Retailers Stepping Up Social Networking Efforts

The key bits, from Retail Touchpoints (read the whole thing here):

"For those retailers, just starting down the social networking path, industry experts recommend the following key strategies for social media:

• Get Personal: Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh handles the company’s Twitter account, putting a friendly face behind a  big company. Hseih also follows people back for that extra special personal touch.
• Let Customers Know What’s Happening: One of the main foundations of social networks is the real time updates and information sharing. Let customers know about store openings, in-store events, promotions, etc.
• Ask Questions: Apparel retailer Mandee posts questions on Facebook through the status feature, which provides rich, real-time customer intelligence on preferred styles and colors to assist in merchandising decisions, as well as understand customers on a more personal level.
• Be Engaged and Participate: Retailers need to monitor feedback by listening to what consumers are saying about the brand and respond accordingly.
• Be Relevant: Post information not only relevant to your brand, but to people who shop in your stores. Whole Foods posts recipes for organic dishes on their Twitter site. People want useful information that can help them make informed decisions."