiveness
- Are you diligent about responding to every email and phone call?
- Do you solve problems, rather than merely acknowledging, disputing or ignoring them?
- Do you have a system to ensure accountability to your customers, suppliers and partners?
- Is every member of your team equipped and empowered to serve customers?
Training
- Have you given team members access to social media training and other learning tools?
- Do you have a social media policy to guide (not restrict) employee use of social media?
- Have you talked to employees about best practices and online etiquette?
- Did you educate executives to gain buy-in and avoid misunderstandings?
Generosity
- Are you willing to give away content (e-books, webinars, videos, etc.) for free to generate interest?
- Are you willing to forgo harvesting email addresses in exchange for greater reach?
- Are you willing to reward loyal customers and influencers with exclusive opportunities?
- Do you care about helping others meet their goals, or just meeting your own?
Patience
- Are you prepared to wait six months or more to see results?
- Do you have the stick-to-it-iveness to endure when you’re not getting blog comments?
- Will you still have enthusiasm for social media when your busy season arrives?
Participation
- Will you commit to letting all employees participate in social media?
- Are you willing to get your own hands dirty and participate?
- Are you prepared to take more than a superficial interest in your customers’ lives?
Thick Skin
- Can you handle criticism?
- Will you respond diplomatically if someone bashes your company on their blog?
- Are you sincere about using feedback – positive and negative – to improve how your business?
- Are you humble enough to acknowledge your shortcomings (honestly…not the “we care too much” way)?
Open-mindedness
- Do you believe “The Way It’s Always Been Done” isn’t always the right way?
- Would you let your customers come up new product ideas?
- If an idea sounds illogical to you, are you brave enough to let an employee run with it?
Resources
- Do you recognize social media isn’t just a cheap/free alternative to advertising?
- Are you willing to let employees spend “work time” on social networking sites?
- Will you invest enough resources in your social media efforts for them to gain traction?
- Would you be satisfied reaching a smaller audience if it’s more targeted?
- Are you good at managing your time?
Work Ethic
- Are you aware that social media requires actual people and shouldn’t be over-automated?
- Are you committed to excellence over mediocrity?
- Will you bust your butt to make your customers raving fans?
Courage
- Are you at ease living under a microscope?
- Are you comfortable adapting on the fly to audiences that can be difficult to predict?
- Are you willing to reveal a little bit of your personal side?
- Will you soldier on with social media, even if you fail?
Realistic Expectations
- Do you have specific and measurable goals?
- Are they attainable? Are they attainable via social media?
- Will you keep up your other marketing activities, rather than putting all your eggs in one basket?
- Have you consulted with a professional (contact me) to assess the feasibility of your goals?
Any Other Ideas?
What did I miss?