I just returned from a week in Paris with a group of girlfriends I’ve known for more than 25 years. The trip’s primary purpose was to reconnect with and nurture a couple of friends who had experienced a particularly difficult year. As we wandered the streets of Paris, window shopping, sight seeing and talking in beautiful restaurants and cafes, we talked about losing a spouse, guiding a child back onto the path toward a successful future, learning to live with health challenges and stemming the atrophy that comes from fear of change and the unknown. Most importantly, we listened to one another.
That social skill of listening closely to our friends to really hear what is being said, and sometimes more importantly, what is not being said, is the same skill we need to employ in social media.
If one of us had come to the table in Paris and launched into a sales pitch about our new business, offering a one time only discount for our services during the holiday season and tried to lock down the conversation with a bonus offer, we would have missed an opportunity to become, in some cases—or continue to be in other cases—a trusted resource.
But because we really listened to one another, some valuable advice was shared, relationships were deepened and long-term friendships were nurtured.
Do I think these women may purchase something from me at some point? If what I’m offering fits their needs, you bet I do. But not because I developed a great sales letter or put together a show stopping promotion. They’ll buy because they trust me and they know that I understand their concerns and needs, because I listened.
As an author, expert, speaker or entrepreneur, you have something of value to offer, and your friends want to hear about it—at the right time and in the right way.
Your social media friends deserve no less. Make friends, listen, engage, invest in your online relationships and build a community of people who care about what you create and you’ll find you’ve established a core group of brand evangelists who will help you spread the word about your work to a much wider audience than you could have done alone.
You said it Cindy! True and valuable conversations aalways begin with good listening, regardelss of where they take place!
Cheers to friendhips, good conversations, and listening!
Karmen