14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media

This is a video interview that my friend Mike Stelzner of Social Media Examiner did with me a few weeks ago. Other than the extraordinarily unflattering camera angle, it turned out pretty well (especially the super cool SME opening animation) 14 key points are below:

Jay Baer Interview from Michael A. Stelzner on Vimeo.

  • What you’re doing on Twitter isn’t a social media strategy, it’s a tools strategy.
  • The only thing that’s really certain, is that eventually the online tools will change.
  • I don’t believe Twitter and Facebook will always dominate.
  • If you have a tools-focused strategy, you don’t really have a strategy.
  • First, figure out how you’re going to be social, and then worry about how you’re going to do social.
  • Create a social media steering group (cross-functional) for your company.
  • Social media is fueled by passion, and too many companies try to take elements of their company that aren’t passion-worthy, and attempt to build a social media program around it.
  • Content creation and content marketing will continue to allow companies to capitalize on the fact that every customer is now a reporter.
  • Place making social media (Foursquare, Gowalla, et al) will continue to gain traction over the next 18 months. These services are in many ways would Twitter was originally, with another layer of loyalty and rewards built in. The reviews business will be transformed by geo-location.
  • YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, and yet video content continues to be under-leveraged.
  • The metrics available on Facebook are in many ways better than you can get from Google Analytics.
  • Companies are starting to think of Facebook as a natural piece of the conversion funnel, not just as a free-standing silo. Facebook fan pages are email newsletters 2.0
  • Make sure you’re tying together your email program and your social media program.
  • Create a content ladder to leverage and syndicate your content.
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My fave: figure out how youre going to _be_ social RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

"What youre doing on Twitter isnt a social media strategy, its a tools strategy." actual twitter is mostly being used via tools, your SM plan is not only twitter

AGREED! Social media is fueled by passion. "14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media" http://bit.ly/c0X8ya (via @jaybaer) #BRSocMe

I've been thinking about this post for the last two days...
I'm still haunted by this:
"If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy."
It still amazes me that the social media strategy discussion hasn't swung back to the power of story-based, customer focused content. (sigh).

RT @leshannepretty: If you have a tools-focused social media strategy, you dont really have a strategy. http://bit.ly/c8x7hA

RT @leshannepretty: If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy. http://bit.ly/c8x7hA

If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy. http://bit.ly/c8x7hA

Social media is fueled by passion! 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://su.pr/2Zg4pX /by @jaybaer #sm

Great points Jay.

The one that hit home for me personally was:

"Social media is fueled by passion, and too many companies try to take elements of their company that arent passion-worthy, and attempt to build a social media program around it."

I think this is the case for many companies that just jump in feet first without surveying what they're getting into. As a result their strategy falls flat, and they miss opportunities to really connect with their customers on that "passion" you speak of.

The slow adopters of Social Media may be doing so for a reason - to ensure a successful endeavor.

-Drew

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://ht.ly/1Q9Nl - "If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy."

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://ht.ly/1Q9Nj - "If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy."

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://ht.ly/1Q9Jk - "If you have a tools-focused strategy, you dont really have a strategy."

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd / @jaybaer #sm #socialmedia

But, now....I'm.....scared. Call me Ahab's son.

... Are you sure you can say the over capacity whale works??? J/K Love twitter. Join the conversation. =)

14 key points about #socialmedia http://bit.ly/9LiBIO

Figure out how you're going to *be* social, then figure out how you're going to *do* social + 14 tips from @jaybaer | http://bit.ly/bB7BaG

14 Things @jaybaer Thinks About Social Media http://bit.ly/9LiBIO <-- and they're worth everyone having a think about too!

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd cc: @roxannedarling @tessstadecker - you will appreciate

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd

Smart 14 J -RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd

I got a fast car, gonna keep on driving.

"Nobody gives a shit about features and benefits." + lots more smart thinking on #socialmedia for biz from @jaybaer | http://bit.ly/bB7BaG

What I think Jay is referring to is your focus. Do you have a hammer strategy or a strategy for construction - be it tearing down or building up?

Hopefully most of us on this site are past the "how Twitter / Facebook / Flickr / YouTube... works," and have progressed to "how to make Twitter / Facebook / Flickr / YouTube...work for you" section.

Are we not just telling stories (thank you, Tracy Chapman), but sharing our stories to prospective buyers?

Otherwise, let's jump back into the TARDIS and re-live 2007 til we get it right.

Talkin' 'bout a revolution. (dunno why I went Chapman w/ Bob Dylan being played right now. There's my story)

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd

"social media is about passion" you nailed it and the challenge of knowing and living that passion in social media...

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd <I think I like this :-)>

RT @jaybaer 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rkXd

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

My fave: figure out how you’re going to _be_ social RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

Facebook fan pages are email newsletters 2.0 http://om.ly/rUBE vía @jaybaer

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media | Blogging and Content Creation | Social Media Consu... http://bit.ly/bqBmrx #socialmedia #smm

Great interview! RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/rUBE

@jaybaer has hit the nail on the head when it comes to marketing through social media. His 14 things (that's a list) ...http://ow.ly/2rCFM

@jaybaer has hit the nail on the head when it comes to marketing through social media. His 14 things (that's a list) ...http://ow.ly/2rCHS

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media - http://om.ly/rUBE

RT @jaybaer: 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://bit.ly/bDn3UT

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/peSD #socialmedia #smo #sm

Jay is genius real deal RT @gpritchard: 14 Things I Think I Think About #SocialMedia http://om.ly/peSD RT @jaybaer

14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media | up-to-the-minute goodness from @jaybaer http://ow.ly/2igku

I am with Stanford on this one. If you are saying Twitter isn't a platform for auto-pilot tools and auto link building tools than I can agree with you. But if your saying Twitter isn't a tool as in a hammer, that you can use to build your SEM, SEO, or PR then I am not following your logic.

I get the online conversation philosophy but even a phone can be considered a conversation tool. Like a hammer there are ways to abuse a tool, whacking yourself over the head, and ways to be constructive, building a house with it.

@jaybaer 14 Things I Think I Think About Social Media http://om.ly/peSD - great post Jay...Smart ideas come from Flagstaff:0

14 Things I Think I Think About #SocialMedia http://om.ly/peSD RT @jaybaer