The Blog
Tips for engaging your followers
What do people mean when they say “engage your audience”? And how can you do it sincerely and effectively?
By engaging our online audiences, our goal is to spark an interest and get feedback. On Twitter we’re starting and participating in conversations, retweets, and general sharing of good information.
As businesses, we’re looking to make real connections with our followers, while building trust, loyalty and brand awareness.
en·gage
Pronunciation: \in-ˈgāj, en-\
Function: verb :
a : to hold the attention ofb : to induce to participate
10 ways you can be more engaging with your followers
1. Post interesting and useful information.
Link to some interesting facts, articles on other sites, or a post or event addition on your own website. Lead in with a clever headline, and use a topic hash tag to reach the market you are trying to attract.
2. Let others know you’re listening.
When someone mentions your establishment or retweets one of your tweets, a kind response, thanks, or further comment lets your community know your ears are open and you’re right there listening to the conversation.
3. Retweet and give credit.
When you find a juicy link you’d like to pass along to your audience, be sure to keep the RT @name or via @name lingo in the tweet. Give credit where credit is due if at all possible. Its OK to use “via” instead of “RT” when you’re editing the tweet copy to suit your followers.
4. Chime in.
See an interesting conversation in your stream? Chime in if you have something to add. Different perspectives or anecdotes are usually always welcome in a public platform such as Twitter.
5. Give props.
Did someone in your community (follower/following or not) achieve something awesome? Sending out a congratulations on a piece of press or accolade is a great way to acknowledge your online community and peers.
6. Say Hello.
When you see someone you know on Twitter, or haven’t met but would like to, sending out a quick hello is a good, non-spammy way to say “Hey, good to meet you here on Twitter, would love to connect sometime.” You might also welcome new followers with public tweets, or even a direct message as long as you use their human name in the DM – don’t bother signing up for auto-generated direct messages to new followers – that IS spammy.
7. Introduce yourself.
Find an industry “chat” to follow and introduce yourself and your establishment. You can discover chats by looking at some of the hash tags from the industry leaders you already follow. Some topical chats happen weekly, some monthly. Drop in, say hello, and make some new influential friends.
8. Ask questions.
Something exciting happening in your area like an event, festival, sports, or even the weather? Put a question out there, hash tagged for your area (like #seattle) and you’ll no doubt get a number of replies from folks in the know. This is a good way to inspire new followers and find interesting folks and orgs in your community to follow.
9. Answer questions.
Just like asking a question, chiming in and answering a question out there on your Twitter stream can reveal new opportunities for followers and people to follow. You can also become someone’s hero by helping them out.
10. Say Thanks.
Lastly, and probably the easiest way to let folks know you are listening and care – is to give a simple Thank You. Thank people for following, answering your questions, providing a hot tip, great link, connecting you with someone new, or for retweeting you. The opportunities are endless, and gratitude goes a long way in social media.
There are many more ways to engage your audience, and not just on Twitter. Facebook, YouTube, your blog and photo sharing sites all offer ample ways to ignite interest in your business or organization. What you doing today to engage your audience?
Social Media Day Success
Did you participate in Mashable’s Social Media Day? Here in Burlington, VT, a host of events took place all day long. Including a treasure hunt involving 7 local businesses, 6 Tweet Ups around town, voting for our local socially-savvy favorite individuals and businesses, and meeting a whole slew of new faces.
I wrote a recap of events and some interesting data gathered from the brief period of time taken to gather support, fulfillment and enthusiasm. A short poll revealed a snapshot of how people in this area are using social media tools, for a variety of reasons, and how much time they spend per day using them.
The whole event was deemed a success by our peers – thank you! What events took place in your neck of the woods? Did you host a celebration of your own?
Social Media Day June 30
Have you heard? Mashable (the consummate all-things-social-media website) has taken upon itself to announce a worldwide Social Media Day on June 30. If you’ll recall our musings of putting something together for Burlington, VT, well we did. And boy is it a doozy!
