READING REFLECTION BLOG

How to get more attention from consumers?

I have read groundswell's two very important chapters this week which were Attaining social maturity and the Future of the Groundswell. These two chapters give me an answer.

Society is constantly changing and consumers' preferences are not fixed. There are different groundswell for each period. But be sure to know how to catch the wave to attract customers. This week's groundswell gives these tips.

1 Never forget that this groundswell is all about people

That means, as a person, you have to be ready to reach out to people you haven't met, your clients. For example, you have to be willing to talk to people with AIDS or cancer. Blogging, networking, friending - these are all personal activities. By developing empathy for others, you can unlock their secrets.

2 Be a good listener

Marketers sometimes have trouble with this —they think their job is about talking to customers (or shouting at them). But success in the groundswell means listening not just to customers but to others in your company, and to people who’ve built applications at other companies. We’re all learning here; the best listeners will end up the smartest. 

3 Be patient

The technology moves so fast it’s easy to think you’re about to fall behind. But these applications touch so many parts of your company that it takes time to get everybody to buy-in. It took four years for Maureen Royal to launch her community at Constant Contact. All Rick Clancy wanted to do at Sony was to launch a blog, and it took six months. But in the end, they got to where they wanted to be because they took that first step to begin the journey.

4 Be opportunistic

We’ve told you throughout this book to start small. This means seeking places to build applications that make progress on connecting with customers, even in a small way. Then seek opportunities to expand that success. When you get a green light or have a great idea, get moving. You may not have another chance.

 5 Be flexible

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the groundswell, it’s that it always surprises people. Events happen that you don’t expect like An Amazon delivery warehouse catches fire or a Coke factory pours all its coke into Sprite cans. Groundswell thinking means constantly adjusting to and learning from these events.

6 Be collaborative 

In your company, there are others who think like you. You’ll need their support to get past entrenched resistance, and their ideas to help you accomplish your goals. If Bill Gates had not had Paul Allen's help, Microsoft might not have succeeded at all.

7 Be humble

Only a modest man can acquire more information. People like to talk to modest people.

Once you have mastered these techniques, you will have mastered how to follow the trend. In this way, you will be better able to attract customers and promote your products.

That's my reading feedback this week.