July 8, 2012 By 39 Comments

The One Social Question That You Need To Ask When Engaging Online (Visual Blog)

There is one question that you need to ask yourself when engaging online and managing your social media marketing. It is simple. It will guide you to do the right thing every time. It will bring you back to basic customer service and relationship marketing.  Check out this fun “Visual Blog” to find out what it is!

The One Social Question You Need to Ask

When it comes to customer service and relationship marketing online - there is just one question you need to ask.

If you really want to EXCEL at engaging online, there is only one question that you really need to ask.  It works every time. It will give you the right answer every time.  It will guide you to do the right thing.  It is pricelessly simple.  And I want to share it with you.  This question is my Secret Ninja Weapon online and it works for everyone – whether you are the owner of a bricks-and-mortar business, a social media manager, online entrepreneur or the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company.   It’s nothing fancy. In fact it is quite simple.  But if you want to be successful in engaging online then take a moment to read the following visual blog. If you keep this one question in mind when using social media, you will build more relationships, get more leads, make more sales and more importantly, generate more loyal, trusting, raving, referring fans and clients.

The One Social Question That You Need to Ask When Engaging Online

The One Social Question That You Need to Ask for Better Engagement Online!

If you agree and you love this graphic, then please feel free to check out my boards and pin to Pinterest if you are a “pinner”.  And don’t forget to let me know in the comments below, so that I can check it out, thank you and follow you back!

Have you ever found yourself asking this question?  Do you engage the same way online as you do off?  Is this a useful reminder?  I would love to hear your thoughts!  

Donna Moritz is a Social Media Strategist and Visual Marketing Specialist – and founder of Socially Sorted, in Queensland, Australia. Donna loves to help small businesses and companies use visual social media strategies to get more reach, referrals and results for their business. She has been a contributing author for Entrepreneur.com, Social Fresh and Amy Porterfield and has been featured on Forbes and Yahoo Small Business. Connect with Donna on Google+ and other social media networks below.

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Filed Under: Facebook, Social Media Strategy Tagged With: , , ,
   
  • http://twitter.com/beanie72 Adam Bean

    Right on the money Donna. To many business owners forget that there is a real person on the other end of all interactions.An effective personalised one on one interaction is far more powerful than an automated blast to hundreds. 

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Beanie – I know you “get it”. I find this works with most of my clients and it is a good fallback if a new “social” situation crops up.  Have a great week!  

  • Lisa | Practically Intuitive

    OOOH! I like that!  It’s a good visual for people who might not understand the “ways” of online interaction.  This helps make it clearer so they don’t inadvertently barge in.  I’m sharing this one! :)

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Ha ha thanks Lisa – glad you like it! yes I think visual is best when trying to get a simple point across – it works a treat in my business (and my offline business) and with my clients. Enjoy!

  • http://lisaselow.com/ Lisa Marie

    Donna,
    A girl after my own heart! I love your post here! It is such a stellar reminder. I wonder at times if some have forgotten that there are real people online behind the social media, etc.? I’m old school and old fashioned about this stuff. I still love in-person connections and I do think about that question above. I try to treat people like REAL people…’cause they ARE! :) :) :)  

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Ah then Lisa Marie, you are obviously a girl after my own heart too! Yes, I feel that way too sometimes, that we have lost sight of the real meaning behind “social” – old school is good. Corner shop stuff. Glad to hear there is someone out there that asks themselves the right questions too! Have an awesome week!

  • Jessica McCurdy Crooks

    Great post and visual. The information was useful and is something I will incorporate from now on. Thank you

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks so much Jessica – I know it may sound simple but I have found it to work for even the more “complicated” social media issues, so have fun with it!

  • http://twitter.com/WebMedia4uAll WebMedia Marketing

    Always love reading your post Donna. Just wish other businesses would take on board your comment. I know I will. 

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks so much Merril – I agree, it is strange sometimes telling business to go back a step and do what they normally do, just online! Thanks for your feedback!

  • Ronda Devereaux

    Great reminder that there are “people” behind those keyboards out there and that etiquette still applies!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Absolutely Ronda – I love how you put that “there are people behind those keyboards”. Have a great day!

  • http://socialmarketingplanet.com/ Steve O’Sullivan

    Hey Donna, you really hit the nail on the head. It’s called SOCIAL media for a reason. the old style of push marketing doesn’t really work anymore. I like to ask the question “Would you do this if you were at a cocktail party?”

