If you are sitting at a table of eight in a restaurant, and somebody asks you a question, would you answer? If someone else says, “I loved reading your book!” Would you respond? If someone else says, “I sure do like this salad!” Would you all just sit there staring off into space? NO! You would answer. You would respond. You would show them that you heard them. You would answer their question and acknowledge their compliment.
So why are you ignoring people who comment on your blog? I can’t count how many times I have read a blog and commented to the author, and heard nothing back. Ever. I took the time to listen to you, and you don’t have the time to listen back? Do you not understand that this is a conversation? Or are you just sitting at that table in the restaurant shouting what you believe with no thought that you are sitting there with other people?
In case you’re late to the party – social media is a conversation – it’s a platform where people gather together and TALK TO EACH OTHER. It’s not a place where you just post another article, another invitation to buy your book. It’s not a place where you voice your opinion, and then when people talk back you have walked away.
Hey, I get it. I’m a business woman. I’m using social media to drum up business, to build fans, to let you know I have a new book out. And it’s hard to keep up when you have 800 friends on this page, a thousand followers on that page, or when one comment generates fifteen more comments. And, yes, sometimes I do drop the ball myself. But it doesn’t change the truth. And the truth is that social media (blogs, facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.) is a place where people go to communicate with each other! And if you aren’t bothering to stay in the conversation, you are being rude.
I don’t care if you’re Oprah, or consider yourself as important. Find a way to talk back. You’re being rude. And in today’s crowded market, you can’t afford to be rude to your audience. Or they’ll just find someone else.
april 22, 2013 update…..social media still rocks!
