Does this sound familiar?
Within 12 months of its invention, 1,200 companies entered the radio “business” in some form or fashion.
So said Malcolm Gladwell in a stirring speech given Monday to the AAA Annual Meeting in Scottsdale. In his own, story-filled way, he emphasized the point that we are in a period of unusual communication change and upheaval, not unlike the 1920s and the invention of radio.
But he also made the point that counter to popular opinion, change doesn’t occur gradually, it occurs with sudden, breathtaking swiftness.
And that’s the problem.
Social media adoption is happening at an extraordinary rate, and I believe every company will have some sort of social media presence within the next 24 months. This is an adoption rate far steeper than it was for websites.
The Tortoise Rules
But, social media speed is illusory and misleading. Yes, thanks to social media, business is faster than ever. But it’s also slower than ever.
The fundamental premise of social business is that you are interacting and engaging with customers and prospects on a one to one or one to few basis. And that takes time. Trust takes time. Creating advocacy takes time. You build a volunteer marketing army one soldier at a time, not overnight.
Social media isn’t about quickly building weak bonds between a company and large portions of its customer base, it’s about slowly building strong bonds between a company and a small portion of its fan base.
Support Slowness
It’s up to all of us to redefine what social media “success” looks like, to focus our efforts on building kinship day-to-day, and yielding sustained passion for the brand. Social media isn’t a grenade, it’s a bayonet, and if we fall into the trap of focusing on “When” instead of “Why” we’re going to end up as a historical footnote – a curiosity worthy of a Malcolm Gladwell speech someday.
(photo by Robert Thomson)
First off I agree that slow is good, and that there's really no other way to really build the level of trust that Social media has to build in order to be successful – after all it isn't about fast sales, it's about life-time customers.
However I don't agree that every company will have some level of social media in the next 24 months..
I can see a lot of old-school companies still putting it off simply because 1. They're not comfortable with it; 2. They don't know where or how to start. 3. They just don't think it's really that important. 4. They have other concerns that are trumping the need to get social (for instance the current economy).
Many large companies see social media great for B2C, but the B2B companies find it hard to think that it can fit for them as well.
First off I agree that slow is good, and that there's really no other way to really build the level of trust that Social media has to build in order to be successful – after all it isn't about fast sales, it's about life-time customers.
However I don't agree that every company will have some level of social media in the next 24 months..
I can see a lot of old-school companies still putting it off simply because 1. They're not comfortable with it; 2. They don't know where or how to start. 3. They just don't think it's really that important. 4. They have other concerns that are trumping the need to get social (for instance the current economy).
Many large companies see social media great for B2C, but the B2B companies find it hard to think that it can fit for them as well.
First off I agree that slow is good, and that there's really no other way to really build the level of trust that Social media has to build in order to be successful – after all it isn't about fast sales, it's about life-time customers.
However I don't agree that every company will have some level of social media in the next 24 months..
I can see a lot of old-school companies still putting it off simply because 1. They're not comfortable with it; 2. They don't know where or how to start. 3. They just don't think it's really that important. 4. They have other concerns that are trumping the need to get social (for instance the current economy).
Many large companies see social media great for B2C, but the B2B companies find it hard to think that it can fit for them as well.
First off I agree that slow is good, and that there's really no other way to really build the level of trust that Social media has to build in order to be successful – after all it isn't about fast sales, it's about life-time customers.
However I don't agree that every company will have some level of social media in the next 24 months..
I can see a lot of old-school companies still putting it off simply because 1. They're not comfortable with it; 2. They don't know where or how to start. 3. They just don't think it's really that important. 4. They have other concerns that are trumping the need to get social (for instance the current economy).
Many large companies see social media great for B2C, but the B2B companies find it hard to think that it can fit for them as well.
“unprecedented … not unlike the 1920s”
*sigh*
“unprecedented … not unlike the 1920s”
*sigh*
“unprecedented … not unlike the 1920s”
*sigh*
“unprecedented … not unlike the 1920s”
*sigh*
Social Media Marketing has become one of the essential marketing channel to business of any kind! So called social media marketers are lured by the instant spread of their business using social networks and hence they ignore the basics! As you said, it needs to patience to build credibility! Unlike other markets social media may give you wider space to expose your business but it is more likely than every market to be ethical to build relationships which eventually gain consistency!
Social Media Marketing has become one of the essential marketing channel to business of any kind! So called social media marketers are lured by the instant spread of their business using social networks and hence they ignore the basics! As you said, it needs to patience to build credibility! Unlike other markets social media may give you wider space to expose your business but it is more likely than every market to be ethical to build relationships which eventually gain consistency!
