On Social Media: From The Mouth Of A Skeptic

Only a few short months ago, I vowed never to cave in to the fad of Twitter and other social media tools. I swore I would never succumb to purchasing a Blackberry, iPhone, or any other device that would keep me connected to the internet and the people around me at all times of the day. I saw it as a distraction. If a fact was being disputed during a meal, my natural inclination was to say “iPhone-it!” and somebody inevitably would be able to look it up. Look up the fact, get the answer, and fulfill the instant gratification. I saw it as taking a little bit of the unknown out of life and replacing it with a handheld device full of definitions, facts, directions, and answers.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work on social media campaigns for a few Fortune 500 companies. With each new project my peers slowly hacked away at my stubbornness to cave in to some of the social media tools. My ignorance to the power of the tools was wiped away while observing the marketing plans that were created and presented to the companies by all competing teams. I saw how each tool can truly be used to add value, save time and money, increase a company’s customer base, and decrease the amount of time it takes a company to disseminate information. The true power lies in finding the right tools to use and properly integrating them to meet your customer’s needs and preferences.

After these opportunities to help these companies tap into the younger generation to build the best social media strategy we could conceive, I completely caved and started to do some more research of my own. By research, I mean I opened accounts for all of the online social media tools that I didn’t already have an account for, began to link them together, and played around with the different features that each one of them offered.

I now say that my assertions at the beginning of this post and my beliefs from just a few months ago were made by an ignorant and naïve person in terms of how Web 2.0 tools can be used to streamline and leverage a company. These social media tools do not take away from my time and distract me in my everyday life; they actually help sync all my individual accounts, decrease my time spent updating each, and increase the information and news that I am able to read every day.

Here’s to Web 2.0 and all those who are embracing it!

• By Alli Thompson

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About The Author

Alli Thompson

Guest Blogger

Since a young age Alli has been identified as having a natural ability to lead and a tenacity about her that pushes her to try and learn new things in all aspects of life.

Learning about the economic development of differing countries intrigues her and she has been able to travel to fifteen countries on five continents to experience these first had. When not working or reading she will probably be found on a trail going for a run or counting the miles on her road bike. Combining Alli’s joyful personality, adventuresome spirit, and curious mind, she will never fail to create a fun and unique working environment and product.

Alli's thoughts do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Blend.