Witness The Power Of Social Media
As I prep for a packed house at Friday’s Boulder Chamber-sponsored Social Media 2010: the Business Edition (seats are still available; I’ll be speaking on “Building A Solid Social Media Strategy”), I’ve been thinking about the power behind social tools. So often, social networking is dismissed as a frivolity, something that’s just for kids. In fact, this INC. Magazine article claims that up to 81 percent of small business owners have never applied social tools.
Contrast that news with this mind-boggling story: last week in Australia, 60,000 trolls RSVPed for a private party a woman named Kate accidentally made public on Facebook. The ensuing rigamarole (and the endless memes it spouted — we’re talking t-shirts, copycat parties, even pornographic sendups of the fête) has much to teach us about social media. Namely: It’s here. It’s relevant. And it can move people in a way that traditional tools just can’t.
Am I saying that every business owner should rush out and get the new shiny, even if they have no idea how it works? No way. But the sheer numbers and instantaneous quality of social tools should be enough to pique your interest, perk up your ears, and get you thinking. Whether social media spurs you to clean up your message (complex, hard-to-understand messaging has no place in any kind of brand expression) or enter into actual conversation instead of keeping your head in the sand as to what your customers and clientele have to say, the time to ignore social media has passed.
Like it or not, we live in a landscape where Twitter users can make or break a film the day it comes out (or even before). Priceless brand impressions and recommendations are just a log-on to Facebook away. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: given social tools, users rove in packs, get vocal and passionate, and can create tidal waves of interest or ignorance. That, my friends, is power. So…what are you going to do to harness (or ride) the wave? – Erin
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin Blakemore-VOCO. Erin Blakemore-VOCO said: Think social media doesn't have relevance? Think again. My latest blog post here: http://ow.ly/1DN9d And yes, #ireadSBoSM [...]