Together with a number of key, connected friends and contacts, the #BTV Social Media Day will commence with great fanfare bright and early on June 30th, and will last throughout the day. A Facebook Fan Page has been created using a couple of custom tabs. Its all branded up and ready to welcome the hoards of socially active individuals and businesses in Burlington and the surrounding area.
How this town is celebrating
Itinerary includes 6 Tweet Ups (yes, 6!), a local biz treasure hunt, nominations and voting for the King, Queen and favorite socially influential business. On top of that, there will be a ‘coronation’ of the King, Queen and Biz, a raffle of really great prizes for the treasure hunters, and a big finale drawing for folks who managed to hit all 6 tweetups. We’ll be using a passport stamp system for the Tweetups.
To record the various events, one of our connections is going to capture the festivities on video for a nice highlight reel.
Using Social Media to promote, well, Social Media
What better way (and really a no-brainer way) to promote Social Media Day than with social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and location-based apps like Foursquare and Gowalla. Foursquare is the most popular in this area, so we’re encouraging check-ins at all the tweet ups and treasure hunt locations.
The Facebook Fan Page launched yesterday afternoon and is already garnering good support and ‘likes’. We’ve also come up with a special hashtag (#BTVSMD) for tweets and posts related to the events. Folks are already tweeting and nominating their favorite social celebrities and businesses.
We’re looking forward to meeting the many folks that make social media in this small-ish town so much fun and rewarding.
What’s going on in your city? Are you participating? Bet your customers are…
Customer Service: Twitter saves day, mayor
This is a story about customer service. Via Twitter. About Foursquare.
It all started a couple of weeks ago. I was creating a business account (my own) on Foursquare.com. Playing with options and specials and updating some personal information. I also decided to change my email address for logging in, and that is where a two-week vacation from an app I use numerous times a day – and set up for others – began.
I logged out and was alerted to my problem the next time I tried to check in at my local. Panic ensued as I frantically entered any and every email address I’d ever had to try and log in on my phone. No luck. Sounds silly, but I felt like a balloon let go of at the fair.
The next chance I had I fired off a help desk request on the Foursquare website. I got a confirmation it was received, but days went by before a brief acknowledgment of my issue was addressed. Then another couple of days. Then another. No word back from the original responder.
Foursquare is swamped
I understand that the Foursquare office and service center has a skeleton crew. The company exploded so fast, and its not slowing down. I’m sure they have many bigger fish to fry than my little log in problem – like automating business verifications instead of how they are handled at this time – over the phone. Sheesh, yes I can wait.
But two weeks was too long. A meeting with a group of local business folks was looming – a meeting to TEACH them how to use this tool! It was imperative that I get back online with the app. Or look like a total fool. Not only that, but I received an email alert letting me know that I had lost yet another mayorship. Two losses in as many days. I was on fire.
Enter Twitter
I sent a message to @Foursquare (again) on the public time line, but this time I added Cc @dens (Dennis Crowley – co-founder of Foursquare) to the tweet. If you’ll recall I met Dennis briefly at the Eat, Drink & Be Social event in Cambridge, MA recently. I fancied myself a ‘connection’; should I name drop? Nothing left to lose, I concluded.
Presto. Four, FOUR minutes later I received a direct message from @dens. I emailed him my issue and history and he cc’d a reply to the help desk. Luckily, Anna, the person who replied early on, was on hand and immediately handled the ticket. After an exchange of a few emails, Anna had me back in action.
Lesson learned
Lesson learned here? Aside from paying better attention when updating my account, is don’t be afraid to go straight to the top. I did – and he was listening. Thank you Dennis and Anna.
Now to get my hard-earned mayorships back!
Have a social media customer service story to share?
Mastering Social Media for…Tourism?
Does your restaurant, bar, wine shop or other food & beverage venue depend on tourism dollars? Chances are it does, even though you don’t know it. You might want to take a serious look into these online classes put together by Tourism Currents. The curriculum is solid and profound, and the hosts have a slew of experience and in-the-trenches advice for any business relying on area visitors (or ANY new piece of business).
