Online Engagement
Social media has become an increasingly important part of our lives, whether it’s for personal or business use, the connections and interactions we make online provide a gateway to reaching out to an audience in real time to get instant reactions and results that when applied to our businesses, will contribute to its success.
But what happens when there is no online engagement? What about those who are determined to be successful and want that recognition but are not willing, or do not put in, the time and effort to engage with their audience? Are these people failing to make something good out of something so current and proactive or are they assuming an interactive online presence isn’t necessary to succeed?
Reaching Your Audience
Available in the palm of your hand, it would seem almost inconceivable not to have a visible online presence. You only need to switch on the TV these days and there are no end of programmes relying on social media with live feeds and chats actively using online engagement with their audience, or interactive games to play along to whilst a show is airing. All of this creates a talking point and helps to raise the profile, not just for the show itself, but also the viewers as it gives us the opportunity instantly engage and become a part of it.
Much like television, businesses need that online engagement to help them grow by interacting with customers, clients and employees. Setting up competitions, hashtags, chat forums and just being open and honest about what they do and how important their client base is creates an ideal opportunity to connect on a more personal level.
“Many of us work in changing competitive environments. If we don’t keep up with news and trends, we can miss key opportunities and can be caught unawares… you’ll make better decisions and you’ll spot threats and opportunities early on, which can give you a competitive edge. This is especially important if you contribute to shaping your organisation’s strategy. It’s also important if you’re involved in sales and marketing, where it helps you to identify and take advantage of the sales opportunities that come your way.” http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/keeping-up-to-date.htm
Online Engagement
If you don’t interact with people then how are you going to get to know your audience and their needs? Feedback is a powerful tool – good or bad – because it allows you to grow and develop but if you are not putting in the time and effort to do this, how are you meant to build on your relationships? Online interaction is a two way street. You’re going to get so much further if you drive both ways rather than just always relying on one way traffic. Soon enough people will get bored and want to find another route.
Although it’s not the only way to connect with your target market, online engagement is proving to be successful and with the constant evolvement of technology, it’s so important to keep up with trends, keeping your offering and how you market it relevant and topical.
