Social Media : LISTEN
Why this is important:
Because the conversations are going to happen, with or without you. It is always better to be an informed participant in the dialogue, and to understand the lay of the land before you take your first steps. In the case of building your brand online, ignorance is definitely not bliss. You must be prepared to take a hard, realistic look at your brand through the rest of the world’s eyes so you can better understand how to talk with them and be a valued conversation partner.
How it fits into your plan:
This is very similar to market research, or even just keeping a pulse on your customer base. Consider this a piece of business development, and spend 15 minutes a day perusing your alerts. If people are talking about you, pick five posts a week that you find in your reporting, go out there, and respond.
