Before developing a strategy around using a specific tool or group of tools  you must first understand your customers social behaviors.

Customers are adopting new ways to communicate with each other and companies must change in order to reach them. Too many self proclaimed social media consultants pitch a solution based on which tool is the most popular.  If you hire a consultant that uses this as a basis for a social media strategy then you will always be chasing after  the latest in popular trends.

First you must understand your customer’s behavior.

Here are some things to consider in understanding your customer better

1. Where are your customers online? Which of these communities or services best characterizes their behaviour?

2. What best characterizes your customers behavior on these sites? Do they upload pictures or comment for example?

3. How influential are you customers? Are they seen as reputable or  considered an authority in the service your provide by others?

4. How do your customers use social tools in regard to your service?  How do they use these tools to research new services or products?

There are  more things you can do to understand your customers. The point is these are things a consultant must do prior to identifying any strategy in regards to a specific social marketing tool.

If you have further questions please feel free to comment here or contact me at evilempireinc@gmail.com .