Social Media Questions and Answers
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‘Social Media’ is the phrase of the day. Many of us were doing things socially online long before the term was even coined. No one can seem to decide what, exactly, social media really IS, anyway. Craig sent a series of questions to me from Scotland, asking five questions about social media. I thought it would be fun to record my answers as a video. Also, by having them out there this way, hopefully more people will be able to learn something – instead of only Craig! I’m always interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas. If you don’t agree with one of my answers, go ahead and leave a follow-up comment to tell us what you think!
- What are the advantages, as you see it, for social media experts engaging through social media activity? – The advantages are that they can connect with other people. You’re sharing, collaborating and communicating about thoughts, ideas and anything you can think of. People are going to be talking whether or not you are a part of it. Don’t miss out on getting your two cents in.
- What advice would you have for a social media expert looking to break into the world of social media engagement? – That’s a good question, honestly. You could be a social media expert just by signing up for Twitter, right? That’s what many people seem to think, anyway. My advice is that if you happen to be an expert in your field is to just sign up for an account and jump in. You want to tread water at first. Don’t go in thinking that you own the Universe. Just…. DO IT already! Join in the conversation!
- What damage can be done to a brand if the social media engagement isn’t properly executed? – When I’m frustrated with a product or service that I’m using and something goes wrong, I tend to talk loudly about it. Keep in mind that I’m only talking about things I’ve paid for. People who complain about free things are just not even cool. Anyway, if you pay for something, you deserve to have your voice heard. For a brand that isn’t listening to what their customers are saying… shame on them. They’re playing on the sidelines. There really is no excuse for companies these days to NOT be on Twitter and the like. They need to be where the conversations are happening. They need to listen!
- How do you see the social media environment evolving in the future? – The future is pancake media! Seriously, perhaps it will be bamboo media! Okay, okay… social media will be known as something else. However, it will still be the same thing. People will still be talking online, engaging each other in conversations. We will still network on websites, even if they have names other than Twitter or Facebook. There will be more services and ways to track what is going on. Social media is in this constant state of evolution, which is very cool to see!
- If you could change anything about the social media landscape as it is currently seen, what would it be? – I wish there was certification! We throw about the word “expert” a lot. However, most of those who label themselves as an expert truly are NOT. There needs to be a bar set, which would be the base level of expertise. You cannot call yourself an expert… someone else has to! There are so many “social media experts” running around on the web. There needs to be accountability!
The bottom line is to just jump in and get started. A few of the nay-sayers may try to claim I’m just a flash in the pan. Well, I’m a flash in the pan that’s now lasted online for twelve years! I am by no means an expert at anything. However, I’ve learned a lot over the years. I do know about some of the things that work, and many that don’t!
What are YOUR thoughts?
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