Boost Your Business Likeability with Lessons from Likeable Social Media

Wouldn't it be great to transform your business into one that people genuinely like? One where loyal customers return, employees are motivated, and your brand's online presence stands out on social media platforms? In Likeable Social Media, Dave Kerpen provides practical insights and expert advice through eleven proven strategies that businesses of all sizes can implement to drive success and profitability.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key strategies from Kerpen’s book, along with actionable tips to help you apply them in your own business.

Listening

We’ve all heard the saying, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason,” but how many of us truly listen? Kerpen highlights the importance of listening, not just to hear, but to build genuine relationships. He breaks it down into four parts: research, feeling, intimacy, and mirroring. Listening isn’t just about waiting for your turn to speak—it’s about understanding and responding in a way that makes others feel heard.

Kerpen’s Call: Practice active listening. In your next meeting, spend 90% of your time listening. Watch how people respond when they feel truly heard.

Storytelling

Great stories connect us on an emotional level. And when your brand has a compelling story, customers relate to it. They don’t remember your product specs or sales pitch, but they remember how your story made them feel. Storytelling is a critical tool for building social media engagement.

Kerpen’s Call: Write down three stories you want your organization to tell in three years. Then, start making those stories a reality.

Authenticity

People are tired of the fake, corporate-speak. To build a likeable business, you need to be authentic. Stand by your values, show vulnerability, and allow your business to have a true, human personality.

Kerpen’s Call: Ask yourself, when was the last time you showed a personal side to your team or clients? Share a story, or take a moment to be real with them.

Transparency

Trust is built on transparency. When you’re open about your decisions and challenges, it builds respect. Customers value honesty, especially when things aren’t perfect.

Kerpen’s Call: List three things your company could do better and find a way to communicate this to both your employees and customers. Share what you're working on and how you plan to improve.

Team Playing

A motivated, loyal team is the backbone of any successful business. To create that culture, give credit where credit is due, and don’t seek recognition for yourself. When you praise your team, you motivate them to go above and beyond.

Kerpen’s Call: Hold a team meeting and brainstorm activities your employees would enjoy. Pick the top three and integrate one into your company culture.

Responsiveness

In a world where instant feedback is the norm, responding quickly is a must. Ignoring feedback or taking too long to respond can hurt your reputation. Acknowledging feedback, whether positive or negative feedback, shows customers you value their opinions and helps you build stronger relationships.

Kerpen’s Call: Write down five ways you can respond to negative feedback and turn it into something positive.

Adaptibility

In business, staying stagnant is a fast track to failure. Kerpen emphasizes the importance of being adaptable. Just like the concept of pivoting in The Lean Startup, you need to be able to adjust based on new insights, opportunities, or challenges.

Kerpen’s Call: Hold a meeting and ask each team member to suggest one way the company can improve. Choose one idea and implement it.

Passion

Passion is contagious. It drives engagement, motivates teams, and inspires customers to take action. If you’re passionate about your business, it will rub off on everyone involved.

Kerpen’s Call: Connect with your customers on a deeper level by understanding what they’re passionate about and how your brand can be part of that passion.

Surprise and Delight

Customers love being surprised in a positive way. Over-deliver, exceed expectations, and add that element of surprise to your business to keep customers coming back for more. This strategy is a cornerstone of enhancing the customer experience.

Kerpen’s Call: Think of three memorable customer service experiences you’ve had. What do they have in common? Implement those elements into your own customer experience strategy.

Simplicity

People crave simplicity. In a world cluttered with distractions, simplicity stands out. Kerpen advises companies to focus on doing one thing really well, instead of overextending themselves into too many areas.

Kerpen’s Call: Ask yourself, “What’s unnecessary in our company? What can we remove to make things simpler?”

Gratefulness

Gratitude goes a long way in business. When you express genuine appreciation, people feel valued and are more likely to help you again in the future. Taking the time to show gratitude creates goodwill and strong, lasting relationships.

Kerpen’s Call: Instead of sending a thank you email, write a handwritten thank you note to a client or colleague. Show them you value their contribution.

Ready to transform your business?

If you’re looking to implement these strategies and truly make your business stand out in a competitive market, HivePowered.Ai can help. Whether you’re looking to elevate your leadership, boost your marketing with a social media marketing firm, or scale your operations, we have the tools and expertise to make it happen.

Join the Limitless Leaders Club and connect with other driven professionals, or hire a Marketing Sidekick to help you implement these strategies and drive results. With actionable tips, practical insights, and expert advice from thought leaders like Seth Godin and keynote speaker Dave Kerpen, your business can achieve its full potential in social media engagement and beyond.