Tag: social networking

Will Oprah (@oprah) Ruin Twitter?

I want to start by saying that from most I have seen and heard of Oprah (@oprah), she is an absolute doll. I love the heartfelt message that she represents to the world, and I hold her in very high regard. She has clearly surrounded herself with an aura of absolute attraction. I believe that she truly is the beautiful person she presents herself to be.

The Burning Question: Will Oprah Ruin Twitter?

Obviously, Oprah would not, and could not ruin Twitter. However, the power of her influence could have damaging effects on the fledgling community. I recently questioned the responsiveness of Twitter to the recent Mikeyy worm, and received many confirmations that the Twitter community was very unhappy with the company’s lack of communication regarding what to do about the worm. Some will recall that I was the first on the scene with the second outbreak and set the top trend on Twitter that late night and early morning. It left me with concerns about Twitter. So, let’s say Twitter is actually up to the task from a technology standpoint, as big a stretch as that may be. For this point, we will assume that Twitter made some miracle fix to the Fail Whale and speed problems of the service in the past couple days.

The concern about the Oprah Winfrey show is not about Oprah, but rather what happens with the sudden boom of any product or service. With sudden growth comes sudden growing pains. There will likely be a substantial enough fluctuation in new users that as an existing community, we may find difficulties in accommodating.

Be Ready for Twitter Newbies!

Along with the growth will likely come a huge number of people here for the wrong reasons or with bad methods. After all, how many people have you seen start twittering with a me, me, me message to advertise their goods or services only to become a really fine twitizen a short time later. We must allow patience and understanding, and show that Twitter is a great place to settle in, relax, and build great relationships. However, in the beginning, this may be a challenge. An additional challenge is that it may be much harder to discern true spammers with great people just trying to get started. Most users eventually develop their own system of deciding which users to follow, and which to block. This comfortable system could be thrown into a complete upset with a massive mainstream influx in users.

I certainly welcome the many newbies. I really hope that they will find me for some early tips on how to play nice. I am not saying that I am a Twitter teddy bear or anything like that, but I do have a few tips to offer, and I certainly understand the great value of developing friendships using Twitter.

I want to hear your thoughts. Please give your comments here on this blog, and feel free to give other readers your Twitter username in the form of http://twitter.com/murnahan (substiture the murnahan part).

Twitter Username Selection: What’s in a Twitter Name?

Twitter username selection may not be my most interesting blog post, but the stories behind them may be. I want to keep this short, because what I am really after is your input. I wish to use some of this information in the release of the book, Twitter for Business: Twitter for Friends. I want to know if there is a story behind the Twitter username name you selected, so please share your story, and I will tell you mine.

I am @murnahan

My Twitter username does not have a particularly unique story, as it is simply my surname, @murnahan, which has become a personal brand. My wife is @pegmu, which is her first name and part of her last. Her name is Peggy Murnahan, so @pegmu fit and sounded cute. When her name was chosen, length was a consideration in the selection. When I helped a friend choose his username, I suggested keeping it short, due to the limitation of 140 characters on Twitter. He really got it right with @uj1. His name is Uday Jadhav. I don’t think he could have done a lot better to keep it short and sweet.

How did you choose your Twitter username?

Did you consider length when choosing your Twitter username? Did you use a name that carried over from another service such as Google, Yahoo, Digg, etcetera?

It is your turn to share. Tell your story, and give your username. Be sure that you enter the URL for your Twitter profile (example: http://twitter.com/username), because you never know who you may meet.

The Social Media Marketing Dilemma

There is a lot of buzz about social media marketing these days. We have all heard it, and no industry is immune. All of the facts and figures point to the inevitability that your business will be affected by this turn in the marketing tide. This all got me to thinking about the dilemma that social media poses to each and every business entity.

The dilemma is in weighing the cost of participating versus the risk associated with not embracing social media marketing. So how can you mitigate your risk? Spend a moment with me to understand why you should not overlook social media for another minute.

Social Media Marketing: Now or Later?

