Using social media to be, well social, is quite acceptable. But are you using social media to gather intelligence on your competitors? It’s not difficult. What they’re up to is right out there whether they’re talking on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Google+. You can even scan Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.
Gathering intel on the competition has never been easier thanks to the web. You can subscribe to the competition’s newsletters or blog, download their white papers or case studies, join their open groups on LinkedIn and pin their latest products on Pinterest.
So perhaps, the question is not whether or not you’re being “social” on social media, but are you being strategic?
Being strategic just takes a different mindset, a little planning and perhaps a little more awareness on your part as you travel your social channels.
Here are a few questions to get you thinking strategically:
1. Do you come across your competition while surfing your social channels?
2. What are they talking about?
3. What new innovations are they trumpeting?
4. What new business have they won or lost?
5. Who’s following them? Who are their connections? Who’s in their groups?
Keep in mind, you can use many of the same analytic tools to find out how well they’re doing, that you use to gather your stats.
Lisa Barone wrote a great article last year, check it out.
Share how you’re strategically using social media.
