Data, Social Media, and You.

Tweet

How do YOU pronounce it? Day-ta or Dat-a?

What actually IS it? Encarta defines it as information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions.

Surveys? Experiments? How does this apply to social media? And, you thought I was going to talk about ROI, didn’t you?

Ah, questionnaires. Good old fashioned quantitative market research; an excellent way to get some insight from your fans, followers or circlers. And plenty of free sources to use. But beware of bias and improper wording; I’ve seen lots of poorly written surveys in my time!
Find a market research professional, tell them what it is you’d like to learn from your clients, and let them do the rest. Great data starts from the best preparation, from defining the issue, including determining the possible actions that will be taken as a result of the findings, creating the questionnaire, testing, fielding, processing, analyzing and reporting.

What do you want to learn from your fans on Facebook for example? Some ideas include:

• Demographics, beyond the location, age group and gender that Facebook provides to page owners
• Gather ideas on what they’d like to see on your page
• Test out a new product concept
• Their opinions on a particular subject; perhaps something that you’d like to blog about at a later date
• Greater detail on their interests (psychographics in market research speak)
• How they feel about some of your current products and likelihood to buy
• What charity they’d like to see you make a donation to

And the other half of that definition, experiment?  How about trying something new with your posts? For example, my other endeavor, Groovy Reflections, offers products, namely hand tie-dyed t-shirts sporting the brand logo. Personally, I don’t enjoy getting in people’s faces touting these offerings.

So, instead, I’ll post something that’s more on the “softer side”, such as giving away a shirt instead (have been doing this every 500 new fans).  Discussion about the free shirt will be lively and some of the more curious folks may inquire more about the products while others will explore quietly on the website. It's both engaging and creating awareness.

Not exactly a focus group facility!

It’s not as good as having a focus group, but you’ll get some qualitative feedback. DO remember that this is a very informal way to gather information and it’s not representative of the population at large that has an interest in your brand or business.

Focus Groups, either in person or on-line would provide some concrete data on the respondents as well as their individual responses in conversation based on a well-planned out guide contain the question you’d like to have the respondents discuss.

Data is powerful if gathered wisely! Do learn from it to make your social media efforts even more successful!

For more data (ha!) on data, say hello on my Facebook or Google+ pages or tweet me.

This is "D" of the Blogging A to Z Challenge. Don't forget your A, B, C's!

Stop Wasting Those Business Cards!

Tweet

Are you giving out small rectangles of heavy paper that cost money and do very little for you? And why even bother going to events to meet people if you’re not going to follow up with any of your new acquaintances? This was my closing thought on Part One about business cards. So how DO you get around the potential wastefulness of business cards?

Here’s a few observations from meet-ups, gatherings, events, both big and small plus some suggestions:

• People who know each other tend to stick together. Why do that if you’re at a NETWORKING event? It’s hard for someone on the outside to wiggle in to the conversation.

• I almost always go alone. Yeah, it’s scary. You have no choice but to meet people.

• The folks that tend to enjoy having conversations are more likely to be attending by themselves, just like you.

• Approach the shy folks; they turn to out to be great people.

• Many people are just as terrified as you are about starting a conversation.

• Look for common ground and build a discussion around it. You’re probably saying “yeah right” but it’s easier than you think. Ask them why they are there, ask them if pink is their favorite color since they’re wearing it head-to-toe, or inquire how often they attend events. Something will spark. Those people will remember you from something you’ve said and the business card you’ve left with them has a higher potential of being utilized by them.

• Laugh and offer up a light joke or two, but stories about your dog running around with the underwear you left on the floor isn’t going to cut it.

• Get there earlier when there are fewer people and establish a few connections. Then you can introduce each other to other folks at the event later; it’s like you’re old buddies by the time the full crowd gets there!

So what does all this have to do with your business card?  One thought:

It’s a waste of time handing business cards out to everything with two legs. Concentrate on offering your business card just to those you’ve spend some quality time with. These people know a little more about you, are likely to remember you and follow-up with you. 

Okay, some of you are saying “but if I don’t give out my business card to lots of people, I’m lowering my chances of getting contacted by them in the future.” No, you’re not.  As I pointed out, most folks rarely follow up and/or contact you anyway. Hmmm…I’m seeing a survey happening in the future to substantiate my theory!

If you’ve had past experience where most people DO follow up with you, I’d love to hear about it. Let the debate begin.

Part One on this subject can be found by clicking here.