HOW TO BE HUMAN IN A DIGITAL WORLD

I remember the days when a flood of clients rushed to us claiming “we need a website.” “What is your objective,” we’d ask. “It’s the hot new thing and my boss is bugging me to get one,” most replied. Fast-forward to today and we are hearing: “Our company needs to be more social. A Facebook page isn’t enough. What should our company do?”

Companies Aren’t Social, People Are.

The first thing we ask clients seeking to be more socially connected is “what do you value in an enjoyable human-to-human relationship? In a trusted friend?” We advise that they begin by behaving in a similar fashion in their Brand to Human relationships. Be genuine. Be authentic. Less sell, more tell. Listen. Really listen. And respond with action that shows you care. Not rhetoric. Less mono-logue, more dialogue. At Suite, we’ve found a very fresh way to build more human relationships with brands.

The LiveLab Way.

We have created the world’s first live social media centers. These are interactive environments for brands to foster human relationships. Just like real life, we’ve found this to be the very way to turn liking into loving.

My next blog post will explore the world of LiveLab. I’ll cover the key elements that comprise a LiveLab: our Brand Activists, our candid capture content strategy, and our overarching mandate: WOW or Invisible.

Seizing social opportunity is about having a heartbeat, a soul and a conscience. It’s about being in touch with the human condition today. It all comes down to a simple, ancient, low-tech idea: The Golden Rule. Brands that treat people in the manner they wish to be treated will win in the social media age. So, how do you be more human? BE more human. Like Apple and Nike on one hand and like Oreo and Nestlé Toll House on the other. Who would you add to this list?

Barrykrause@suite.is