Comments on: Is social media optional for marketers? http://www.thegit.com.au/is-social-media-optional-for-marketers/ Gordon Whitehead is The Git Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Gordon Whitehead http://www.thegit.com.au/is-social-media-optional-for-marketers/comment-page-1/#comment-963 Gordon Whitehead Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:58:13 +0000 http://www.thegit.com.au/?p=1754#comment-963 I disagree. Social media is about connectivity, collaboration and community. A company such as a mining company still has to connect and build a relationship with different people and communities. Communities such as staff, politicians, business customers, journalists, industry experts etc... Your CEO and marketing department should be doing that NOW! In the analogue world - its called staff meetings, trade events and business networking, public relations and business development, etc... In the digital world - the above is now call social media. Its at a fraction of the cost, available 24/7 and real-time. I disagree.

Social media is about connectivity, collaboration and community.

A company such as a mining company still has to connect and build a relationship with different people and communities. Communities such as staff, politicians, business customers, journalists, industry experts etc…

Your CEO and marketing department should be doing that NOW!

In the analogue world – its called staff meetings, trade events and business networking, public relations and business development, etc…

In the digital world – the above is now call social media. Its at a fraction of the cost, available 24/7 and real-time.

]]> By: My Say http://www.thegit.com.au/is-social-media-optional-for-marketers/comment-page-1/#comment-958 My Say Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:20:11 +0000 http://www.thegit.com.au/?p=1754#comment-958 I think this discussion relates to your previous article highlighting the reluctance of CEO’s to participate in frequent input social media. I also think that their now needs to be a split in mindset between a positive, effective web presence (a good website) and active social media (e.g. twitter). If large company, such a mining company has a good website with a strong SEO component to it I would view that they are doing an adequate job with their online marketing practices. I certainly would not expect someone like the CEO of BHPB to update us on Twitter. At the core of it, websites are now automatic for almost all businesses. Due to the nature of our economy, for many of Australia’s largest companies social media would have no impact on bottom line sales. I think even the most traditional company would agree that they need a website but I would be surprised how many ASX listed companies senior managers would have the time to be constantly adding things on Twitter. I also would suggest that corporate governance relating to confidentiality limits them. In my role I am not able to add anything on social media sites relating to the work I do for my company yet I am in the marketing department. Even if I could I rarely have the time. But if I was in the marketing department of a consumer-focused industry then I agree social media should be part of their marketing mix. I think this discussion relates to your previous article highlighting the reluctance of CEO’s to participate in frequent input social media. I also think that their now needs to be a split in mindset between a positive, effective web presence (a good website) and active social media (e.g. twitter). If large company, such a mining company has a good website with a strong SEO component to it I would view that they are doing an adequate job with their online marketing practices. I certainly would not expect someone like the CEO of BHPB to update us on Twitter. At the core of it, websites are now automatic for almost all businesses. Due to the nature of our economy, for many of Australia’s largest companies social media would have no impact on bottom line sales. I think even the most traditional company would agree that they need a website but I would be surprised how many ASX listed companies senior managers would have the time to be constantly adding things on Twitter. I also would suggest that corporate governance relating to confidentiality limits them.
In my role I am not able to add anything on social media sites relating to the work I do for my company yet I am in the marketing department. Even if I could I rarely have the time. But if I was in the marketing department of a consumer-focused industry then I agree social media should be part of their marketing mix.

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