|
Feature:
How Social Media Became a Speeding Bullet
Three years ago, when the tools and trends of social media hit my personal radar screen, I recognized three things that made social media unique:
- The ways that these tools were enabling people to find, connect and openly communicate with others around the world was going to change everything.
- The rapid adoption of Social Media tools was not being supported by any traditional development efforts.
- The overall ideas that make Social Media so intriguing were nothing really new to business. It was still about communicating -- listening, broadcasting and responding – just in a new, more efficient and much more accelerated way.
In spite of not having the traditional sales, training and support efforts that have pushed other tools and trends throughout the world, social media has accelerated into the mainstream like a speeding bullet. What has made these tools and trends so enticing?
1. Low Risk - Social Networks are free. There is no risk to setting up a profile on a social network. Each user has a choice of what information they want to provide and with whom they want to provide that information to.
2. Easy Trial - People are able to explore without setting up a profile. They can read blogs, listen to podcasts and explore Wikipedia without ever contributing.
3. Willingness to Embrace Change - Each and every generation that is here today has experienced accelerated changes throughout their whole life. They have had to adapt to each new technology and social media is just another new way to do things.
4. The Ability to Make Personal Decisions - There is no "committee meeting" or dinner table discussion to decide if we should participate in social media. Participation is a very personal decision, even for those who end up representing an organization by adding a profile on LinkedIn.
5. Grassroots Marketing Effort - Social media tools have spread through invites to friends, online endorsements, reviews and offline word of mouth conversations.
6. Strong Felt Need to Communicate with Others and Express Ideas - In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Social Needs are the most important once we have satisfied our basic survivor needs.
7. Highly Compatible with Ways We Were Already Communicating - Most people are already well versed with using a computer, software applications and the Internet - the basic use of social media does not require people to learn any new computer language or to adapt to a foreign interface.
8. Easy to Get Involved - Once a person gets involved with a social network, they find that most communities are very welcoming to new members. There are no initiation rites or secret votes.
9. Mainstream Media and Peer Influence - Those who somehow did not see this speeding bullet coming our way, who are not active or interested enough in the Internet to notice, can no longer ignore what they are hearing about social media from their friends, colleagues and mainstream media outlets.
The factors that spread social media are changing every aspect of our lives by breaking down boundaries for collaboration and innovation. The next tools and trends that can change everything for your business may only be a click away.
By Sherry Heyl, Chief Strategy Officer for What a Concept! For more information, visit: www.empoweringconcepts.net. |
