Is your marketing plan as sophisticated as the State of Connecticut's?

If it isn't, you need to do some serious soul searching.

I awoke this morning to news that the State of Connecticut's Judicial Branch was beginning to use Twitter. They will post information about public hearings, state regulations, Supreme Court rulings and court closures due to weather among other things. Let's hear it for the state.

While the term government efficiency is an oxymoron you have to take notice of the state's ability to react to what the public desires. Instead of dismissing Twitter as a meaningless tool for adolescents hanging out at Starbucks, the state has developed a presence on one of social media's most effective communication tools. They choose to live among "their customers".

Acceptance of social media is in direct proportion to your business' desire to understand your customer. We are transitioning from "talk at you" marketing (radio, TV) to engagement marketing. Your customer will tell you where they are willing to listen to your message.

I believe that you must embrace the idea of engagement with your customers.  If you don't your competitors will. Do you want to lag behind a government agency when it comes to understanding this phenomenon?