The part that may be the hardest for many companies is that this shift in the marketing tide has occurred during an already frightening time for business people. Companies who used to advertise in newspapers have found that they are largely ineffective. This has further added to the already obvious demise of print media. Similarly, television is losing the marketing battle at an astonishing rate. Your local affiliate stations used to receive a piece of the national advertisers spending, and that was cut by the major networks. This is all happening because the Internet has fully eclipsed all other media in both total adspend and consumer reach. 

I can give you a long list of the things which have added to the social media boom, but I do not think I will need to explain this. You know it is here, and you are quite possibly feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. It is a huge transition. It is kind of a big shuffle where everybody is just trying to find their way and hope when it all settles that they will have made the right choices and that they adapted to the new rules of marketing soon enough to be effective. This really is a dilemma of when to make a quantifiable effort: will it be now, or will it be later? When should you adopt the new rules of engagement? Are you too late? It is too soon? The questions are so plentiful and pressing that I have watched it paralyze many would-be good business decision makers.

Social Media Dilemma: Risk vs. Risk

Perhaps you are just warming up to the idea that this “new” media is where things are going. The fear of jumping in is really pretty normal. After all, it is hard to believe in something after you have watched all the things you always knew about business and economy suddenly change. Most of us were always told that our home would always be a great investment. That seems to be a bit shaky now, although it will certainly return. We thought companies like General Motors, AIG, and others were unshakeable and that the whole world economy could not all just collapse. Things have changed, and amidst all of that change around you, the thought of spending what seems like a fortune in order to effectively participate in a marketing method with a whole new set of measurement metrics probably feels a bit uncomfortable at best.

So what will make all of this feel better and help it all make sense? The answer is this: If your competition does it sooner and better than you, the cost of lost opportunity will be greater than any other potential risk. 

Social media marketing is truly not as new as you may see it on the surface. In many ways, it is the way it used to be done in every company, for as long as business has been done. The tools have changed a lot, but the communication basics are that if you develop a warm market, your business will always perform far better. Your sales process will be much smoother. Your brand image will be enhanced by the added customer satisfaction. The list of benefits to the added communication of social media marketing over advertising as usual should not be so hard to understand. All the same, as a social media and Internet marketing professional since the mid-1990s, I still often feel like I am trying to explain the color blue to a person devoid of sight.

A Picture of Social Media Marketing

I want to provide you with a mental picture of social media marketing. Work with me, please. Let’s say that you are about to walk out the door to drive to your local Wal Mart for a couple items. You are going to pick up a garden hose, some razor blades, a new alarm clock, and a few other items. As you head for the door with your car keys in hand, the doorbell rings. You get to the door and there is a salesperson standing there to greet you. They are with a company you have heard of, but you have never met this person. He says that he has all of those things you planned to pick up at Wal Mart. He has the garden hose, the razor blades, and even the alarm clock, and he happens to have them right there. He even has the brands you would buy. How does this feel to you? Are you a bit uneasy about it? Many people have answered this question for me, and it seems that the vast majority would still get in the car, drive to Wal Mart, sort through the aisles, wait in line, and return home. The trust factor compels them, and the guy at the door just did not have the trust yet, regardless how hard he tried.

I have a new picture for you. The person standing at the door is somebody you have had some brief communication with, and you realize you have some mutual friends. It warms up with a bit of friendly conversation, and what do you know. You belong to the same social group. It all starts to look different now, does it not?

The differences in these scenarios are very similar psychologically to an advertisement compared to a social media approach. In addition, with a social media approach, it is altogether likely that the phone rang before you even grabbed your car keys and a friend was on the other end to let you know they were sending the hose, razor, and alarm clock guy over. It has a completely different feel, and it is the reason that advertising has always been an uphill battle compared to proper relationship marketing.

Social Media Fears: The Biggest Dilemma of All

Now that I have walked you through an analogy of digital social media compared to yesterday media, let us look at the worst social media dilemma of all. This time, you are in the selling position, and you are the guy at the door. Answer yourself this question: do you want to be that guy at the door trying to peddle your goods, or would you rather be the hose, razor, and alarm clock guy who took the care to build relationships and will be walking up to the door already announced.

