When I launched my Facebook page I made a commitment to always thank new fans and existing fans for their involvement. One day, I shared a photo thanking the newest fans for liking the page, and one of my existing fans left a great comment on the post. He said, "Nice touch! They won't care how much you know until they know how much you care!"

I really liked what he said and it's always lived as a mantra in the back of my mind.

When it comes to social media, we have an amazing opportunity to really show our audience and customers just how much we care!

I know I'm not perfect and I know that I can't always be as quick to respond as I'd like. But I do hope that my audience knows how much I appreciate them. I have committed myself to thanking every person that shares my posts on Twitter and anywhere else I notice my posts shared. I do my best to respond to all comments and engage in conversation on Facebook and other sites. And I love reading the comments and responding to them on my blog.

And the reason I do all this, is because I am truly grateful to each and every person who reads, comments, likes, or shares my content. I can honestly say that I value each and every one of you.

My goal has always been to educate others on how to succeed on social media. That's why I write my blog and work with people behind the scenes to provide them with assistance in reaching their goals. I honestly hope that my message (and I think most of the time it does) comes across with this intent. Some people have questioned how much information I "give" away and why I give so much. And, it's because I want you to learn!

Have you ever stopped to think about what you're doing for your customers? What are you giving them? Do they know if you care about them?

The thing is, in a world of online content, where anyone can write a blog, anyone can sell a product, and anyone can claim to be the best, what you give people will be what defines you and your brand.

Sure, you can give them great information and great products. But why are you giving them this? Is it because you want to grow your business? Probably. But that's not how your audience wants to perceive it. They want to think that everything you give them is a present. A present wrapped in a pretty package and addressed directly to them. If you can make each blog post, each product release, each consultation, and each sale feel like you are giving your customer the best gift imaginable, they will embrace you and your brand.

You see, you can be the smartest person in your industry, you can have the best product on the market, you can be the best at your job. But if you don't appreciate your audience and everything they give you, they won't care about any of that. Sure, they may still buy your product because it's the best but they won't be brand ambassadors. And when someone creates a better product, they will be quick to jump ship to your competitor.

However, if you care about your audience, and show them how much you care, they will take care of you!

So, have you shown your audience how much you care?