Welcome to the Walking Digital Corridors podcast, where we delve into the world of social media and provide you with the latest tips and tricks to empower you to walk digital corridors more effectively. Join your hosts, Alex Abbott and Jordan Abbott, as they discuss the nuances of social media, with today's episode focusing specifically on the art of commenting on social media.
In this episode, Alex starts off by sharing an interesting statistic - a whopping 93% of the world's Internet population use social media. This highlights the immense reach and impact that social media platforms have in today's digital age. Alex goes on to predict that LinkedIn, the professional networking site, is set to reach 1 billion users by the end of the year, underscoring its importance as a platform for connecting and engaging with professionals across various industries.
Commenting on social media might seem like a simple activity, but as Alex explains, it is much more powerful than it appears. He draws parallels between commenting on social media and in-person networking, highlighting the similarities in the approach and the potential for building meaningful connections. Just like in a networking event, on social media, you can strategically identify individuals you want to engage with, observe ongoing conversations, and find the right moment to contribute and build rapport.
However, Alex highlights that not many salespeople prioritize commenting on social media or dedicate enough time to it. He stresses the significance of engaging in at least 100 social networking conversations every week in order to generate the desired level of conversations and establish valuable relationships with potential prospects.
Jensen, the guest on this episode, echoes Alex's sentiments, emphasizing the benefits of commenting on social media posts. From increasing visibility to establishing oneself as a trusted advisor, commenting enables professionals to share their thoughts, expertise, and experiences with their network. Jensen speaks from personal experience, recounting how he strategically commented on four posts last week, leading to subsequent conversations and even scheduled calls with those individuals. He highlights the art of crafting curious responses and questions to capture the attention and interest of others, ultimately initiating valuable conversations.
Jordan adds his perspective to the conversation, emphasizing the power of commenting as an active listening tool. He likens posting on social media to being on a soapbox, wherein individuals spread their messages, while commenting allows professionals to actively listen, engage, and contribute to ongoing conversations. He categorizes comments into three types, starting with supportive comments, which show appreciation and contribute to broader reach. Supplementary comments, on the other hand, provide additional insights or reference relevant research to support the original post. Curious comments, Jordan suggests, are the most valuable but often require more effort, as they involve asking purposeful questions that keep the conversation flowing and encourage the other person to respond.
Reflecting on their own experiences, Alex, Jensen, and Jordan stress the importance of approaching commenting with a genuine interest in the individual and the topic at hand. They highlight the value of asking insightful questions, playing dumb to encourage others to share their thoughts and opinions, and embracing a learning mindset. By actively engaging with others through comments, they emphasize that professionals can continuously expand their knowledge, broaden their perspectives, and foster meaningful connections.
