a thousand cuts :: Adam Cohen's blog - Latest Comments in Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

katieattuverse — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:57:29 -0000

it's not right for you if you Don't know how to USE it haha lol..just to add a little spark...kidding aside...it's not right for you if you just use it to create a sort of backlink but would not really really want to devote some time to make it work for you on other aspect. :D it would hurt your business eventually.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

adamcohen — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:17:19 -0000

I hear that all the time, and agree that "Why?" is a great response.
The only thing I'd amend to the content strategy is to define
objectives and develop a full strategy with social media - providing
good content is a major part, but a plan and approach for listening
and engaging is just as important. Thanks for your feedback.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

edh — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:20 -0000

...You don't like talking to human beings
...You see Facebook, Twitter as advertising/marketing campaign distribution platforms

Adam - This got me thinking. I like to think that social media can help all businesses in some respect but are there any that really don't need it and never will?

Fishermen?

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

Guy Stephens — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:56:57 -0000

... you still haven't heard about email
... you think a kindle is for lighting fires
... you've never eaten Skittles

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

twitter-19297459 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:59:44 -0000

... you think change is a four letter word.
... you like telling people to get off your lawn.
... your company is stuck in the stone age and you rather like it there.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

adamcohen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:54:47 -0000

Great add! You've got me thinking; that could be a whole separate blog post on how it could be worse to start and abandon, than to not start. It could also be bad to start and not be relevant - as the social media space matures businesses will be expected to get it right the first try. Hmm.... Thanks for the thoughts Chad.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

adamcohen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:52:25 -0000

Great point Kevin - although I don't always think of social media as being the most effective at driving traffic. Still, if someone is coming to your site (via whatever means) they need to have a positive experience.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

adamcohen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:50:52 -0000

Great additions, thanks! The "social media is free" one is a gem.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

twitter-14757722 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:25:03 -0000

Adam,

Great points. Here’s a few more:

Social media is not right for your business if ...
... all the marketing content you develop is just product pitches instead of useful customer-focused material.
... you have the illusion you are the one controlling your brand message in the marketplace.
… you believe social media is for you (hint: it’s for your customers).
… you think social media is free.
… you spend more time putting together legal policies than connecting to your customers.
… you do not integrate social media into your overall marketing plan.
… you have no marketing plan (for social media or otherwise).

Cheers,

-Alex

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

twitter-14146435 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:36:45 -0000

...if you believe that direct mail and print are the best ways to market your business.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

kevinertell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:24:29 -0000

Good stuff, Adam. Funny and biting. I would just expand a bit on "you think the content on your website isn’t going to drive sales" to say a social media strategy is not right for you if you aren't applying a lot of energy to ensuring your destination site is all it can be from a customer experience perspective. Driving more traffic to a poor site is ultimately unproductive.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

twitter-13113522 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:17:36 -0000

Good summary Adam. I'd add this:

... you plan to establish a presence on Twitter, Facebook, etc. and then walk away.

Companies that choose not to engage at all are one thing, but it seems even worse when they create Twitter accounts & Facebook Fan Pages and then ignore the folks who try to reach out to them through these channels. This speaks to your broader point about lacking a strategy.

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

adamcohen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:51:19 -0000

I tend to hear "I need a Facebook page" most often, Twitter strategy second. I also respond with "Why?" The only thing I'd amend to the content strategy is to define objectives (brand awareness? build customer loyalty?) and develop a full strategy in social media based on where customers are and where conversations about the brand are taking place. Providing a solid content roadmap is one key part, but listening (first) and a plan for eventually engaging in communities is just as important. A content strategy to me implies a push of value-add content - we need to addres the "pull" and two-way dialogue too. Thanks for sharing and your feedback!

Re: Social Media Is Not Right For Your Business If…

twitter-15320031 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:49:39 -0000

Adam,

Very salient points, especially the one about being on Facebook because it's mentioned in USA Today. A statement I most dislike hearing from companies include "I need a [insert social media channel] strategy."

My usual response is, "Why?"

To which, inevitably, they say, "that's where the people are."

What they REALLY need is a content strategy. The channels for participation will be derived from that. Put cart back behind horse.