Two Way Conversations: Use 'Em or Lose 'Em
Much has been said of the importance of two way conversations online - the very core of social media offering the ability to build genuine relationships with potential friends and customers. Yet some continue to see this as a one way street...
A cautionary tale: I recently posted a comment on a blog that I found thought-provoking enough to want to engage with it's author - potentially starting a good conversation and/or relationship. Sadly, after 3 weeks, my comment remains un-moderated (i.e. not posted) with no word from the author. I've since noted that there are no comments posted to ANY of the blog's posts - something I didn't see before I commented. The result: I unsubscribed from this blog's RSS and am contemplating un-following the author from Twitter. This is not for personal reasons. It is because this blog's author doesn't actually engage readers and is therefore not walking the walk.
This example illustrates how important it is to be actively engaged in whatever social media you decide to participate in. If you do not have the desire or time to participate, perhaps this isn't the space for you. My best advice for the individual in the above example is to remove the comment section from the blog as it gives the illusion that they are interested in engaging in conversation. Don't half-heartedly offer a two-way conversation vehicle and not support it. Everyone's time is valuable. Don't waste it for those that would like to engage.
-Paul





