My first job was delivering the Hamilton Spectator to 114 students on McMaster Campus. Shortly after school, I would trek across campus, delivering a dozen to a dorm, the odd single paper to an admin office. All over campus, I'd go in and out of buildings until my supply was depleted. I planned my route so that the last paper was delivered to the professors lounge, where I would sit at the bar, drink a fountain pop and eat handfuls of rock sugar out of a little wood bowl on the bar and then wheel home with a sugar rush that would last until after soccer practice! I was 11 years old.
A few years later, we received notice from 'The Spec' that delivery routes were being rescheduled to the early morning to accommodate the need to get the news earlier. Reading the paper at 4:30 in the afternoon was considered to be too late. By that time of day it was old news.
That was the mid-90s. The speed at which we feel we need to acquire information has become quicker and quicker and Social Media has increased the pace exponentially. Social media has become a significant part of people’s lives, and businesses are no exception.
Social media platforms provide businesses with opportunities to connect with their customers, engage with their target audience and even market their products and services. However, as social media platforms have grown, it has become difficult for businesses to keep track of everything that is being said about them online. This is where social media monitoring comes into play.
Social media monitoring is an essential tool for businesses that want to monitor their online reputation and engage with their audience. Simply put, it is the process of using tools to keep track of social media channels for mentions of a particular brand, product or topic. This technique helps businesses to understand what people are saying about them online, and to respond quickly to both positive and negative feedback.
Social media monitoring is something that I have employed over my career in politics and is a skillset that I bring to clients in the private sector. Timing is essential. I feel like I'm trying to get you the paper a little earlier! Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, social media monitoring is a technique that can help you improve your online presence and build stronger relationships with your customers.
Pro Tip: Respond to feedback. When you receive feedback, whether it is positive or negative, it is important to respond. This shows that you are listening to your audience and care about their feedback. It is also an opportunity to engage with your customers and build stronger relationships with them.
Learn more about our Social Media services here.