Customers and partners are talking. You should talk to them.

The New York Times published an article on February 14, 2009, about the Mayor of Philadelphia’s public discussions in an effort to get input on the city’s 2009 budget. “The sessions are part of a multiweek public process intended to give Philadelphians, for the first time, a chance to present their ideas for the budget before it is drawn up and presented to the City Council on March 19.”

Following the 2008 US Presidential elections and prior to the inauguration, the Obama transition team created the Citizen’s Briefing Book—“a project that has enabled everyday Americans to share their expertise and insight with President Obama.” The concept of the briefing book was to allow US citizens (or anyone around the world, really) to ushare their ideas about what’s most important to them and to provide suggestions.

A cynic might say that both of these initiatives are publicity stunts, however, I believe that they are great examples of the new age of transparency and participation that those of us that work and live in today’s digital age know all too well. People that participate and engaged (online and offline) develop a vested interest in the success of, in this case, an administration (that could also mean a politician, a cause, a non-profit organization, etc.).

This same concept applies in the private sector. Engage with your customers and partners in a way that allows them to participate will result in a customer and partner base that is vested in the success of your business. Call it brand affinity if you will.

It might be as simple as creating a message board and inviting your customers and partners to have discussions with you about topics and issues facing the market, problems they’re facing, solutions, your business or produce development. Or, you could invite your customers and partners to leave comments on your blogs, or have them contribute their own.

Begin by asking yourself (and your team) how you can create conversations with your customers and partners. Message boards, blogs, video, podcasts and commenting are all great vehicles for this. If provided with the right platform and catalyst for conversations (your job), your customers and partners will likely have a lot to say and chances are you’ll learn a lot.

With that said, what are good conversation starters that you’ve used to get your customers talking to you?