Original Post was written by Justin Powell for Business Finance Store
It’s no secret that times in marketing have taken a turn. One of the many big shifts has been in how information is distributed, collected, and shared. It used to be that if a consumer wanted to learn about a new product or company, they would turn to an ad in the paper, on the radio, on a television commercial, or even the company’s website. Yet, all of these were one-way conversations. The business was like a speaker with a rehearsed speech who didn’t plan on being interrupted, and easily controlled when and how their message was shared, and their brand communicated.
But we don’t live in a world of ‘one-way conversations’ anymore, and they are no longer effective or accepted. Companies must learn to share the mic with their customers, and can no longer count on posting up alone in front of a bejeweled microphone stand and singing solos like Christina Aguilera.
Nowadays, a business’s voice is more like a choral mic that picks up all the voices in the choir. A wise business knows that they can’t drown out the other voices simply by singing louder or turning off the mic…they must find the harmony, and blend it together in a way that benefits both the choir and their business objectives.
Social media has changed things. The consumer’s voice is now as important as the producer of a given product.
When I go to Amazon buy a product, I don’t really care what the manufacturer says about the product beyond the specs. I go straight to the bottom and read the customer reviews, or look at the customers’ images of the product. If I can’t find a user review on a product I might even be skeptical of whether I’m dealing with a trustworthy company or product! If all I can find is a company talking about themselves, I’m not very likely to hit the ‘buy’ button.
The modern business owner has so many songs to learn to sing. From business finance and changes in legal responsibility to learning the work habits of Millenials and Gen Z and the implications of social media marketing, there is so much demanded of growing businesses. In all of the details, it is important to remember that if a business loses touch with its consumers, then all those other issues may become a moot point.
Having an active presence on social media is a great way to position your brand and impact your bottom line. If you sing the right song and invite other voices to join in, you can move people from observers to fans, and from fans to customers. Or best of all, from customers to raving advocates.
It’s up to you! Will you be left singing a solo or harmonizing with the choir? Regardless, remember, you’re now sharing the mic.
If you would like to have your social media presence reviewed for free, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!