What is Social Media?
Filed under: Internet Marketing, Social Media, Strategic Content, e-Products & Special Reports
“What is Social Media?” is a question I’m asked often. In fact I’ve been interviewed more than a few times about this exciting topic - and last night I was the guest speaker on Lorraine King-Markum’s “Thought Architect Group” tele-conference. Lorraine is a Certified International Executive Coach and each month she brings her warmth and charm and leads a power-packed networking presentation.
And last night, for about 90 minutes straight, I spoke with Lorraine and her guests about Social Media, Social Networking and more. The entire show was recorded and available for free download (see below.) Also, I’ll be uploading the full transcript of the interview as soon as it’s available and in the mean time, you might enjoy the following ‘white paper’ I developed in preparation for the show.
Here’s the special report, and the download links for show podcast MP3 and transcript is below:
Your Social Media Marketing Strategy: 4 Things to Remember
Social Media Marketing
Many a company has forgotten the old maxim, “Act in haste, repent at your leisure…”
The same warning should be applied to companies rushing to get in on the social media marketing wave.
If you hear things at work like “We should have a blog,” or “Let’s join Facebook,” I suggest [respectfully] that maybe you are about to make a whopper of a mistake.
Here’s why…
Online Social Networks, Are They All the Same?
Recently I was asked if all online social networks were alike and what strategies would I recommend for a marketing approach. It got me thinking - after all this is a very popular subject and individuals and businesses alike are trying to leverage the power of social marketing.
Here’s the answer I gave:
Social Marketing Has Come of Age - Again?
‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’ What a great line. Written no doubt by a pacifist I’m guessing, because I’m all for the power of the word (after all, in the beginning there was only the word…) but facing someone in battle armed only with a ballpoint pen… I’d run a mile - unless of course I was Bruce Willis or Stallone, then I’d win no matter what *grin*
But what has that go to do with the price of fish? Not a great deal other than the fact this annoyingly cute saying is in fact correct. Granted in physical combat it’s a no-win, but in today’s wired world where we communicate at the speed of thought, the sword is no match for the word.
Social Networking is Not New, It’s Human Nature!
Social networking is a hot topic on the internet these days, and yet, social networking is nothing new. Remember BBSs (electronic bulletin board systems) and Usenet, chat rooms and threaded discussions? In their day these technologies were just as appealing and drew us online with equal effectiveness.
Today Facebook, MySpace and other Web2.0 social sites are merely a modern day version of the village square, the cafeteria, and the water cooler - albeit considerably more “pimped out” with technology.
For instance, I started my online life in the early 1980’s using an Apple IIe and a dial up modem which connected me to various bulletin boards of the time. In the 90’s when email became the uber-product of choice, well it was pretty much a forgone conclusion we would embrace it.
Text messaging, video phones and other unifying communication technology is merely allowing us to do what we’ve done for millennia: hangout, gossip, share stories, make friends and socialize.
Social networking is not new, it’s old… and old is new again.
