I was inspired to write this blog after having an in-depth conversation about engagement. This client’s first comment to me was, “We don’t want comments or engagement.” I honestly about lost it with this statement, but I kept composed and said with definite affirmation “Social is all about engagement, if you’re not focused on it, then you’re failing. No matter how big or small a social following, the primary focus for all social communities is to listen, be there to interact, and respond in a timely manner to your customers & potential prospects. I’m still shocked daily, when I come across unanswered comments on the walls of major companies, it would take 30 seconds to answer some of these comments, but instead of taking the time most business use the “too big to answer” theory. This is the biggest mistake any social marketer & business can make, and it will literally crumble the authenticity of the social media movement if more brands don’t make a change. Social engagement must be at the core of your marketing, customer service, and promotions. With a solid and consistent strategy I truly believe that spending more time engaging instead of just posting, will double your companies sales in the next 5-10 years. My one strategy for engagement is to use tools…. We don’t have time to go into each platform separately, but with tools like Hootsuite and Sprout Social it’s easy to check-in and monitor your communities. Another proven tool is “Google Alerts”… Spend time setting up 3-5 alerts based on different keywords that affect your brand and industry. Google will send you daily content based on these keywords. Also, if you target your brand, you can see who is talking about you easily and frequently! The key to social engagement is… Participation! For the next 30 days I challenge everyone reading this article to spend as much time engaging as you do coming up with content for social. You will see your community come to life, super fans/followers will appear, and you will see the true power of being SOCIALLY ENGAGED! - See more at: http://www.socialmediatoday.com/social-business/2015-02-20/biggest-mistake-businesses-make-social#sthash.0NrE21Oo.dpuf

1. The Biggest Mistake Businesses Make
In Social

2. I was inspired to write this blog after having an in-depth conversation
about engagement.
I honestly about lost it with this statement, but I kept composed and said with definite
affirmation,
“Social is all about engagement, if you’re not focused on it, then you’re failing.”
This client’s first comment to me was,
“We don’t want comments or engagement.”

3. No matter how big or small a social following, the primary focus for all social
communities is to listen, be there to interact, and respond in a timely manner to
your customers & potential prospects.
I’m still shocked daily, when I come across unanswered comments on the walls
of major companies, it would take 30 seconds to answer some of these
comments, but instead of taking the time most business use the “too big to
answer” theory.
Photo by: Phil McKinney

4. Social engagement must be at the core of your marketing, customer service, and
promotions.
With a solid and consistent strategy I truly believe that spending more time
engaging instead of just posting, will double your companies sales in the next 5-
10 years.
This is the biggest mistake any social marketer
and business can make, and it will literally
crumble the authenticity of the social media
movement if more brands don’t make a
change.
Photo by Newmediaandmarketing

5. My one strategy for engagement is to use tools….
We don’t have time to go into each platform separately, but with tools like
Hootsuite and Sprout Social it’s easy to check-in and monitor your
communities.

6. Another proven tool is “Google Alerts”…
Spend time setting up 3-5 alerts based on
different keywords that affect your brand
and industry.
Google will send you daily content based
on these keywords.
Also, if you target your brand, you can see
who is talking about you easily and
frequently!
Photo Credit: Mashable

7. The key to social engagement is… Participation!
For the next 30 days I challenge everyone reading this article to spend as much
time engaging as you do coming up with content for social.
You will see your community come to life, super fans/followers will appear, and you
will see the true power of being SOCIALLY ENGAGED!
Photo Credit: New Media & Marketing