September is here, leaves are beginning to fall and the weather is crisper. Today the WRIS staff discusses their favorite ways to enjoy one of autumn’s best products – juicy, delicious apples.

John: I like apple cider. Also like eating straight from tree as I used to do at Orchard Hills in Chesterland during a round of golf!

Adam: I love apple cider (and cold pizza) in the fall. It takes me back to high school; the morning after a football game….ahhh….good times.

Sandy: All of the above, plus applesauce and freeze-dried (‘brothers all natural’ apple crisps are a great snack!). Washington state is known for its apples, and the house I grew up in had two apple trees in the back yard. We used to eat them in all sorts of forms, including homemade applesauce.

Charlie: My favorite way to eat apples is to grab them right off a tree and eat them.  The sour green ones were the best.

Salli: My faves are cut into chunks with a fresh wedge of good cheese and a nice bottle of wine, or in my Great Aunt's recipe for homemade apple pie...which means just a whisper of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Warm up the pie and slap a good slice of cheddar or a nice dollop of whipped cream and you're eating a little piece of  heaven!

Debbie: I would say my favorite is dutch apple pie.  I have to also agree with Salli - wine and cheese is right up there.  Makes me think of California wine country trips - totally awesome.

Bonny: The more crisp and tart the better.  If I am feeling crazy, I will do crunchy peanut butter.  I love a caramel apple in the Fall too!

Carmen: My grandmother used to make delicious apple butter.  The recipe involved Red Hots candy believe it or not.  I think I will try making it myself soon.

Image courtesy of La Grande Farmer's Market

This is the sixth installment in our on-going series on Social Media for Manufacturing.  This is an extension of a recent seminar Web Marketing Manager Carmen Fontana gave on the topic for the Cleveland manufacturing association, WIRE-net. While geared towards industrial companies, many of the principles can be applied to businesses of all types.

In the real world, you would never walk into a cocktail party shouting at the top of your lungs, “MY NAME IS JOE AND I RUN THE BEST COMPANY EVER.  BUY MY PRODUCT NOW,NOW, NOW!!!!”

Instead, you would probably quietly enter, grab some h’or dourves and carefully observe the room.  Once you had a feel for who was there and what they were talking about, then and only then, would you politely introduce yourself to fellow party goers.

A cyber cocktail party, be it Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, operates in the same manner.  You will be more successful, and a lot more liked, if you take a “Listen and Learn” approach before diving right into Social Media.

Principles to observe:

• Watch what others are doing.  What are they posting about?  How frequently?  Are they getting good response rates?
• Speak, don’t shout.  Social Media is a conversation between people, not a billboard for your latest specials.
• Promote, but discretely.  At the end of the day, you are trying to make money.  And that’s totally fine.  Just promote yourself in less obvious ways.  Less is more when it comes to selling in Social Media.
• You give as much as you get.  Give free advice.  Answer questions.  Post informative articles.  Good will breeds good will.

Here are a few ways to start listening and learning:

1. Sign up for Google Alerts.
2. Read industry blogs using a RSS reader.
3. Follow companies, read Answers and follow News on LinkedIn.
4. Watch relevant videos on YouTube.
5. Follow companies and hashtags on Twitter.
6. Like companies (both B2B and B2C) on Facebook.

Next installment: The Social Media Process: Step 3, Engage