Have you ever met someone at a party who only talked about himself? Instead of wanting to start a relationship with him you probably felt like Arnold in the image below.
(Source: Kindergarten Cop)
For brands, the same theory applies to your LinkedIn communications. I’ve seen too many companies, including major multinationals, hit the publish button, pat themselves on the back and then call it a day – neglecting to reply to their audiences’ comments.
Remember, the people who take the time to follow your company, read your posts and actually comment are those most interested in your organization. They could be potential employees, clients, or other key stakeholders but if they feel like their comments are falling on deaf ears then they’ll mosey on up to the next company. (Everyone appreciates recognition, which is the reason the majority of us post on social media – we want to be heard and, more importantly, we want to feel “liked.”)
By taking the time to respond to your LinkedIn audience’s comments and questions, you’re showing that you care about them. In return, you’re much more likely to gain their loyalty and interest over the long-term.
But what if you’re the community or social media manager at a major multinational. You may receive hundreds, possibly thousands of comments, each time you post. So what can you do?
Recommended for You
How to show your audience you care about them
Read your audiences’ comments and identify any trending topics that you could use to write about in a follow-up, round-up post with a message such as “Thanks for all your comments regarding our recent post. We really appreciate your feedback and have tried to answer most of your burning questions in this latest article. As always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts.”
Wow! How do you think your audience would feel about your brand after that?
The next time you post on LinkedIn and are fortunate enough to get comments, instead of being Narcissistic Ned (or Nancy), listen to your audience and reply to them. Maybe then they will say, “You like me! You really like me!”
What other mistakes are you seeing on LinkedIn? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
