This past week I enjoyed two experiences which exemplify the power of social media. The first was in a workshop I delivered on Monday. Several people in attendance had discovered the workshop through my blog and were already part of my LinkedIn universe. (And this resulted in one of the participants circulating a wonderful testimonial about the workshop on LinkedIn. Thanks for that!)
The second was at a book launch on Wednesday night (an amazing book called One Loop At A Time, written by my colleague Meryl Cook), where two people introduced themselves to me by saying “I follow you on Twitter“. So fun!
This led me back to a post from 2015 which is worth revisiting. Many of the skills we should be using on the phone support social media success. So, for your consideration:
1. CLEARLY IDENTIFY YOURSELF
When using the phone, it’s vital to clearly enunciate your name. Whether you are leaving a message, creating your outbound voice mail or starting a conversation, if the other person doesn’t get your name, communication remains incomplete.
It’s the same on Twitter. There are so many great newsletters, blogs, media articles and podcasts I’m excited to share yet, when I click on the “tweet this” button, a pre-designed post appears that doesn’t contain a Twitter handle . In other words, there’s no “name”. If I want to share your post and introduce you to my followers, I have to do a search, find your Twitter handle and edit your message appropriately. If I have the time, and your message is of great value to my followers, I’ll make this effort. But otherwise, like a phone message with a mumbled name, I’ll move on and an opportunity will be lost.
2. INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND CONVERSATION
When we connect with someone on the phone, we need to show respect for their time by stating our purpose in a concise way that piques interest. This is what creates the possibility of conversation.
It’s the same on Twitter. If I decide to click and share your blog, newsletter, etc., and the message that appears says something like “Read this” or “I just read…” along with the link, well I’m not going to waste my followers’ time with that lack of imagination. When I’m able, I’ll create my own description of your post. After all, I found it valuable, so I know many of my followers will also appreciate it. But if I don’t have the time … another opportunity lost.
Consider this question: Do you know what your retweet messages say – what they look like? If you don’t, it’s the same as creating an outbound voice mail message but never listening to it. You need to know what your clients/potential clients/colleagues are experiencing when they share your social posts. Otherwise how can you know if it’s true to your brand, if it represents you in the best way possible?
3. CONSIDER THE DATE AND TIME
Have you ever had someone leave you a business voice mail message at 11 pm? Or 4 am? It’s certainly happened to me and such a message clearly states, “I didn’t want to reach you.” When it comes to the phone, this is sometimes okay, if the call is about leaving details that don’t require a response. But on Twitter, posting a link of value to CEOs at 6 am Sunday morning … chances of you reaching those CEOs is pretty slim.
Maybe at this point you’re shaking your head because you don’t think Twitter, LinkedIn (or social media) matter to your business anyway. Well, consider this:
Years ago, likely when we were still referring to the internet as the World Wide Web, I listened to a radio interview that described a day when we’d all be able to design our own news feed. We’d turn on our computers each day and, based on our own interests and concerns, read the news, articles, opinions that mattered most to us. Late adopter that I was (and still am), I shook my head and muttered, “That will never happen.”
I was SO wrong. Twitter, LinkedIn (and social media) are that news feed. If I’m following you, I’m interested. If I’m interested I’m going to share. And if your retweet message is well crafted, you will start to meet my followers.
This is the kind of exposure that, not so long ago, required a HUGE public relations budget. Today, it requires a bit of your time and attention … just like your phone communication.
Enjoy your phone work everyone!