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Three Secrets to Social Media Success
Friday, November 04, 2011
Leverage Social Media to Tell Your Story
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Three Secrets to Social Media Success I've had the opportunity to a do lot of public speaking lately. It's something I really enjoy. I'd highly recommend it for dozens of reasons, but that's for another blog. The audiences I speak to are in the business community and they are diverse. The senior leadership (CEOs, CMOs, and even Chief People Officers) often in attendance are asking, "What exactly is social media and how does it relate to my business?" To clarify, these companies are typically NOT "business to consumer" companies, but rather "business to business" or "B2B" companies. Many are skeptical of this new medium, almost all of them believing it's just a fad and suited only for high school teenagers. I was frustrated at first trying to describe it in a simple and compelling way. In my prep time for those engagements, I developed a three part definition of social media; People, Passion and Story. I found that to be the best way to describe it and a good way to understand why it's exploded on the scene like it has. I never claimed to be the smartest guy in the room, and I certainly don't claim to be an expert on social media. I am, however, evangelistic about social media and that's what led me to discover that social media is truly about People, Passion and Story. THAT is the secret to successful social media. Let's talk about people. People from all walks of life share their passion and tell their story through social media. Have you ever lived in different parts of the country or even overseas? Did you meet some interesting people when you were there? Do you have any good stories you like to tell about those experiences? I lived in Seville, Spain and they were passionate about having a good time. That's for sure. Flamenco, La Feria and bullfighting are their pastimes. In Atlanta, college football is king. And New Yorkers love their Yankees. I met some great people in all three places and walked away with dozens of incredible stories. Let's talk about Passion. Passion is contagious and most of the time, very well received. Have you ever heard a preacher, a speaker, a radio talk show host or a star athlete who is absolutely passionate about what they do or what they want to say? Are they fun to listen to? You certainly don't doze off during those moments do you? Are you passionate about your customers, your products, your industry or your service offering? Social Media is where you share that passion. Finally, let's talk about Story. Who doesn't like to hear a good story? Everyone has a compelling story to tell, every company, every customer and every employee. Stories are powerful. They draw people in. I would argue that it's the most effective way to share information and communicate your message. Social media enables you to write your own script and tell your story. It's no different in business. Change your thinking a little bit. Have your peers, colleagues, co-workers and customers bring their passion for whatever it is you produce, serve or experience with your company. Put it into a story format and watch what happens. It will draw people in and it will take the conversation on the social web to a new level and a new audience. What are the three secrets to social media success? It's people, talking about their passions and telling their story. Put pen to paper. Pick up a dry eraser and start crafting your message on a white board in the conference room. Get ideas from others and have some fun with it. You'll be surprised how easy it is to discover the great people around you who are passionate about what they do and can share that in a compelling way. Adam Karwoski
CEO
Social Brand U, LLC
Woodstock, GA
770-241-0102
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