If you fear what happens if you embrace social media marketing today and that it may not work for you, the greater question should be in which hose, razor, and alarm clock salesperson you want to be. If you leave it up to your competition, your cost will be much greater indeed, because the deepest cost is that of missed opportunities.

The Value of Social Media Marketing

What is the value of social media marketing and social networking to a business? This seems to be a very misunderstood subject, and one which too many companies tend to relate to other marketing efforts or advertising. If you really do not see the enormous value of social media marketing today, then it is likely because you are either going about it wrong or you are not embracing it at all. It is time that we change that for you and help you to see what this social media thing is all about.

Business Social Networking ROI

I hesitate to use the term “business social networking”, because it is an awkward term. So many businesses want to know the value of networking using social media, so this is a term I use for the company hoping to implement a social media plan. This could also apply to the growing number of individuals seeking new employment opportunities using social networking.

First, I want you to understand that much of what you learned about marketing and advertising goes out the window right now. This is not likely what you think it is … it is much more! If you try to measure a return on investment of social networking, it is a lot like putting a ROI on each handshake or each “hello” as you walk through your grocery store. It is not about advertising, and the same metrics cannot be applied. The value of social networking flows down many streams, and it harnesses the value of good public relations, communications, marketing, friendships, and so much more. There is much that simply cannot be measured in a spreadsheet, and thus it will often take a degree of faith, especially if you hire a social media consultant.

Social Media is “Networking” and it is “Social”

The term, social networking really says what it is, but I often find people who continually get it all wrong. Companies seeking to use social media for business purposes often get it wrong by trying to advertise their goods or services. This sets them up for an utter failure, and can often do more harm than good. Business people participating in social networks often find it hard to come out of their shell and actually be social. How do we fix this? Well here are just a few tips about social networking that you should not overlook:

  • Always put your first name in your profile! People want to know YOU, and not a username or company name. Some people will still communicate with you, but is it really you?
  • These people you meet on social networks don’t bite! Well, maybe a few do, but most will hug you rather than bite you.
  • Get to know people. Spend time with them, just as you would with a friend anywhere else.
  • Be yourself! I have said it a million times, but I mean it. We will not all get along, but most people will respect the individuality you show.
  • Do not tell me about your business and then not remember my name! If you do this at your local Chamber of Commerce function or worse, at a cocktail party, you will look like a buffoon. You are not a buffoon are you?
  • Remember that 100 people saying something nice about you to 100 other people is far more valuable than a few business prospects. When you have friends, you will have people who want to be helpful to you. The value of a friendly referral can go a long way!
  • Be respectful of others.

Social Networking Takes Dedication

If you cannot make a solid commitment to a social media plan, it is best to not start one at all. The people you will meet are real and you simply cannot make friends only to leave them behind. Just how seriously do I mean this? Let’s examine just a couple of my friends whom I met online and through these social networks I write about.

  • Peggy (my wife)
  • Mike, who is one of my closest friends, Web developer, and Kansas State Legislator.
  • Reg, who has children 6 years and 10 months old and a stepdaughter who is 21. Reg is also a social media giant.
  • Bianca, whom I met online in 1998 and communicate all the time. She lives in Austria and used to be an au pair in the USA.
  • Eric, who ate a 6 pound burrito, lives in Las Vegas, and sells bulletproof vests and armored cars.
  • Toni, who blogs and chats with friends even while her husband Royal sleeps beside her in bed. Oh, yes … and she is lovely!
  • Melissa, who nearly wets herself laughing at things I send her via Twitter.
  • Sail, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and has not been to a beach in the last month.
  • Cody, who lives in Calgary, Canada, likes to party, is a bodyguard to celebrities, and met a new love interest on my live Webcast (#Shabam, Cody!)
  • Misty, who lives in Manila, Philippines and loves chatting and great design.
  • This list can go on for thousands of people.

The people mentioned above and many more are among the very important relations I have met using social networking. I communicate with these people regularly online, on the telephone, and in person. They are all parts of a very important network of people whom I can count on to be friends, and to have something nice to say about me, with or without prompting.

