Putting The “Social” in “Social Media”
I’m presenting on “Social Media” this morning as part of my friend Mary Ellen’s seminar re Online Media Rooms…and here’s how I’ll start:
Here’s the good news. You’re already doing it.
Here’s the bad news. You’re already doing it.
Of course, there are tons of hard sell, in-your-face marketers hucksters putting their (increasingly desperate) spin on it - and wanting their clients to pay them big bucks to “implement” social media. But, people have been communicating with each other since - well - there were people. What’s changed is the variety of methods in which we can do so.
The first step in “doing” social media is to let go of the idea we’re in control of our marketing messages.
Regardless of whether you participate or not - people are going to talk about you anyway - online, offline, at parties…in print…
They visit your web site.
They google you and/or your salesperson’s name.
They call their friends.
They talk to your employees.
They are your employees.
They read blogs.
They leave comments on (lots of) blogs. (I’m still getting unhappy people on my posts about American Airlines and Home Depot. And they email me…and, one woman even called me - on a Sunday - looking for the “Comcast troubleshooter” Seems my name came up in the top results when she googled the term.)
They forward emails and eletters.
They delete emails and eletters, unopened. (so much for that big-timus huckster’s advice about how to “get around” spam filters.)
They listen to podcasts.
They go to Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube.
They twitter.
They talk to (and look at) you at “after hours” networking events and friends’ parties. (I landed one of my biggest and best clients because of talking to a woman at a one-year-old’s birthday party.)
What do they see? What do they find? What are they saying?
What are you doing about it?
P.S. If you’re one of the seminar attendees looking for the freebie re blogging - here it is: Why Blog? The Quick View (two-page PDF)
P.P.S. As both Mary Ellen and I said this a.m. - You don’t have to try to stay current with everything, ALL the web stuff, ALL the social media tactics, ALL the technology. It’s impossible. You’ll either go insane or end up under the bed with a bottle, whimpering…You DO need to pick one, two, or three things. Keep it simple. Keep it real. DO THEM.
Related Posts:
That Annoying Buzzing Sound: Social Media
Wasting Your Time on “Thousands” (”Instantly” sending your press release to “thousands” of reporters ain’t necessarily good.)
Why, Before Sending Out Your Product…
Why Blogs Matter
The Brand New Biz World (Social Media isn’t a fad.)
I Get Calls From Unhappy Employees
Wacky Idea: Talk To The Home Depot People
Marketing is “Broken” And I’m Thrilled!
There Are No Secrets On The Web
Mo’ Better, Mo ‘ Blogging (Yes, For Business)
Want to browse through all my posts? Go to The Idea Pool. Everything I’ve written since I started blogging (in April 2005).
Tags: marketing, marketing troubleshooting, emarketing, social media, online media
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April 1st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
It was fun, MS! Thanks for your great contribution. I loved your characterization of the outdated website as a spider web. Great photo, too. All too often we simply get stuck in the “I’m gonna” mode. My challenge to seminar participants, like yours, is “Take action! Make something happen. Just do it.” A funny thing happens when you go for what you want - you frequently get it.
Since we talked about the power of three, I’ll commit publicly to my three BIG tasks for the month of April: 1. Email follow up to every seminar participant (as promised) with bonus on/before 4/4/08; 2. My on sample online media room up and operative on/before 4/30/08 (remember what we said about the cobbler’s children!); and 3. At least a baker’s dozen posts (13) about OMR for the month of April - which means that Special Report will be ready for request on/before 4/30/08. How ’bout it, seminar attendees? What three things do you commit to do?
April 1st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
You mean I actually have to take my own advice?
1.Keep my “News & Views” Updated every week. (including my guest blog posts over at Lipsticking.com.) Done for this week, today.
2.Keep on track with my 1/2 hour of reading/blog surfing/writing/thinking every morning BEFORE I dive into the work day.
3. Stay on track to publish the book on “new marketing” I’m writing with another collaborator.
And, here’s a Fun fourth: Further develop more opportunities for the M&M Show. (Keep this up - we can get those custom M&Ms).
April 1st, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Okay, it’s been a long (albeit, productive) day and I may sound a little crotchety.
1. I hate the term “Social Media.” Sounds boring like “Social Studies” and something I might be scared of, like “Social Disease.”
2. I’d rather think of it as building a community or communities of people with shared interests.
3. The business must listen to its customers and take action on much of the feedback. It’s relational, not transactional.
(And just to prove that I’m not really crotchety, I hear there’s a t-shirt out there that says, “Viral Marketing Doesn’t Work–Pass It On!”:-)
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Glenn,
I’m equally cranky about the term - but it’s out there and people are trying to grok it.
It’s really all about people communicating - “social media” “viral” “word-of-mouth” blah…blah…blah…
I may have to find me one of those t-shirts!
April 9th, 2008 at 6:53 am
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