    Love the graphic, great job. (slight envy) :-)

    Steve O

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Absolutely Steve! I love your question too – the idea of a cocktail party is a great analogy – thanks for the feedback about the graphic. I had a day where I felt like “drawing” not “writing”. :o )

      • http://socialmarketingplanet.com/ Steve O’Sullivan

        I’d love to do some infographics, seems like a lot of fun! How long did it take you to do it?

  • Carren

    Awesome Donna, just totally brilliant!!!! Well done my love and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the page, it’s jam packed with things to look at and explore, you’re just brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!! AWESOME!! I wanna be just like YOU when I get my Blog on!!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Hello gorgeous Carren – thanks so much for your awesome feedback as always! Oh, sweetie, we are totally going to get your BLOG ON!!! You are doing it already, but the best is yet to come! Have an outstandingly brilliant week! Mwah! x

  • Kimberly

    Good reminders in an engaging format. Pinned it! I hope lots and lots of people read your post and take the hint.

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Kimberly – I was feeling a bit creative and thought this might be a different way to get the message across ha ha. Thanks for the pin – very much appreciated. I hope that we spread the message too – thanks for helping! :o )

  • http://www.jackiebledsoe.com/ jbledsoejr

    Nice post! Good food for thought when we are interacting online..

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Jackie – I know that you are always mindful of basic social etiquette but it surprising how many people forget that what they do online should really be no different to how they handle themselves offline – it is just a different set of tools/medium. There are still people involved. Have a great day!

  • Andrea

    What a great analogy, thanks Donna! I don’t think I’ll ever NOT do this one again.

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Andrea..that’s brilliant! Have a great day. Love your url by the way. Heading to check it out now…

  • Fiona Lucas – iRespectOnline

    Absolutely love this content and will be sharing immediately!   Love your great way with words and pictures.. and such a fantastic simple question to ask!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks so much Fiona – that’s great to hear! Simplicity rocks!

  • Foodthatsings

    Awesome ninja question Donna….I have had it written in front of me since I first heard you say it.  & tried to spread it around :) )THANKYOU!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Veronica – I knew you would spread the word for me! Good one!

  • http://twitter.com/Paul_Barrs Paul Barrs

    Nice – love the way you take the point through step by step. The point… what would you do if they were standing next to you? Great Question!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Cheers Paul – it is amazing how it works for the simplest of issue and the more complex ones. At the end of the day it is still about people! Thanks for your feedback!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=775768182 Cas McCullough

    Awesome post Donna! Have pinned and shared!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Cas! Love the pinning – that’s the best place for it! Have a great week!

  • http://www.facebook.com/margie.mintz1 Margie Mintz

    Hi Donna, Great post. A very handy thing to remember. The online world can seem so impersonal.  I pinned it!

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks for repinning Margie! Yes it is a good thing to keep in mind. Glad you liked the post!

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  • http://MagnoliaJazz.com/blog Robbie Schlosser

    Thanks, Donna, for the weekly reminder.  LOVE this infographic.  It’s a great common-sense suggestion — that we’re communicating with people, after all.  
    My question today concerns Pinterest.  How do you recommend engaging with someone who “LIKES” one of our pins?  Reply on Facebook or Twitter?  We can easily use “comments” to engage with someone who re-pins or comments on one of our pins.  Can we comment on a “LIKE”?

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Hi – yes it is a little tricky with likes – a bit like facebook, you would have to go to them directly in another way and comment but unlike FB there is no way to just say hi on their wall – it is all pin our board based. I think as a general rule, try to comment on those that repin and just take note of who “likes” your pins and maybe go and like some of their pins in return! Or repin from their boards. That way you are still engaging. Just be careful with comments as if you do too many too quickly, Pinterest can freeze your commenting privileges for a while if they think it is a bit spammy. Great question again – I am keeping note of all this as I will no doubt post about it again at some stage!

  • http://twitter.com/lahara Loralee Hutton

    Love this post. It’s so easy to forget our social graces. Thanks for the reminder.

    • http://www.sociallysorted.com.au Donna Moritz

      Thanks Loralee – yes it is a good little reminder and so simple. The more I apply it, the more I realise that it applies to just about everything! Have a great week! PS thanks for sharing!

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