Who should or should not use Social Media?

As a Social Media Consultant, I am “blown away” by how many people contact me to argue about whether they, their company or organization should be online using Social Media.  The reason this is perplexing to me is that I assume by the time people call me they have decided that they would like to move forward with Social Media.  I am prepared to assist clients in developing a strategy and time frame of acting on that conclusion.

But no!  I have people call that feel pressure from friends, family, co-workers or “keep up with the Jones” mentality that in truth are leery about the whole thing.  So here is my list of “everyone that should not and should” be online using Social Media!

EVERYONE THAT SHOULD NOT:

If you do not want to do it, don’t!

If you have a bad attitude about Social Media and have thought and meditated on every reason you should NOT be on the internet (including a fear of internet addiction and having lost money to Nigerian swindlers back in 1995).   Do not do it.   Do not succumb to pressure from others!

If you are convinced you do not have enough money to get online, don’t!

If you think using a free site like FaceBook or Twitter is too expensive then don’t.  You are too smart for the system   Of course, the fees for getting educated on how to use the system may be what you mean.  This does not have to be a big issue.  Look around there are a number of Social Media people and resources that have reasonable fees (some do not). But if you ask, people can refer you!  Trust me!

If you think you should automatically get a check from FaceBook or Twitter for using their sites, then no don’t do it!

Many business people’s first question is how to monetize social media (I think a better-worded question would be – how will using Social Media affect my bottom line?).  Well you will not automatically get cash in the mail for being involved!   However, a number of businesses have said that they have gained brand exposure through Social Media and built relationships that have lead to deals being closed (see Illustration below).  That is how you monetize.  It is another form of networking.  And it is cheaper than playing golf:)!

If you do not care, what people are saying about you, your company or your business interest online then it is definitely not for you.

Listening is one of the great aspects about Social Media.  Being plugged in to listen to what is being said about your brand, your business niche is imperative!  This allows you to address those issues readily.  But if you don’t want to hear what people are thinking about the business or organizational issues you are involved with stay your current course!

You do not want to be Social on Social Media!

I get this and yet I do not.  You do not want to “chitchat”, build relationships with or talk to people online that you do not know.  Well business people talk to people they do not know all the time!    Of course, this scenario is online, but we all have played the game of small talk, on the golf course, over coffee, at lunch, online all the same!  But, if you do not want to, don’t!

 If you want to tell me repeatedly that you spent $10,000 on a website and you are beyond convinced that everyone in the universe is going to visit it because it is so spectacular!

Websites are great!  However, they are often destinations not places of interactions.  Plus, they must be sought out and found to be enjoyed.  Social Media sites are where people actually already are everyday! It would be a place to promote traffic to your very expensive website as well as a place you can interact with potential clients.

Honorable Mentions:

• You sell product that cost over $1million to less than 100 people a year!  Okay perhaps you do not need to expand your brand.
• You work for the CIA, but then you would be online in a very different capacity.
• You have evil employees that would use it as a vehicle to ruin your reputation.  Umm…why are they still employees?
• You are completely void of ideas as to what your goals would be if you did use Social Media.  Goals are good.  Doing something just to do it is not good.

Also, check out this article that expounds on my honorable mentions of not using Social Media.

EVERYONE THAT SHOULD: 

Everyone that does not fall in the above Should Not or Honorable Mention categories.

Just try it, if only personally for yourself.  Once you discover if you enjoy it, bring your organization online! 

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