When someone comments on content in your Social Media post, your response to that comment is as important as the original content you posted. Tread carefully! Your Social Media responses are content too!
Sharing expertise, providing information and responding are at the core of Social Media.
Sharing expertise, providing information and responding are at the core of Social Media. Good social media initiatives create value. Great content = Great Value. So what makes for great content? Useful, thoughtful and thought-provoking ideas that resonate with your core group. Great Content = introductions to people. Introductions lead to engagement and the start of beautiful business ‘friendships’.
… the essence of Social Media is not about selling, it’s about sharing.
Social Media is the gifting of expertise or information with no expectation of a return. Yes, Social Media helps you develop and cultivate brand awareness, so there’s a big return on that, it’s true. But the essence of Social Media is not about selling, it’s about sharing. It’s about giving back, or if you will, paying it forward. So give back!
When a reader responds to your Social Media post, that reader is engaged. Conversation is now flowing two ways. Congratulations. Your Social Media effort was successful. But you can’t stop there. You must give those responses the respect they deserve. Remember, you’ve started a friendship and friendships must be nourished and nurtured. So respond!
Ignore Social Media responses at your peril!
Ignore Social Media responses at your peril! Content is King, but royalty can still get into trouble. Remember what happened when the British Royal Family was slow to respond after Lady Di’s tragic death. Public opinion turned against them and for a long time! People want responses, emotion, authenticity; they wanted to feel the love. When your brand takes the time to respond to comments on a post it shows a little business love and a lot of respect. So respond.
Great content without follow up?
Great content without follow up? Save your money and don’t even bother starting the process! Posting or tweeting and then not responding to questions, messages, thoughts, the sharing of ideas. What’s the point?
Building Identity Loyalty Through Social Media
Social Media takes effort, even after you’ve created content. You need to spread the word, create buzz and add to buzz. You need to search out like-minded people and see what they write about and introduce yourself. You need to respond to them too. Everything on social media is a conversation, including Social Media responses.
… people are often as interested in responses to content as they are in the content.
It’s also important to remember that people are often as interested in responses to content as they are in the content. They like to see how brands respond. So when you do respond, remember that it’s your brand speaking. Answer thoughtfully, honestly and respectfully.
A community isn’t built on one-way interaction.
Social media is about being part of a community. A community isn’t built on one-way interaction.
- Be prompt with your responses, answer in a timely manner.
- Not every comment will require a response, but be discerning. Read closely to see if it does.
- Not everyone might agree with your Social Media Posts. That’s okay. Social Media is a conversation. Agree to disagree. But like mom taught you … be nice about it!
- Feel free to ignore obnoxious commentary and truly obnoxious commentary can be deleted. It’s about respect — and it runs both ways — if someone is being truly disrespectful, with nothing valuable to say, then there’s simply no room for a real conversation.
- Responses can also be an opportunity for learning? Is there something to be learned from the comment? A point of view, idea or suggestion that you’ve never thought about?
Bottom Line.
Bottom Line: Social Media responses are content too. Put thought into each response.
Had a unique experience with comments or your response to a comment on a Social Media Post? Share it with us!
For a quick review or a primer on creating content, download our free e-book: Content Creation Understood. In it, we share a little content expertise and some suggestions, including a few do’s and don’ts, for content creation.