Social Media Black Hole
As you listen to all the word of mouth marketing zombies praise social media be cautious, very cautious. Social media is not for everyone! You don’t have to have a blog. You don’t have to be on twitter or facebook. Really, I’m not kidding, it may not be right for you or your business.
As social networks grow watch as things become overwhelming. Sort of like the advertising world that word of mouth marketing people seem to despise so much. They say the average Joe sees too many messages. They’re interrupted too much. Blah, blah, blah. Well that’s what you’re getting right now through social media.
Everyone on facebook is starting a fan page (advertising in disguise), group or something. You can join a group for green tomatoes: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2441452809. Soon there will be so many fan pages and groups it will become too much to handle. What to do then?
Branding.
It’s still the gold standard. What will differentiate one group of green tomato lovers from the next? They’ll need to differentiate and position their fan page, group, twitter account etc. Branding is the only thing that will and always will work.
I challenge and word of mouth marketing guru to prove my statement wrong. What do you think kahunas?
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July 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Your argument is basedon the logical fallacy that somehow social networking and branding are different. The best way in the future to get you brand out will be social media and social networking. The only people who don’t do this will be the one’s that fail. Your brand is YOU Inc and where better to promote YOU inc than social networks? The article shows at best a veneer thin understanding of the potential of social networks. Can I suggest you read a book called Groundswell by Charlene Li and John Bernhoff then re-post.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Andrew, social networking and branding are different. Social networking is a tactic that falls under the big umbrella of branding. It’s no different than advertising, direct marketing or any other tactic. Social media will never be the ONLY way to develop a brand. It’s most definatley right for some companies and totally wrong for others. Those that soley rely on social media for their branding efforts will either never achieve the results they desire or fail all together. Here’s what works, a fully integrated branding strategy leveraging a company’s brand identity.
But that’s just my humble opinion.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
You need to change your name to the Big Coglione.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Jeff, I’ve been called worse. Thanks for your input
July 28th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Big Kahuna
I think you are dead on. Social Media although a great way to get you brand to the masses there is still a lot of guerilla marketing that needs to occur. The Specific Chiropractic Center will be the biggest brand in health and wellness care in the future but it takes the effort of face to face interaction, results, social media, and various other advertising factors. Thanks again.
Larry