I always find it interesting when I hear someone remark ‘How can we engage customers in online conversations?’ or ‘What can we do to engage our customers in conversations that take place in social media?’

If we really have a think about it, engaging in conversations with customers in social media and online isn’t so difficult. As always, it’s same principles, different mediums. At the end of the day, customers, like you and I, enjoy a good conversation. SO if you wanna engage online, then do the same things you would in real life.

Be entertaining, have interesting topics and/or content, take time to listen to others’ opinions, give recommendations but not sell anything (have you met insurance sales people at a party?) too hard and well…you get the idea.

Just think about the first time you spoke to your first boyfriend and girlfriend on the phone for example. Did you make bullet points of what to say? Did you prepare anything interesting topics? Did you practice how’d you sound first?

Simple principles that have withstood the test of time. Just a new medium to do it on.