Tourism Currents (@TourismCurrents) is the online brainchild of small business and tourism blogger Becky McCray (@BeckyMcCray) and travel blogger Sheila Scarborough (@SheilaS). Follow them now if you don’t already. Together they are a powerhouse on information that restauranteurs can reap.
I’m so confident in the workshops they’ve put together and flattered to be asked to help spread the word. I’m whole-heartedly promoting Tourism Currents with this link for signing up. [affiliate]
Don’t hesitate to sign up now!
You can participate as an individual or as a group, and there’s a money-back guarantee. There are several course stacks to choose from, depending on your interests. Topics include roadblocks, inspiration, building communities of advocates for your business, and real world examples. Enrollment in any of the courses is now open and runs through June 30. Learn more about Tourism Currents’ course offerings here »
Register here »
I’m all signed up and anxious to continue my personal brand development. Will I “see” you there?
Social Media Day
One of our favorite blogs on all things social media, Mashable, has organized a National Social Media Day, coming Wednesday, June 30.
I’m collaborating with a number of social hot shots around Burlington, VT to put together a knock-down drag-out good time for local folks that are active participants on Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare.
Like the very successful National Foursquare Day, we’re hoping to garner much enthusiasm from local businesses like restaurants, bars and other small biz. The goal is to build more awareness, get more folks to log in, check in, and check out all the great establishments that engage in social networks around here.
Get involved
Have you connected with organizers in your area? What will be your contribution? Find out if there’s something brewing in your city with Mashable’s Meet-up page. If you don’t see events already organized, start something! Grab some great publicity and show your social prowess.
Review: #Twitterworks: Restaurant 2.0 Edition
Want to read about how Twitter really WORKS for a restaurant and food truck? I did, and boy does it work for @AJBombers and @StreetzaPizza in Milwaukee. The new book by Phil Gerbyshak (@Philgerb), Joe Sorge and Scott Baitinger, #Twitterworks Restaurant 2.0 Edition, is the story of how using social media tools helped build their businesses and thousands of relationships.
Full disclosure, I received my copy for free from Joe, for review purposes. It sells for around $23. I am strongly recommending the book, even as some of the basic “getting started” information reminds me of my Twitter for Restaurants ebook. The difference in this read is its case-study: two business’ success with Twitter and how they do it.
It took me all of one hour to read this book (in a busy coffee shop) thanks to its easy layout out and topic coverage. Got a few minutes? Get this book. You’ll be motivated to kick start Twitter and other social tools for your business, or bump up your current activity.
Video review of #Twitterworks Restaurant 2.0 Edition:
What are you waiting for? Get the book!
Follow Friday Favorite 6/11/10
Inspired by @chrisbrogan‘s Follow Friday post, I’m posting some must-follow tweeps that @twit4restos encounters during our Twitter travels. More than just a twitter link, I’ll offer a blurb on why I think they are an important contribution to the efforts of Twitter for Restaurants and social marketing in general.
You’ll find a permanent listing of go-to blogs, tweeters and must-read books on the Reads page »
I hope you’ll take Chris’ advice and feed your community with useful connections to invaluable people we meet here online.
Without further adieu, this week’s Follow Friday favorite and why:
AJ Bombers
We’ve alluded to the awesome Social Media-ness of Joe Sorge with AJ Bombers (@AJBombers) in the past, both here and here, and now Joe’s Twitter success has been written about in a book – #Twitterworks Restaurant 2.0 Edition (check it out here.) I just received my copy in the mail today and will share some thoughts when finished.
AJ Bombers seems to be killing it with every social media platform: Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare (wow 3,700+ checkins!), YouTube, you name it. The whole effort resonates with me because Joe talks to me. As a person. He uses my name. He responds to my little tweets and stories about his establishment. He responds to many people on his Twitter account – whether messages aimed just at AJ Bombers, followers retweeting, or when the place is mentioned. He’s actively listening and watching, and he responds without hesitation.
