Having participated in over a dozen presentations on social media this year, I am still taken by surprise at the fear or reluctance of people to start using the powerful social media tools available to them. Many people are interested in learning and understanding what social media is and are really trying to conceptualize how it can help them in their sales and marketing efforts. However, it seems that until they totally understand how this all works, dipping their toe in the water is about all they can muster at this time. As I continue to educate, I enjoy the teaching and learning opportunities these presentations provide; but, I continually am still continuously frustrated by the tentative responses to engage in a strategy process. Until now.
I ran across a great blog yesterday that encapsulated the issues of the fearful as it relates to social media. In this blog, “Fear and Loathing in the Stock Market and Social Media”, Shannon Paul talks about the similarities between the stock market and social media and how ignorance, greed, and patience all work against people as they explore the potential for individuals to embrace social media. I found this article very refreshing as it demonstrated an insight into the psychological issues I have observed as I attempt to educate and enlighten those who seek to understand and engage social media.
As a passionate advocate of the potential of social media, my mission is very clear. It is my commitment to help people envision their marketing efforts in this new and different frontier. First, I educate. Then I provide the tools and the means to effectively develop a strategy and a plan to begin to purposefully utilize defined social media tools to start growing their business in this medium. Finally, we put the plan into place with a customized program that helps people strategically leverage the best social media tools to grow their business. For the naysayer marketers and the greedy tool sellers, get out of the way–I am going to help businesses leverage social media marketing effectively and profitably. For that is what I do.
Other great social media blogs from this past week:
Fear and Loathing in the Stock Market and Social Media, Shannon Paul
Don’t speak at me, speak with me, Ardath Albee