Your Thoughts—Are You Tired of Hearing About Social Media?
This is the third in my “Your Thoughts” series where I ask YOU to be the post author by adding your comments to finish a sentence.
Print In The Mix recently posted highlights from the Third Annual Survey of Top Marketing Trends, conducted by The Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG) and Anderson Analytics. In the second bullet, they note that “…social media, Twitter and social networking ranked as the top buzz words marketers are most tired of hearing.”
A closer look at the actual report (available as a PowerPoint download) revealed that the top three Most Tired of Hearing Buzzwords were, indeed, Social Media (29.1%), Twitter (14.8%) and Social Networking (7.5%).
I found this to be interesting and decided to get your thoughts on the matter. Please take a moment to help write this post by adding to the comments below and finishing the sentence,
I Am/Am Not Tired of Hearing About Social Media Because . . .
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthamm/2945559128/
Larry Bauer said,
March 24, 2010 at 3:35 pm
I am tired of hearing about social media because the conversation continues to elevate it above the level of simply being another marketing tool.
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 6:51 pm
I tend to agree with you, Larry. Let me ask you this — Do you think Social Media continues to be elevated because so many still don’t “get” it?
Larry Bauer said,
March 26, 2010 at 8:51 am
I think it’s a number of things. The media are always looking for the next hot topic and then work it to death. Younger marketers in particular are facinated with social media and elevate its importance in the larger scheme. Releatively low costs make it easy to sell in a poor economy. Service providers latch onto it as something new to sell clients. I’m “Print Strategist” and half the people who try to connect to me on Twitter are social media experts. And even though it’s new and unproven (or because it’s new and unproven) many companies are afraid they’ll get left behnid in a warp-speed marketplace, so they throw “defensive” resources at it.
Jim Raffel said,
March 24, 2010 at 7:33 pm
I am not tired about of hearing about social media because it’s in it’s infancy. If @GaryVee is right in Crush It! that the internet is so young (14ish) that it’s not even having sex yet then what does that say about social media? Not even out of puberty? It’s funny on the surface but think about it. This is cool stuff that levels the playing field for all of us and brings us all closer together – you know like the author of this blog and me who didn’t know each other a year ago and will sit down to dinner or coffee face-to-face before the year is out already knowing each other pretty well. – cool stuff I tell ya! – Jim
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 6:56 pm
LOL. Yes, and I think when we do finally meet, it’ll be like we’ve known each other for years! That is truly a unique benefit of social media, and one that we should all cherish.
CTK1 said,
March 24, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Yes I am tired of hearing about social media because it’s a constant stream of regurgitated articles, thoughts and news that goes nowhere. I’d rather read the original articles but they have been pushed so deep in the background we can’t find them. All we have are the pilfered, diluted versions and not a damn thing new has been said in years except for the rare link I come across once a month. Yes there are a few rarities.
Regardless of the preaching, one thing these people have not learned is how to be “social” and I doubt many of them ever will. I was at SXSWi and girl it was a frikken joke of astronomical proportions. Blowhards blowing so much wind I nearly fell over. I am a social media strategist and superb at the social end of it and up to date in all mediums. I am not a big fish, but I know my shit. Do they? And if they really did why would they spill it to everyone as a freebie?I sure won’t. They wouldn’t spill it either, that’s why they microwave left-overs, delivering what’s already been written and blown at us.
My best friend said about the Social Media peeps, “It’s like they escaped the cave and ran straight to their computers.” And I agree wholeheartedly.
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Tell us how you really feel, Christina! LOL. Seriously, thank you for your input. I think you may be on to something. We may be getting tired of hearing about social media because we’re hearing the same thing over and over again — and from people who are simply repeating what they’ve heard. Is it time for the real experts to stand up?
Randy Murray said,
March 24, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Yes, a bit.
There’s far to much “Facebook will rule the world” and “Twitter changes everything for consumers and companies”. It’s oddly dot.com boom all over again.
There’s some remarkably good stuff going on. We just have to tone it down a bit.
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Interesting comparison, Randy. I do see some similarities. I also see it as a kid in the candy store — excited, giddy from the smell of sugar and having a hard time walking out the door.
loripop326 said,
March 24, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I’m sick of hearing about the “media” part of social media. I still appreciate the “social” part.
Although I will admit that is getting harder and harder to find. I like the interesting content that gets passed along, but more than that I do like to be able to connect with people.
However, after getting told that I am doing it wrong (which makes me laugh, because who, really, are the experts?) I just try wade through the crap to find the stuff that I care about.
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Lori. You’ve provided some excellent advice. Figure out what works for you and go for it!
Mary Beth Smith said,
March 24, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Hey Debbie!
I’m tired of hearing about Social Media hype, but I am NOT tired of researching its capabiltiies. I have to echo Larry Bauer, and emphasize that it’s a tool. The important thing to understand is that while it has its place in marketing communications, it is not a magic bullet that eliminates the need for a business plan, a sales process, or good business practices. It’s just a tool – cool, and full of surprises, but still a tool. The hype will lessen at some point, and it will become a normal and necessary part of the total marcom efforts.
Appreciate you!
mb
Debbie said,
March 25, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Well said, Mary Beth — one more channel to add to the arsenal. I do so appreciate your input. Thank you!
Hal Brown said,
March 30, 2010 at 11:30 am
I’m not tired of hearing about social media in general. I’m tired (weary) of blog lists about social media, and the mountain of API applications that result from it.
If someone in fact has a good idea about using SM that’s great, and rare. Instead I see Twitter, for example, allowing the service to be overrun with automation.
If Twitter would do just one thing, allow no automation, no exceptions I would be a much happier user.
Missy said,
March 30, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I am not tired of hearing about social media because I still have so much to learn about it. I just wish I could find it all in one easy to read place!