Brave New World

   

   2012 is here!  I hope everyone's year is getting off to a great start.  I enjoyed taking some downtime during the holidays, but now it's back to work on a new year of business social media blogging.

   First, "Cyber Monday" following "Black Friday" was huge.  More money was spent on that day than on Black Friday -- which should be a warning shot to everyone not practising their business social media.  If you're not online, you're offline.  And that means you're flatlined.  DOA.  Kaput.  Finished.

   More people than ever are connected via smart phones.  There is just NO EXCUSE for any business not to have a cyber presence in 2012.  Is your website up to speed and updated?  Are you sending out emails to customers and prospects?  Are you giving them a reason to click on your site?

   Advertising Age's digital magazine lists five facts to look for in social media this year.  The full article can and should be read here:  http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/social-media-facts-bank-2012/231859/

   For the quick takeaway, here's what to expect in 2012 from writer Matt Wurst.

  1) Facebook is going to continue to evolve.  The major fracas over changes a couple of months ago has quieted down now, but there are more changes on the way.  If you don't keep up with them, you're going to be more lost than the cast of a past show that crash landed on a desert island.

  2)  Google+ has passed the 65 million user mark.  Still not up with Facebook, but certainly a force to be reckoned with this year.  Is Google+ really something you should be interested in?  Well, think about this: When was the last time you heard someone say "I'll Facebook it" when they were looking for information?

  3)  It's time to get serious about paid media support for your Facebook and other pages.  A media strategy that combines fan acquisition and fan engagement tactics is now a must-have.

  4)  Mobile, mobile, mobile.  Your customers are no longer tied down to a home computer.  They haven't been for some time now, but the massive move toward smartphones has really set them free.  They expect to get things from you EVERYWHERE, and that means EVERYWHERE THEY ARE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.  Time is money?  Yes, but mobility is more money.

   5)  Lead, follow, or get out of the way.  It's an old saying, but it's true in today's digital business social media world.  You cannot set your yearly outlook and then stick with it no matter what.  It's got to change and adapt moment by moment.  Tattoo this thought on your soul:  business social media is a LIVING BEING that is CONSTANTLY in a STATE OF FLUX.   A shark that stops swimming sinks - and a business that stops monitoring their digital business will follow suit.

   Have a great and prosperous 2012, and keep your business social media running at full speed!   

It's not your mother's Black Friday anymore!

     Are you ready?  Black Friday is upon us!  For many businesses, this is the make it or break it beginning to the make it or break it shopping season.
     In the old days, your mother's Black Friday depended solely on foot traffic at the brick and mortar stores.  It still does, judging by the crowds we'll see at Best Buy, Target, WalMart and etc.  But now -- if your business social media isn't addressing Black Friday, you're going to be missing out on a lot more traffic.
     Every year, the number of people who do their shopping online increases exponentially.  Those people who are glutted on turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie are going to be couch potatoes, but they won't be alone.
     No, they'll be armed with their smart phones.
     Merchants are offering online only deals (see the last blog entry on coupons) and are expecting to reap huge benefits from them, as well.  Hopefully your business is among that number.  Online only outfits like Rue La La, Amazon, Gilt and HSN will be competing for that shopping dollar - even as folks stand in line to get into the stores.  What could be better?  Shopping WHILE you are standing in line???
     Did you know that almost ten percent of of e-commerce purchases made in October came through mobile devices?  That's up about 3 percent from last year, according to research from IBM Coremetrics.
     AND -- about 43 percent of Americans with cell phone service own smart phones.   Amazon says the number of its American customers shopping on smart phones has nearly tripled since last year.
     So...get out there and sell through your business social media.   The brick and mortar stores are adding salespeople -- and now, you need to think about adding IT people, as well.  Punch that message out there, and don't be shy about doing it, either.
     It's not your mother's Black Friday sale anymore.

Let's Make a Deal!!!!

     In these wonderful economic times, who doesn't want a good deal?  Your customers certainly do and they are looking for you to provide it through your business social media.
   
