Comments on: Why Social Media Doesn’t Matter Anymore

By: Scott Allen

Scott Allen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:54:08 +0000

Social media isn't something you do, it's a tool you use to do something.

This was one of the essential concepts we discussed in The Virtual Handshake, and it's what has allowed the book to continue to be relevant even 5 years after publication.

Tools change. Platforms come and go. The fundamentals of business change...not so much.

I *do* think that the arrival of social media, along with other tools, has triggered a big shift in the way in which companies are expected to communicate with customers -- not just via which tools, but a difference in content and style. But it's still marketing. It's still recruiting. It's still customer service. Maybe social media makes it a little tougher to get away with bad practices in those areas, but good skills in those areas are timeless and tool-independent.

By: Dr. W. D. Nicholas

Dr. W. D. Nicholas — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:52:12 +0000

Thank you for being brave enough to put this out here. The article mentions that you are not the first to say this, but there is no denying that there is a tidal wave of advice from self proclaimed guru's who are promoting social media to almost god like status. We read more and more about how learning the “tricks” of social media will drive traffic to our websites and how these experts will let us in on their secrets – secrets that nobody else knows, but they'll give it away to us and everyone else on the internet.

I'm not denying that social media is a good tool. But it seems to me that it is only an adjunct to any business or organization. Human relations has been, and will continue to be, the foundation of successful organizations and sales.

By: yuregininsesi

yuregininsesi — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:58:10 +0000

You forgot that the buzz surrounding Social Media has a lot to do with creating jobs. Lots of “mystery” that needs an
“expert” to understand. Lots of new technology that is needed. Sadly, social media is being addressed in a vacuum.

By: Trevor Turnbull

Trevor Turnbull — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:04:48 +0000

Hey John,

This article inspired my upcoming webinar titled “How To Build a Fan Base 1 Burrito at a Time” (note the catchy title…but, it holds true in context as well I think

http://socialconnectblueprint.com/burrito-webinar

As I mentioned in my previous comment, there are far too many businesses that look at social media as something that you can “set and forget”. I am inspired by positive examples of brands using social media how it should be used….as a tool to engage. My personal experience with Panchero's Mexican Grill is a testament to this and I will be hosting their social media manager, Reid Travis, to talk about “the role of a social media manager”.

Would love to get your feedback!

By: Small Business SEO

Small Business SEO — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:48:39 +0000

I tend to disagree. I think Social Media matters because, if done correctly, it allows you to connect with your customers on a somewhat deeper than surface level. I think social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogging – are crucial aspects to any online marketing campaign.

By: Jonathan Painter

Jonathan Painter — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:54:50 +0000

Wow…another great and well written article and you raise many valid points. Stick with core business practices; competitive pricing, outstanding customer service and a solid service will bring plenty of repeat customers and referrals. Establishing social media accounts is a good way to assist search engine rankings but the time and effort required to regularly maintain them is better spent focusing on other tasks. A great way to maximize exposure via social media is to add sharing tools on your website.

By: Eric Mulford

Eric Mulford — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 06:10:04 +0000

This is one of the best articles I have ever read on the subject of Social Media. It isn't a presence on the Social Media sites that matters. It is marketing! A marketing strategy must include the Social Media Networks.

Understanding the current climate (driven by the Social Media Networks) involving customer interaction, trust as an essential component in lead conversion, and an enhancement of offline activity will make you better at marketing what you do. This article reminds us of all of the essential elements of effective marketing.

The one thing that the Social Media Networks have done for us is help us get better at interacting with others. In that way Twitter has effectively taken a non-personal medium like the internet and forced it to become very personal.

John, thank you again for the article!

By: Get Ex Back

Get Ex Back — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:29:26 +0000

well, new friend, John Jantsch at Duct Tape Marketing, wrote a great blog post today titled, Why Social Media Doesn't Matter Anymore