Photo of Gary Vaynerchuk via NPR

By doing exactly what they were doing before: giving that personal attention mom-and-pop shops are known for—except online.

When storeowner Gary Vaynerchuk created winelibrary.com and Wine Library TV, and began using Facebook and Twitter, he understood that he would have to do more than just have a social media presence.  He decided to provide real value to customers by building truly meaningful connections which he says, “is hard to do if you’re pushing too hard.” Especially because (as he puts it) his customers’ BS radars are good and getting better.

So how did he find the balance?

Check out his interview with NPR to find out.

-Bianca Abate

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Social media is a channel. While a social brand is a way to be. Think about it as a cultural shift in the way you live your brand online and offline–as a business strategy (how do we deliver our customer service? or how do we develop new products/services?), as a people strategy (how do we find great talent? how do we train them and empower them to live our brand?), and as a communications strategy (how do we find new customers or audiences, what are they saying and how do we engage with them online?).

The line between your offline and online brand may be well segmented in your business internally (between departments and roles), but from a customer’s point of view they are non-existent. You are your brand no matter where they find you or interact with you. So, in other words, be the same brand you are on your website or Twitter that you are on the phone and on your product packaging.

Check back often for more on how to build and manage a social brand.

–Jen Travis

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“That’s what branding is all about – building sincere human brands – which we all instantly can relate to.” This is something I just read on Branding Strategy Insider that summed up something I have been thinking about a lot lately: the idea that branding isn’t about spin, but about honestly being who you are and owning that through everything you do, whether you are a company or just a person looking for a job. This makes you real and someone people can relate to–which often translates to loyalty because people know they can trust you. In this social landscape, you can’t get away with being someone you’re not for long. There are many waiting to call you out. So, make sure you’re marketing is a true reflection of who you are so you end up on the positive end of that powerful machine we call word of mouth.

–Jen Travis

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