Guest Post by Eric Davidson. Eric is a Vocus Marketing Consultant who helps businesses get better marketing results.
With the Man of Steel movie approaching faster than a locomotive, there isn’t a better time to try to have your brand become as powerful and influential as the last son of Krypton. With the internet as your Metropolis, and your customers and clients as your citizens, here’s how to use social media to become more like the Man of Steel.
1. Respond Quickly: One thing Superman is well known for is appearing when he is needed. You need to be similar.
Constantly monitor your social media feedback, as if you have super hearing, and see if a crisis presents itself. Then use your super speed that the internet has provided you to arrive in the nick of time, hopefully to save the day and prevent any other problems from manifesting.
2. Put out Fires: Superman uses his freezing breath to stop enemies in their tracks, and also use it against any type of flame or fire obstacle he might encounter.
Your online crisis management should work in the same fashion. Remember, Superman always tries to resolve things peacefully, only using force (your admin abilities) when necessary. You’re there to help people, and not to manhandle them into submission. Use your breath to pacify, never to attack.
3. Be Impervious to Attacks: Not even Superman is immune to everything, and neither are your company’s social media conversations. However, you can help ensure that any “attacks” that you might get on your site have a better chance of bouncing off by taking good care of your citizens/customers.
Sometimes your customers will even defend your brand if you’ve done enough for them previously. Think of good feedback as the rays of Earth’s yellow sun – it’s what gives you your strength.
4. Lead by Example: Superman is known for being a symbol of truth and incorruptible “good.” While characters like Batman work in the shadows and use fear as a deterrent, Clark uses his otherworldly abilities and paragons in order to inspire others.
You should do the same. If you treat people with respect, and use your abilities for the benefit of others as much as is (in)humanly possible, then you will be not only a force for good, but also an example to those you interact with. All of this goes to strengthen and promote your company’s branding and marketing efforts.
Although you and your company (probably) weren’t the last remaining salvation of a dying planet in a far off place in space, you can certainly learn from the examples set forth by this modern day myth and legend. Technology and digital software has brought all of us one step closer to having the abilities of a superhero.
As Superman famously said, “In this world, there is right and there is wrong…And that distinction is not difficult to make. The powers we have…The things we do…They’re meant to inspire ordinary citizens…Not intimidate them…Not terrify them.”
Need more marketing superpowers? Try these guys for size.
Image: Warner Bros via IMDb