Random Acts of Kindness
Posted on 02. Dec, 2010 by The Relationship Era in Blog, Blog, Trends
This cross post from Chris Ebbesen’s blog at ebbynezer.com gives brands a few things to think about as they enter the social media space.
Feel free to comment here or on Chris’ blog.
I was happy to read this years report, linked here and above, to see that the number one crucial trend this year was RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS. Simply put, if brands want people to like them, then they need to start being kind to people.
In 2011, there will be no excuses left not to be kind as a brand.
For over a year, the teams at imc2 have been trying to get the point across to our clients (Fortune 500 brands) that the time of promises and marketing messages is nearing an end. This new day dawning is the start of the Relationship Era, where consumers and brands seek sustainable relationships built on trust and transaction.
What you do is much more important than what you say and that if you truly want to harness the power of new media, than stop treating it like a new channel for your tag lines, campaigns, and promos.
Truly great social marketing does one thing only: increases the occurrence of positive conversations about a brand between consumers.
Notice how I never once used the words Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube there?
That was on purpose. Sites like the ones above are for people to talk about their lives, not your brand. If you want them to talk about you on there, then well, you have to do something worth talking about.
Sure, you can use social networking sites as a catalyst or a hub, but remember, actions speak louder than words.
How do you start being a kind brand? How about sending a thank you card, in the mail, to a customer who says nice things about your brand on Twitter. Who gives a shit if he/she isn’t an A-List blogger.
You’re probably already great at getting awareness and reaching the masses, but it’s time to round out your strategies and tactics with an infusion of small actions that have a high impact on one or two people.
Please drop a comment below or reach out to me, @ebbynezer on Twitter to continue this conversation.
