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Social media has quickly become one of the most popular platforms for brands to reach out to their consumers. More and more brands are scrambling to ensure that they have a social media presence, so they can get ahead of their competitors and get their share of the market.

The thing about social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter is the fact that it’s so easy for brands to create their accounts there and start getting likes and followers. But the question is, do consumers really want to engage with brands via social media?

According to a recent global study done by TNS Digital Life, 57% of people in mature markets are just not interested in connecting with brands through social media. Americans (60%) and Britons (61%) are particularly disinterested in having brands occupy their social space – so should brands continue using these platforms to connect with consumers?

The answer is yes, of course, but the challenge for brands is to offer social networking users value and engagement, not just simply adding to the vast noise that can be found online. When you simply add to the digital waste that can be found on the Internet, it’s not really going to help your campaign in promoting your brand and increasing your sales.

Social media is slowly becoming a congested market, where brands are jockeying for position to ensure that the content they offer is seen by consumers. But the problem is, many brands are treating social media like traditional media even though the platform is completely different. They think of social media as a place to broadcast content and promote their products, but these aren’t what users are looking for when they follow your brand.

You need to ask yourself why people are using social media. And that’s why you need to go beyond broadcasting and marketing to connecting and engaging. You want to communicate with your consumers, understand what they want, and view your offerings from their perspective. You have to learn to identify what tickles their emotions, what starts the conversation going, and what makes them respond with conviction and passion.

One of the very simple ways you can do this is to make sure that your brand doesn’t hide behind a logo – nowadays, consumers want to know with whom they’re interacting with. They don’t want to talk to a faceless, nameless entity on Twitter or Facebook. They want to see the face behind who’s talking, they want to like and get to know you, not just interact with a business. This may be a bit impossible to do with large, multinational brands, but SMBs can definitely utilize this effectively to help consumers identify with their brand better.

This is because people enjoy forming personal connections in these social networks. This is the main reason they sign up – to connect with friends, families, colleagues, meet new people and get to know them, etc.

Having a friendly, smiling face in your Twitter profile is definitely going to be a lot more personal than a logo.

Brands need to be authentic in social media. They need to offer value first before even attempting to sell something. Though many people may be disenchanted with connecting with brands through social media, it is interesting to note that TNS Digital Life also reported that 47% of people comment about brands online. Consumers are open to talking about brands in social networking sites and they enjoy sharing their opinions. The key thing to note here is that people want to be heard – they’re tired of the monologue of traditional media. Social media allows them to engage brands in meaningful, two-way conversations.

So stop hiding behind your logo, and stop adding to the endless barrage of noise on the Internet that doesn’t really resonate with consumers and simply adds to the digital waste online. Be personal and interactive – listen and collaborate with your audience. Encourage the building of a community around your brand where people can share their opinions and be heard.

Award your most loyal followers and brand advocates with rewards and special offers. These are the people who can really influence others through their personal interactions with them.

Make sure that your social media pages offer your audience something that’s mutually beneficial to you both, not just simply what’s best for your brand. You need to celebrate what people are doing, and collaborate with them about content to be shared in your pages. Truly, the more personal you are with your interactions via social media, the better for your brand.

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