User-Generated Content in Social Media
According to Moran and Gossieaux (2010), a successful social media strategy must begin with an
understanding of consumer conversations and characteristics. Consumers are more likely to respond to a
social media strategy when they are able to interact with and help others. The ability to foster a social
relationship between consumers and companies is the most important component of a social media
strategy. Moran and Gossieaux (2010) explain that a firm must first listen to what existing online
communities are saying about their products and services before a social media strategy can be developed.
The success of a social media program is highly dependent upon knowing where the majority of
conversations are occurring.
Once these conversations have been identified, marketers must leverage social media to participate in
the conversation and effectively manage their customer relationships. Social media is about fostering
communication with consumers rather than a one-sided push of a brand message (Hennig-Thurau et al.,
2010). A social media strategy must therefore allow for users to share and contribute to content. A content
strategy must be developed according to the characteristics of preexisting online consumer communities
and supported by an integrated online campaign (including a company blog, interactive website, articles,
and videos). The social media tools employed in such a campaign should be chosen based on where the
majority of conversations about a company are taking place and the social media habits of the
participants.