Social Media Marketing has become one of the essential marketing channel to business of any kind! So called social media marketers are lured by the instant spread of their business using social networks and hence they ignore the basics! As you said, it needs to patience to build credibility! Unlike other markets social media may give you wider space to expose your business but it is more likely than every market to be ethical to build relationships which eventually gain consistency!
Social Media Marketing has become one of the essential marketing channel to business of any kind! So called social media marketers are lured by the instant spread of their business using social networks and hence they ignore the basics! As you said, it needs to patience to build credibility! Unlike other markets social media may give you wider space to expose your business but it is more likely than every market to be ethical to build relationships which eventually gain consistency!
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media?: Does this sound familiar?Within 12 months of its invention, 1,200… http://bit.ly/diqI0e
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media?: Does this sound familiar?Within 12 months of its invention, 1,200… http://bit.ly/bvSD0b
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/diqI0e
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media?: Does this sound familiar?Within 12 months of its invention, 1,200… http://bit.ly/diqI0e
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/diqI0e #ConvinceandConvert
RT @jaybaer Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/cZHeP4 #SMM
C&C Blog Post – Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/aTptra RT Please
RT @jaybaer Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/cZHeP4 #SMM
New @jaybaer Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/diqI0e
RT @AZSocialMedia – C&C Blog Post – Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/aTptra RT Please
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dh2kH5
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dh2kH5
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dh2kH5
RT @jaybaer: Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dgd7LY // why yes, yes i am…
RT @jaybaer: Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dgd7LY // why yes, yes i am…
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/bNlbG7 #bmeurope #socialmedia
Jay Baer Blog: Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dv3bBI Full http://bit.ly/ae9mn2
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? – Does this sound familiar? Within 12 months of its invention, 1,20… http://ow.ly/17hCtI
the single most insightful bit of thinking I've read for a year
in today's world a brand must be slower not faster….so obvious – but not….genius
there is a book in this – should we all write it?
the single most insightful bit of thinking I've read for a year
in today's world a brand must be slower not faster….so obvious – but not….genius
there is a book in this – should we all write it?
the single most insightful bit of thinking I've read for a year
in today's world a brand must be slower not faster….so obvious – but not….genius
there is a book in this – should we all write it?
the single most insightful bit of thinking I've read for a year
in today's world a brand must be slower not faster….so obvious – but not….genius
there is a book in this – should we all write it?
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/aJVzDF Social-Media.alltop
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/daVPDM #news #socialmedia
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/daVPDM #news #socialmedia
Use social media to build strong bonds with a small group of advocates, not weak links to large numbers, says @jaybaer http://bit.ly/9eO7Au
Great post, Jay.
I'm amazed that so many people and small businesses (80%, according to a recent stat that I read) have done little to nothing with social media precisely because it takes time.
Do people really think that you can get SM religion one day and your customers/fans will all be singing your praises the next?
Great post, Jay.
I'm amazed that so many people and small businesses (80%, according to a recent stat that I read) have done little to nothing with social media precisely because it takes time.
Do people really think that you can get SM religion one day and your customers/fans will all be singing your praises the next?
Great post, Jay.
I'm amazed that so many people and small businesses (80%, according to a recent stat that I read) have done little to nothing with social media precisely because it takes time.
Do people really think that you can get SM religion one day and your customers/fans will all be singing your praises the next?
Great post, Jay.
I'm amazed that so many people and small businesses (80%, according to a recent stat that I read) have done little to nothing with social media precisely because it takes time.
Do people really think that you can get SM religion one day and your customers/fans will all be singing your praises the next?
Great post, Jay.
I'm amazed that so many people and small businesses (80%, according to a recent stat that I read) have done little to nothing with social media precisely because it takes time.
Do people really think that you can get SM religion one day and your customers/fans will all be singing your praises the next?
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dmh1fQ
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dmh1fQ
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dmh1fQ
Are You Slow Enough to Succeed in Social Media? http://bit.ly/dmh1fQ
Are you slow enough to succeed in social media? http://bit.ly/dBuNbu #marketing #business
Are you slow enough to succeed in social media? http://bit.ly/dBuNbu #marketing #business
As someone relatively new to social media, and developing and honing what I want to do with my blog, I sooo appreciate this post and advice. Just yesterday I had a conversation with a fellow writer about slowness and the fact that we really do have a choice in the speed in which we live aspects of our lives, including our work. Thank you!