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The Truth
August 21, 2012
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I love this recent post from Pam Moore on Social Media Today. Read the full article here.
Her "34 Social Media Truths" are so dead-on. In fact, I would recommend you to copy them; paste onto a new document, print it, and post it close to anyone working with your social efforts as a constant reminder of what will make a difference.
I have said it before and will continue to do so: If you want to truly participate in social, you can't simply be on ... you have to be alive!
Isn't it interesting how much that strategy relates to the radio industry of yesterday when the medium was staffed 24/7, 365 days to connect on a topical, local and real way in every moment. It wasn't about being the first "social network" as many like to say ... it was about being the only real-time medium for so long, but simply giving that advantage away.
The truths below speak to being real, in the moment, getting away from the pretty package before engaging, considering the consumer first, and understanding how you fit in to their daily world in a unique way to solve a problem or offer a solution that no one else can do for them.
It's not about curating the video or link from AP or TMZ and calling your job done.
If you are not building anticipation with your content, being fully alive with them, and offering a value like no other...the truth for you will not be pretty.
34 Social Media Truths
- People don't buy things, they join things.
- Communities create markets.
- Be your own social duck!
- It's not about the next big thing.
- Lead with results.
- Welcome to the inspiration age. (Heartbeat of social media)
- Social currency = action.
- It's what happens after the Facebook like and follow that matters most.
- Don't do social, be social. Changed later to "Don't do social or be social, be socially relevant!" Social media plugs into your business. Your business does not plug into Facebook.
- SMART objectives and goals are key to success.
- Align social media with top business goals where social media can have an impact.
- Be realistic. Objectives differ by level and role. (Tips for communicating with internal and external stakeholders.) Assess business readiness to be social.
- Stop Random Acts of Marketing (RAMs)
- Tools are the tactics, not the path. Evaluate each initiative based on priority, risk, impact and alignment.
- Sum of all parts is greater than the individual tools (learn the ecosystem).
- Social relationships are the life raft for technological changes. It's about the people, stupid!
- Only guarantee is change.
- Deal with the hard stuff NOW!
- Skeletons will fall out of the closet.
- Social media will not fix your broken business.
- Slow down to speed up.
- You will tick people off.
- You might even get fired!
- Your kid may be ugly. (i.e., website, blog, Twitter profile, Facebook page)
- Ya' gotta start somewhere. Embrace imperfect perfection.
- Understand your audience.
- All conversations are not created equal.
- Hang out with nine brokes, you just might be the 10th!
- You need friends.
- Stop using interruption marketing tactics.
- Know your audience.
- Use social media to solve your customer's problems.
- Talk to me like I am human.
- It's not about YOU!
- Measure the right stuff.
- Take time to tame the social media beast.
- Shape up or ship out
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