Social Media in Plain English
Thanks to The Common Craft Show.
So What’s the Point?
Social Media fosters meaningful relationships. It’s authentic and organic. And it gives everyone a voice.
Social Media + Business
Today, “the people” have the control. They call the shots. And they drive conversations and recommendations.
Brands and companies are defined not by what they think but rather by the relationship that exists between their customers and their products and/or services.
Enter Social Media.
A powerful tool that enables companies to ignite conversation with the audiences who ultimately define their success. By leveraging Social Media tools, companies can create and maintain meaningful relationships with those people who matter most. (Apple, I love you.)
The Question Remains
Why are so many companies afraid of Social Media? What is there to really lose?
My Two Cents
Ignorance is a Bitch. Open your mind. And embrace change.
-A. Rae
1 response so far ↓
Kevin // July 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
That is a pretty nifty video there. I don’t know if I think the comparison is a perfect comparison to social media though. The questions that popped into my mind were:
How much of the joy of “getting ice cream” was actually found in the experience of the product itself?
How much value should be placed on community experiences? If people are all making their own ice cream now, doesn’t that diminish the need to get together and share an ice cream cone? I mean instead of taking a cute little girl up to the ice cream shop, now you can be lazy and scoop her up some of your mother’s pickle ice cream. I don’t know if I like that. Regardless, these questions are tangential to the subject of Social Media.
As much as I love Apple product, my love for the Apple brand and company has feigned quite drastically. When a company is small and boutique’y, it’s romantic and idealistic, but as it grows and realizes it’s potential, it’s goal now is now to maintain that romance but to make some monnnney. The pursuit of profit now being more important than anything else.
Apple and I cannot become friends. My yearning is for a product that is incredible, I do not care about profit or control. Apple on the other hand cares more about control and profit than it does about my pleasurable experience of their product. So their goal is to give me enough pleasure in their product to keep me happy, but to maintain enough control over their product (ie don’t use all available technology, so they can map out planned ‘upgrades’ in the coming months) so as to make as much profit as possible.
Anyways, interesting thoughts. I enjoy social media, but there’s an overriding truth in capitalism – you want my money and I want my money, both do what you need to do to maximize both of your interests.
On a final note, the concept of social media assumes that you know what you want, what you like, and what you think things should cost. In a sense, it assumes you’re rational. There’s a new book you all must read titled “Predictably Irrational.” Go get it.