Recently I had the pleasure of exchanging opinions on Twitter with Scott Monty. social media guru of Ford Motor Company.  For those who are trying to understand Twitter, this is a great example of how a social media tool allows people who may or may not even know each other to have an exchange of information and ideas.  While this was not an in-depth conversation, it certainly demonstrates how easy it is to have a conversation if you want to.

The whole thing started when Scott Monty referenced an article in the Washington Post about the bias of Congress against American manufactured automobiles.  The following is the stream of the conversation:

Monty: RT @scottmonty WaPo article about the Ford Fusion Hybrid – stop the bias & try the car http://bit.ly/13xo8r #Ford

Cooke: @ScottMonty Disagree w/ article’s premise. It’s not bias it’s perception–that is a marketing problem. Agree–vehicle is worthy of a look.

Monty: @SalesCooke It’s bias when then don’t own US cars and are making that claim. Marketing doesn’t apply to those not buying.

Cooke: @ScottMonty Good pt. Buying is not the yardstick. If they don’t look at US cars before buying it’s bias. Buying elsewhere after looking is a marketing issue.

Monty: @SalesCooke Still, we admittedly have a ways to go in our marketing & communications efforts to change awareness.

This conversation occurred over a period of fifteen minutes.  Several short exchanges that allowed us to share our perspectives.  Don’t get social media?  One of the most powerful and valuable tools is the opportunity to have real time conversations with just about anyone, anywhere.   Now I am pretty sure that Scott Monty is not going to run back to his office and tell everyone about the conversation he had with “The Sales Cooke”.  But I am willing to bet that the information he gathers everyday from these types of conversations have significant influence on Ford’s marketing strategies.