10 Jul 2010

by Webmaster9

Collaboration is a recursive process where intersection of common goals causes two or more people, or organizations, to work together. Sharing knowledge and building consensus can enhance an intellectual and creative endeavor. Social Media is all about sharing. Sharing information, news, photos, videos… the list goes on. It is also about learning, listening and empathizing.Jessica Chapman of Room to Breathe emphasizes the importance of collaborating with associates, vendors, suppliers, and people in other industries that complement a business’s overall need for growth.Collaboration is important for any business or organization. As Chapman points out, “In a great economy, collaboration is a really good idea to do. In a down economy where people are freaking out about money and not sure where things are going to come, collaboration is a necessity.”Here Jessica talks about the traditional market. But in an increasingly technology-driven world, how does one connect, how does one collaborate? Especially when the need to connect is even more imperative due to current market conditions. At present, the market is highly customer-centric. A customer today knows a lot more about products compared to a customer a decade ago, primarily due to easy access to a vast number of resources and information online. A consumer decides to purchase only after he or she completes a detailed research on the particular product or service. Listening to customers, understanding what they need and seeking feedback is how collaboration begins. And this can be accomplished by making use of social media networks. By being present in places where customers visit to research products is the first step in a social media plan.As Maki says, “Social media marketing is the process of promoting your site or business through social media channels and it is a powerful strategy that will get you links, attention and massive amounts of traffic.There is no other low-cost promotional method out there that will easily give you large numbers of visitors, some of whom may come back to your website again and again.”One needs to develop a strategy to build relationships with customers online. One needs to learn how to listen, empathize and connect with them. Having conversations are important. This leads to a better brand image for a company. Fuse lists the most important points to be followed while using social media and collaborating online:

· Social media networking takes time· Strive to maintain legitimacy· Create and maintain a conversation with your consumer· Know when NOT to use social networkingWhen used wisely, a good plan can complement traditional channels and also build brand identity by focusing more on customers. In short, the most important activity for a company is to collaborate with the customer.

Position2 has been a part of the social media phenomenon since its advent. We?ve seen social media evolve and become an established marketing discipline. Position2 has developed a proprietary methodology called ?Surround & Intent Marketing? (SIM). The SIM suite maximizes customer response through a data-driven understanding of online behavior that predicts intent, and drives action through a dynamic combination of search and social media marketing. Visit: http://www.position2.com/