Good communication

I took a class this week on the use of social media in the marketplace. I found it very helpful on a number of levels. Our instructor sells advertising for a major television station locally. He has become an expert at "spreading the word". I was impressed with his advice: social media should be used in a friendly, "folksy" sort of way, not as an electronic form of junk mail.

He left us with a list of "Do's and Don'ts":

The Do's:

1. Do use transparency and candor.

2. Do be ethical.

3. Do provide relevant information--add to the dialogue and be interesting.

4. Do address negative and positive comments--dealing with a negative comments directly can have a positive impact and change opinions. And remember, happy customers can be your evangelists.

5. Do have a little fun--show your brand personality, and leave the "corporate speak" behind.

The Don'ts:

1. Don't jump in without listening

2. Don't be deceitful in your conduct.

3. Don't delete negative comments.

4. Don't be a spammer.

5. Don't let your accounts go stagnant.

6. Don't fill your followers' feed with advertising.

7. Don't tag them for no relative reason.

It seems to me that these are good rules for any of us who want to communicate the gospel message with our lives and our stories.

Although the #3 "Do" and #4 "Don't" may seem contradictory, they remind me of two Proverbs, which sit back to back:

""Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes."
Proverbs 26:4,5 (New American Standard Version)

In other words, don't use your precious, valuable communication time to engage in "spraying matches with skunks"! Don't waste your own words or the time of others in engaging in arguments with fools--people who never intend to learn and practice the truth, they just want to fight.

But, you can give an appropriate and civil response to criticism. You don't have to pretend that it doesn't exist, but you don't need to give it undue attention.

"Don't #1: Don't jump in without listening" matches another proverb:

"He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him."
Proverbs 18:13 (New American Standard Version)

One of the rules of good salesmanship is to listen to the needs of your customer, first, then tailor your sales pitch to the customer's needs.

We would undoubtedly find more receptive listeners to the gospel message if we employed these wise communication tactics in our daily lives!

--Posted by Mama O.