When business über-blogger Chris Brogan happened upon his establishment, Joe gladly stepped into an impromptu video interview in one of the restaurant’s booths. Look closely at the booth and you’ll notice its covered with Twitter @ names. Shows that not only is he a big fan of social media, but he’s encouraged and allowed his followers and customers to be as well.
Joe Sorge and AJ Bombers get it. Restaurants, bars, or any small business can learn a lot about how to participate in social media just by fanning up and following their tweet stream. They inspire me every day.
Social tools for the Restaurant Do-It-Yourselfer
If you missed my tweets about this OneForty.com “Essential tools for the Restaurant Do-It-Yourselfer”, I’ve corralled them all here. Add these social marketing and analyzing applications to your Twitter toolbox. Use any number of these tools to help track, schedule, share and analyze your social efforts.
Twitter Grader “FREE! A snapshot of your (or anyone’s) Twitter account, including engagement levels, number and power of followers, update frequency and quality, ratios, rankings, and status.”
Twitalyzer 2.0 “FREE! The market leading social media analytics application focusing on short-messaging media. Interactive graphics, rich visualizations, integrated analytics.”
Tweetdeck “FREE! Desktop application for viewing all the folks you follow on Twitter. Create groups, follow hashtags, post photos, share on Facebook and MySpace, etc.”
Social Mention “FREE! Social Media Alerts. Like Google Alerts but for social media. Receive free daily email alerts of your brand, company, CEO, marketing campaign, or on a developing news story, a competitor, or the latest on a celebrity.”
Tweetdeck for iPhone “FREE! Tweet on the go with all your favorite TweetDeck features, including the ability to view and update Facebook, create groups, search, Retweet, post photos and links, direct from your iPhone.”
YouTube “FREE! Create a branded YouTube Channel to share how-to, event, interview and general interest videos. You can also ‘favorite’ videos from around the web and add them to your channel. Tag, embed, share.”
TweetMeme “FREE! Add the Tweetmeme button to your blog posts and web pages, making it easy to share information and content. Trackable with analytical tools.”
BackTweets “FREE! See who’s Retweeting you, talking about you, linking to your website and blog.”
Flickr “FREE! Upload, organize and tag photos. Search engine friendly, sharable, and you can create groups to engage your community.”
Bit.ly “FREE! Not only a Twitter URL shortener, Bit.ly lets you track link clicks and conversations, and see where clickers are coming from across various channels.”
Listorous “FREE! Listorious is excellent for quickly finding individuals and organizations in your community and field by categories and checking social graph indicators. It’s also helpful for organizing and indexing Twitter lists in a variety of ways such as tags.”
Hootsuite “FREE! Excellent Twitter dashboard for managing Twitter. You can schedule tweets, create groups, follow hashtags, post photos, manage multiple accounts and view stats for all.”
Twit Cleaner “Analyzes the people you follow, identifies the time wasters, spammers, bots & those who’ve quit Twitter, etc. Allows you to easily clean out the garbage (& save those you want to keep following).”
Foursquare “Smart Phone app that let’s your customers find you, check in, and take advantage of special offers.”
TweetStats “Graph your Twitter Stats including – tweets per hour, tweets per month, tweet timeline and reply statistics.”
Tweetbook “Generate a pdf e-book of your latest tweets and favorites. Great for getting a snapshot of a special event and saving indefinitely because Twitter archives a maximum of 30 days.”
Vitrue for Facebook Vitrue aggregates how much your Facebook Fan Page is “worth”. Compare your fan page to others, like your competition and fan engagers you admire.
Have you discovered other Social tools you can’t live without?
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Recommendations
Reviewed!
Zachary Cohen, Social Media adviser to restaurants in the NYC area, kindly read through the Twitter for Restaurants e-book and gave it a thumbs-up!
Read on >>
