Here’s something to think about if you’re wondering whether it’s worth your time and effort to do Twitter posts or keep up a Facebook fan page for your company. According to a new survey from Fleishman-Hillard and Harris Interactive, PRNewser (http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/) reports that “75 percent of people surveyed said they view companies that microblog — sending short, frequent messages on sites like Twitter or status updates on social networks like Facebook — as more deserving of their trust than those that do not.” (The 2010 Digital Influence Index is a seven-country survey of 4,243 people, conducted between December 2009 and January 2010; for more on the survey, visit http://digitalinfluence.fleishmanhillard.com.)
“Microbloggers [Twitter or Facebook users, for example] trust companies that listen and respond in real time,” the surveyors wrote in a press release. “Users who have adopted microblogging tend to trust companies that monitor their online activity. They seem to view this online listening as a sign that organizations care about their needs and want their feedback.”
Further proof that marketing is no longer a one-way communication, but a two-way conversation. How are you using tools like Twitter and Facebook to have a conversation and build relationships with your customers and prospects? I’d love to hear about your challenges and your success stories.