5. It's just trendy
No, it's not. I participated in the first social networks and helped build and curate one almost 10 years ago and things are just getting interesting business-wise now. The Cluetrain Manifesto is 11 years old and at this point, you're either in or you're going to be left out.
Free in not a benefit, it's a feature. The benefit is what you build with it. What's in your strategy?
4. Companies don't have enough control
Control is an illusion, whether it's on Facebook or the fax machine. Do you tap the phones? Do you know what your sales people are telling customers? Really? I didn't think so. Who talks to vendors at your company? That's additional exposure.
Your employees want to know what the business is about, they will gladly share about it if you explain things in simple enough terms. It's not because they're simple, it's the business that needs to learn to articulate what it's about simply to be remembered and talked about.
3. Traditional marketing is a better investment
This is like saying meetings are a better investment than the telephone. The Internet has made spam very cheap, that's why there's so much of it. It has also made it easier for people to vote on what they're interested in. That is good.
There are more ways to connect with fans and people who are looking for what you offer than there have ever been before. Why continue buying your head in the sand as if turning on and off a dialogue was still the best or only way to go? Can you afford to be thought of as spam?
2. There are too many social media experts and I don't know which ones are legit
I agree this is a problem - but it's a cop-out as a show stopper. How do YOU think companies should find
legit people? We discussed a public relations candidate job description a couple of days ago. I say look at execution and results.
Or you could look at how many followers they have on Twitter and fan on Facebook (kidding!).
1. The only people on the Internet are kids
Guess what, there's fewer of us in the current online-crazed group. And you'd be surprised to find out that in the 6 month period ending July 4th, 2009 that Facebook saw 513% Growth in 55+ Year Old Users.
Want to sit this one out?
[image by Björn Söderqvist]