As I discussed before, working in technology PR has turned me into an early adopter of new technologies and thus a tech resource for my friends. Now I get asked about what type of computer to buy, smartphone to purchase, or which website to join. I was the first to tell them about new technologies like Wi-Fi or capabilities such as Bluetooth in TVs and remote controls. But it was the world of social media that touched them instantly. Years ago I told them about blogs, microblogs and social bookmarking giving them a peek inside today’s world.
In the two and half short years since Facebook opened its doors to all Internet users, our world has changed forever. Services like Flickr, Twitter, Pulse Pulse, FriendFeed, YouTube, Digg, del.icio.us have gained popularity and changed the way we now communicate online. If this is the first stage of the social media evolution, just imagine what’s in store for us in 5 years, 10 years, or 25 years. Companies can no longer say, “I don’t get it, I don’t think it’s important.” Because it is important, and there are people who can help you “get it.” And there is a time to get involved in social media, and the time is now.
We have seen the landscape shift from the common “one to many” platform to the “many to many” platform and we are committed to working with our clients to track, follow, listen and contribute to the conversation as it spreads across the web and touches thousands of people. It’s not enough to just push content out, this new age of communication requires people to be part of the conversation, to contribute and connect with influencers as well as the Joe Sixpacks of the world. Everyone’s important and everyone has something to say, and it’s now time to listen and connect.
With so many great services out there, it’s a company’s responsibility to no longer call it a fad and to instead listen to their current and potential customers and use social media to connect with them directly. Whether it’s with a corporate blog, Twitter account, Flickr account or videos taken in the basement with your engineers posted on YouTube companies can connect, and do it effectively.
Across the agency we are working with our clients to build out their social media presence from our work with the ng Connect Program for their blog, YouTube and Twitter accounts, to our work with Broadcom and their online video campaign.
As Oscar Wilde once said, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” Let us not be consistent, but adapt with the times, grow and continue the imagination that made us unique in the beginning.
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