The Social Media Commitment

Just how important is a commitment to social networking? Like any wise investment of your time or money, you will benefit from social media commensurate with your efforts. If you have seen the news, it should be clear by now that other forms of communication such as television, radio, and newspapers are failing. If you have not heard this, it should be even more clear just how much their reach has degraded. Social media is picking up where all of those others left off, and at the horizon is Twitter. With all of the huge changes in today’s communication methods in mind, you must ask yourself just how important it could be to your company to make a significant effort toward building a social network and social media plan before your competition does.

Can a Social Media Consultant Really Help?

This may seem like an alien question to many people. After all, if you are to be yourself, how can somebody be a better “you” than you, right? That is not what a social media consultant does.

When you venture into the unknown world of social networking, there are many pitfalls to avoid, and many useful tools that can help you. Having a professional on your side to guide you and to promote you can be a huge factor to your success in reaching the right audience with the right message and with the right approach.

The answer is YES! A social media consultant can be an immeasurable benefit to your social networking efforts, and should be chosen wisely.

Which Social Network Do I Prefer? Twitter of Course!

I offer you the links below to understand how important I consider Twitter. Also, see my other recent articles on Twitter.

My personal commitment to social networking and Internet marketing is greater than I would ever expect for one of my clients. However, I expect my clients to make a substantial commitment to their efforts in social networking. In order to explain how committed I am, I will simply say that I spend far more time cultivating relationships with my social networks than most people will ever spend in an office. This is not a 9:00am to 5:00pm process. 

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Social Networking: A Call from Reg Saddler (zaibatsu)

We are all people … we have emotions, motivations, body odors, and a history. Some of us are funny, some of us are deep thinkers, and some of us just want to have fun. The bottom line is that when you peel back the layers, none of us are really corporate drones, regardless how the workday may sometimes feel. Making it personal is what matters.

Reg Saddler (@zaibatsu) Conversation

I had the pleasure early this morning (just after midnight) of receiving a telephone call from Reg Saddler(@zaibatsu). We talked for over two hours. I was very honored to speak with Reg, as he is a true master in the marketing industry. In our talks, a lot was more about fun stuff, like a plan to entertain you all with a road rally Webcast (as I did with CopMagnet.com). One thing that really sticks out is that Reg said “Most people do not even know what I do for a living.” Coming from a true Internet marketing master, this emphasizes this message that “I”, “me”, and “my” are not what drives success. Now I want to speak favorably about Reg Saddler as a person, and if that is not how to reach people, I do not know what is.

I, Me and My Don’t Belong in Social Networks

Now that companies have made their peace with their best assets, the people, they encourage their employees to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and all of the latest social networking tools. The hardships lie in their use, and a lack of understanding that promoting an agenda is not a suitable part of social media / social networking. I have heard it described as shouting out your sales pitch at a cocktail party. That is not an image of success, and it will not create success.

These are just my thoughts … and I am just one guy. But when it comes to social networking, the agenda of serving yourself only magnifies a disturbance that likely exists in other aspects of ones life. If you live your life bugging people to hear all about “I”, “me”, and “my”, you may be well reminded of why you have two ears and only one mouth.

Why Social Networking Started: In Summary

Let’s look at why social networking became commercialized. For a time, the Internet seemed very impersonal. It was like a contest to see which corporation could have the fanciest Website with the most views. The public went with that for a while, but it eventually only emphasized the absurd big bucks corporate mentality bred in the 1990s. You may remember the visions of the Silicon Valley executive taking his pick of ladies in line at the hottest nightclub after driving up in a Ferrari. It was like a Hollywood red carpet frenzy. The image of a company was more important than the real assets … the individuals. The passion to create a big corporate image was worthy of ridicule, just as much as the buzzards on Wall Street are in 2009. Fortunately, the culture has changed, and we see the errors of those ways.

As the Internet matured, and as people became tired of clicking around for precious minutes just to find a phone number to call the huge dot com, then wade through “press 7 to hold” hell, and finally reach a corporate drone, companies somehow found a better resource in the uniqueness of each of us as individuals. It finally made sense to personalize the Internet and quit trying to imply that computers could replace real people.

Related Article: Three Kids Prove Social Networking Works
Related Article: Twitter Usage Study: Pass the Tweet #PTT