A few years ago I developed the Old MacDonald method for creating valuable content. Although parts of the EIEIO method have application to starting and furthering conversation on sites like Facebook and Twitter, I’ve felt for some time that another methodology specifically for sparking conversations on conversation-based platforms is needed.

I’ve been chewing on this for a while now and am happy to introduce the RISSO method (not this Rizzo) for generating ideas to help you start more conversations with your friends and fans on social networking sites.

The RISSO method is:

• R – Reveal
• I – Inquire
• S – Share
• S – Surprise
• O – Organize

Here’s more about each section:

Reveal: One of the benefits of social media tools is that they allow you to humanize what might otherwise be lifeless, faceless brand or product. Don’t fight against this opportunity. Instead, play into it because social media is about people connecting with people. As such, when you reveal something about your organization and let people peek behind the curtain you increase the chance of connecting with more people. Maybe you do a series of interviews of the people who work for your organization or you talk about how you develop products. Whatever the case, show people what life is like within the organization and showcase the people who make it happen. Here’s an example from the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation’s Facebook page:

Inquire: Don’t underestimate the power of asking people questions. When you go to a social gathering or a networking event the best way to start a conversation is to ask a question. This works on social networking sites also. These questions don’t necessarily need to be pertinent to your business either. If you sell carpet but you want to ask people who they’re cheering for in the Super Bowl, that’s a perfectly legitimate question for your social networking platform. Here’s a great example of Soles4Souls doing is well on their Facebook page:

Share: As you find interesting or informative videos, news items, blog posts, etc., be sure to share them with your fans and followers. We’re trying to earn attention here and this is a great way to do it. Next time you see a funny video, share that video and see what kind of responses you’ll get. Do that enough times and you’ll continue to see your engagement increase.

Surprise: Instantaneous conversations mean you have an outstanding opportunity to surprise your friends, fans, and followers. One client of mine recently announced a discount on their services via Facebook and saw several people take advantage of it. It was a surprise and it worked. Surprises don’t have to be discounts or coupons. They can be free gifts, inside information, or temporary access to something they might like. The idea here is to keep your conversation platform interesting enough to continue earning attention.

Organize: Another power of social networks is the chance to organize people to do something serious or silly. Whether you organize people to change their avatars or submit pictures for a photo contest, you probably have more opportunity to organize something with the people following you than you’ve ever thought about.

The RISSO method probably doesn’t cover everything you can do to get good conversation going but what it can do for you is give you a point to launch from when you’re working on your organization’s conversation strategy.