     A recent study posted in Online Media Daily says that deals remain the top economic driver to bring people to business social media postings.
   
     The study, by Nielsen/McKinsey's NM Incite reveals that a whopping 60% of Americans hit social networks looking for coupons and other promotional bargains.  Of that number, 23% say they do it on a weekly basis!  And maybe you thought only Donald Trump was interested in the art of the deal!  Need more proof of the interest in the search for a good deal?  Did you pay attention to Groupon's IPO on NASDAQ?
   
     On a global basis, consumers of all ages said that getting discounts and special offers was their main reason for liking or following a brand.  (Remember in the past we've discussed your need to get out their on Facebook and Twitter?  Are you there yet?)
   
     There is one demographic item of note in the study:  consumers aged 55 - 59 and those under the age of 20 were less likely to follow brands for this reason - but these folks are NOT the biggest spenders for most brands, either.
   
    Here's the real kicker, though.  Across a study of ten major markets, including the United States, what do you think is going on with these business social media consumers?  Nearly 40% of these active Web users were hitting the promotion and coupon sites like Groupon and others from their home AND WORK computers this past September.  If you want more, here's the complete study. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/161754/study-deals-remain-top-social-marketing-driver.html         

     Your online presence and your business social media effort is your most tireless salesperson, working 24/7/365.  Are you giving this dynamo the tools it needs to complete your sales?  To drive people to your site?  If not....well....

     Ever see anyone compete in NASCAR without gasoline?

     It isn't pretty.
 

When Your Blackberry Customer is Buried

     The recent Blackberry out of service disaster appears to be over, for the time being - though it remains to be seen if Research In Motion can recover, especially in the wake of Apple selling four million plus of the new iPhone while RIM was trying to restore service.
   You, as someone who practices business social media, know how important it is to get your message out to your adoring public - but what do you do when the medium for your message goes south, like Blackberry?  How many of your customers are using iPhones, Androids, etc. and how many are sticking with the Blackberry?  How many folks MISSED your message?
     RIM has stated it will hand out free apps to try and appease customers (good luck with that) but what will you do?  Did you send out a message on a special one time only sale that didn't get through?  An important message about upcoming business functions that didn't get through during the RIM outage?    How are you going to take care of your customers?  How should you take care of your customers?
     Do you re-run the message?  Do you re-do the sale?
     Enquiring minds want to know.  Let us know your thoughts on this conundrum that is absolutely no fault of your own, but requires your instant attention for your customer base.
     And this time, let's hope the message gets out.

Texting Could be Your Last Word. Period.

Texting while driving? 

   

Was the message worth it?

     Is texting part of business social media?  Well, yes and no -- texting implies rapid back and forth conversations, while business social media should be well thought out campaigns conducted through social media outlets and email.
     However --
     Composing the text of your emails and etc. while driving is JUST AS DANGEROUS AS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.
     A new study by the Texas Transportation Institute finds that reading or writing a text message while driving can more than double a driver's reaction time.
     Re-read those last seven words:  more than double a driver's reaction time.
     Researchers found that reactions times of 1 to 2 seconds while not texting slowed to 3 to 4 seconds while texting -- and here's something more to think about:
     The study found very little difference in response times between a driver composing a message and reading one!
     You might think a couple of seconds is no big deal, but a driver going 30 mph covers 220 feet in five seconds.  A driver doing 60 mph covers 440 feet in five seconds.  That means that if you're on the tollway, a freeway, or other road where the speed limit is 60 during rush hour and a vehicle suddenly stops in front of you, there's not enough time to react if you're glancing down at your phone.
     Additionally, drivers in the study were more than 11 times as likely to miss a flashing light while texting or reading.
     Currently, 34 states have texting and driving bans.  Organizations such as the AAA and insurers oppose texting while driving, and with obvious good reason.
     You've built up a great business through your business social media skills -- don't flush it down the toilet with one ill-timed text.

Caught in a Whirl

The Facebook Tornado!

