Rules of Social Engagement

We will soon be running a number of different blog posts on social media and its place within a multi channelled marketing strategy but for now we just wanted to look at the most effective ways in which to engage your audience and the ‘rules of engagement’ when applying social media to your brand.

Be Honest:

Once your audience is engaged, they will quickly pick up on honesty and dishonesty, make sure when you post anything you use your company brand, your own name and keep it simple and straightforward.

Keep it Professional:

When it comes to brands and broadcasting information in a professional manner, there are very few times when personal or ‘off topic’ information is relevant. In professional circles in particular, people will be following you for your opinion about industry topics not that you have just been to Pizza Hut or are looking forward to Christmas.

Be Fair:

Don’t make false claims about your brand or any others, you can of course dissect the competition and expose them, if it is worthwhile and true, but wild accusations or broadcasting information that is exaggerated can damage the brand.

Engage:

Having said the above and sounded fairly strict we also need not forget that it is after all a conversation so don’t just broadcast information, engage, ask, question, answer your audience.

Stick to your expertise:

Again, imagine you are in a room with your audience, it is very easy for people to pick holes in any theories or opinions you have that are not substantiated, ensure you keep ‘on-topic’ and to what you know, after all, your audience is potentially ‘following’ you because they want to learn.

Add Pizazz:

This can vary with ease depending on the subject matter but try and create excitement, make information a little sensational, don’t lie or expand the truth but your information needs to be interesting to read and compelling.

Adding value?

Don’t feel compelled to talk for the sake of talking, there can be an overwhelming tendency to feel you have to be a regular contributor, but if there is nothing to say don’t say anything, it is far better to broadcast useful information and opinions.

Become Authoritative:

When you engage your audience you need to try and become a trusted information source that can be relied upon to broadcast useful data, be the voice of reason and be seen as a fair individual in your community, think about what you are saying and try not to react instinctively or take thing personally.

If you make a mistake:

If you incite negative feedback / reactions and it is your fault, admit you have made a mistake then be quick to rectify it, go straight to the source and apologise, upload / broadcast the correct data and try and limit the damage to the brand and your personal reputation.

Be Instinctive:

Be sure you want to broadcast / say what you are about to, once it goes out, on some mediums, it is hard to retract, if it gives you reason to doubt sending the information out then you probably have good reason not to. Be careful about what you say and why.

Ultimately picture yourself at a party, treat people as you would at a social gathering, you wouldn’t generally rant /shout at people, lie or exaggerate information (well perhaps the last one), remember, although virtual, these are real people who will react in normal ways, so be careful and treat others with respect and as you expect to be treated.

Please note the above information is for guidance only, it is your responsibility to keep your brand / reputation safe.