‘Cause You’ve Got…Seasonality!

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Does anybody really know what time it is…does anybody really care?

Hope you do because we’re since most of us in the U.S. lost an hour from Saturday Night into Sunday. Wish I could be telling you that we are gaining an hour! On a brighter note, spring is coming (it’s in full force already where I am) and the days have been getting longer.

And they get even “longer” once we “spring forward”…so what will you do with all that extra daylight? Will you spend it at the computer, or will you be outside?

Have you thought about the popularity of your blog or the number of hits you’ll get on your Facebook or Google+ page during the warmer months?

• Are your fans or readers away from the computer when it’s warm out? If you’re blogging about hiking, canoeing, riding a bike, etc. chances are you’re not going to be seeing much of them if they can sneak in an hour after work doing something they truly love.

• Do your fans or readers have kids? They may be off to an outdoor adventure on the weekend, or rushing off to baseball practice after school. 

• Are your fans or readers sun worshipers? If they’re emerging from the blues of winter, being outdoors makes them feel good and that’s where they’ll be often.

• The time to start planting is soon here. People can get started when there’s more daylight to allow that.

Of course, these examples offer up a bigger can of worms. Questions to think about:

• Demographics. Who are they in regards to their age, income, and gender, where they live, occupation, etc.? How does that affect their behavior during the various seasons?

• Psychographics. How active are they and what do they do with their leisure time? Yeah, “leisure time” is pretty much non-existent, right? Surf the internet, surf the waves, indoor sports, outdoor sports, crafts, reading, cooking, going to movies; you get the idea. If their activities rely on the weather to any extent, you may see engagement levels go up and down, depending. 

Paying attention to the patterns in regards to blog hits and comments or activity on your page can help your business in the long run. Knowing when people are around (or aren't) allows you to plan more efficient strategies.

If there’s a reduced audience because of seasonality, there are options.

• Consider scaling back your posts for a short time; if you post 10 times a day, post 6 or 7 times instead and save some of that valuable material for when your audience is fuller (as long as it isn’t timely material).This holds true especially for Facebook if the number of fans “talking about this” has gone down. 

• Experiment with those who you haven’t been able to engage. Find some new ideas to post and coax those people out of the wood work! 

• Ask more questions to your fans and see what they are looking for from you.

• Make seasonality part of your page. Welcome the seasons (including weather related and sports), springing forward/falling back and holidays and weave them into your page. 

Not all of these thoughts will apply to your product or service. But I think I just saw you nodding your head up and down, so something clicked!

In closing, enjoy this tune by Carole King. Click here.

One More Reason Not to Use Automated Direct Messages: That is the Question.

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Something I find most amusing about automated direct messages is when I’m asked a question. I take great delight in responding with a snappy answer. And lo and behold, 100% of the time, my wittiness falls into a dark hole, never to return. Here are a few favorites.

Hi :) Thanks for following me. Want some free bonuses? http:/xxxxxx
Sure. And what’s the catch? There always is one you know.

Why hello there! What's shakin?
Well, we had a 3.7 earthquake last week. (This was a truthful response, by the way)

Hey cutie lets cam??
Actually didn’t respond to this one. Blocked this twit instead. Oops.

Hi. Right now I am focused on back and forward links. Would you like to trade? Fill this out, be featured & trade links http:/xxxxxx
Nice to meet you. I have no idea what you are trying to say to me here. Honestly.

Thanks for the follow. Look forward to your tweets. How do you love life?
I do indeed love life vs. any alternatives.

For that last one, unfortunately I didn’t get my two cents worth in regarding how much I love life. Alas, this gent is not following me back. Okay. Am I supposed to reply on the public timeline then? And how can he be looking forward to my tweets when he isn’t going to see them? Ding! Unfollow.

And then, there’s the “can you find the question in the ADM” approach:

Are you ready to find happiness, buy my book on forgiveness & joy.
Didn’t respond, because I didn't realize there was a question there. Guess I was more focused on the command, which I neglected to heed to. No sale.

Quick, if you’re asking someone a question, what do you expect in return? An answer? Yes, I tend to agree with you. So, why in the world would anyone ask a question and then not be prepared to respond to those answers? Why even begin to take the lid off the jar if you’re going to screw it right back on again?

Seriously. This sort of behavior just doesn’t bode well for one’s reputation now, does it? If you MUST use ADMs, DO be prepared for those curious types (like me) who are going to challenge you, and possibly use your mistakes as mishap examples to be shared with others. Asking questions encourages engagement. That’s a good thing, since engagement IS key to social media survival. However, engagement is a gateway to dialog. So DO be ready to respond. To borrow the motto from the Boy Scouts of America, “Be Prepared”.


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Question mark photo from Allencentre