     There's an old adage about business success -- it's called "location, location, location."  While it was originally intended to apply to real estate, it now applies to the internet and your business social media.  Let's face it -- a billboard that's not being read is no good to an advertiser, and if your social media isn't being read it's no good to you, either.  Ergo the adage, "location, location, location."
     So, where's the big location these days?  Well, Google Plus is beginning to flesh out a bit, but the place to reach people is with your page on Facebook.  Yes, you need a page on Facebook.  You need to have people 'like' your page on Facebook.  You need to talk with people on Facebook.  Given the recent spate of Facebook changes that have/are driven/driving people crazy, it's still the number one place to be on the net.
     According to Citigroup Interweb's analysis, Facebook accounts for a whopping 16% of all US time spent on the web.  Google is in second with 11% and Yahoo third with 9%.  Even more telling, Citi found little migration to Google Plus.  The story is here:  http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2011/09/26/facebook-sucks-up-a-ridiculously-huge-and-growing-share-of-our-time-wasted-online/
     Here's the kicker that should kickstart your business social media into having a lasting presence on Facebook: as the site continues to grow and evolve, it's going to grab up a greater share of the search and advertising dollars.
     Your signature on your tweets and emails should ask customers to "like" you on Facebook.
     Think of it as the vortex of a tornado; the more hits, the more customers, the more customers, the more hits, spinning around and around and around until...
     You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy!

Facebook Fracas, Part Two - You Will Be Assimilated

The Facebook Fallout continues unabated...

it's about the mechanics of change....

     Following yesterday's changes, Facebook is defending them, saying it makes for a better user experience.  Users, meanwhile, continue to deride them, saying it makes for a worse user experience.  I've already seen several defections among Facebook users to Google Plus and I imagine there will be more.

      What's it all about for everyone involved in business social media?   Are there lessons to be learned here and if so, what are they?  

      First of all, it's about change.  Change is inevitable...and as the Borg used to say on Star Trek: Next Generation, "resistance is futile."  Change is required to move forward, though, if it's done badly, it can move you backward.  A happy balance needs to be struck.  Yesterday I related the sad story of New Coke.  That was indeed change, but it was change done badly.  Business social media is a living, breathing organism and it's going to change, and Facebook is no different - but, as in New Coke, the more users/consumers you have who are happy with the product, the harder it is to do any sort of change without upsetting a lot of people.   For Facebook to survive, it has to change and grow, or else it becomes irrelevant and staid.

     For those practicing business social media, think about change in your operations or perspectives.  Maybe when you started out it was simply to get public awareness of your product or business.  Now, you are actively searching for customers, or offering freebies, or any of a thousand other things to drive business to your door through the medium of business social media.  That's change.

     Without that change, your business would no longer grow.  Unless an organism changes to meet current conditions, it fails.  Do you remember MySpace? How many of you are now operating your business social media through that network?

     Now for question two: Are there lessons to be learned here?  Sure.   First, you need to take into account your customer base.  Coke did test studies that led them to believe New Coke would be a hit.  I'm sure Facebook also did something similar (I hope they did, anyway).  However, test groups have been known to give skewed results.  In the past on this blog we've discussed the need to really, REALLY think something through, and that continues to be important.  

     Second, look at your competition, and we can't stress this enough.  What are they doing?  Are they really out in front of you, or are you still leading?  Trying to do a massive catch up from behind can cause more harm than good; you're perceived as being behind, or worse, perceived as being a leader who fell from grace.  For more on that angle, do a search on Research in Motion (RIM) and their disaster with handheld devices after being the industry leader for many years.

     So in the end, utilizing business social media correctly DOES involve change.  It has to, or you will fail.  Who knows which platform will be carrying your message next year or even next month?  If you are going to stay in the hunt, it's time to branch out and hit Google Plus  (www.plus.google.com) or try your wings on another platform.  The more you're out there, the more chances you have - you can't win the lottery without buying a ticket.

     And no matter what change you make, you need to recognize the change you need to make before you implement that change.  If Disney suddenly decided to crop Mickey's ears from round to little fox ears, that would be a change.  

     You decide if it would be a change Disney's fans could live with!