Oh Social Media Networks, what a tangled Web we weave…
‘Social Media’. It’s a phrase that has started to grate on my nerves like someone who has scissors for hands (such as Edward Scissorhands) scraping their scissored nails down a blackboard. I hear the phrase ‘social media’ wherever I go, whether I like it or not.
I’ve always enjoyed the level of interaction and sharing that the ‘net has enabled us, and have always been interested in the topic, right from being 14 years old when I first got the Internet in 1996 and delved right in. Back then the term had not even been coined. Since then the newly dubbed ‘Social Media’ has gone from strength to strength.
However, this has been embraced by users to such the extent that its power as a Marketing tool could not go unnoticed, and indeed it hasn’t.
Many now use Facebook and Twitter and other such popular social platforms to engage with the consumer. This has obviously in many cases led to ‘misuse’ of these services, and sadly Twitter is becoming somewhat overcrowded with spam accounts and users who utilise this medium solely for advertising.
Many in Sales and Marketing have seen the potential in using Social Media, but do not necessarily go about it in the right way as it is (or has been until recently) a somewhat niche marketing subject. After all, it is hard to jump into unfamiliar territory and expect to succeed straight away.
However I am less tolerant in situations where someone whose career is in, say, Sales, writes a ‘Guide to Social Media’ when they clearly do not know very much about the subject and have difficulty even finding their way around a computer.
I read such an article today, which stated the following:
If you want to succeed in social media marketing, embody your attributes and empower advocacy, assess pain points and contentment, give rewards in times of need, work by a code of conduct and above all, do something.
No, I don’t understand either.
In conclusion, some people may be good at talking complete drivel and making it sound good, but unless you actually know what you are talking about, padding it out with posh sounding words and phrases is not going to make you sound like you know what you are dispensing any meaningful information whatsoever.
Oh Social Media Networks, what a tangled Web we weave…
