Which companies really get social media?

July 26 2010 by ~ 2 Comments

Community News

There are those who think they get it and there are those who get it. Obviously that can be applied to various statements in regards to aspects of ones life, but I am speaking more in particularly about the people who can properly integrate social media into their marketing campaigns. Is there really a purpose to as to why they are using various social media tools, or are they just doing it because everyone else is?

We’re getting past the stage in which only the early innovators have explored how social media works while trying to integrate them into their everyday lifestyles. Older generations are beginning to use Facebook, people are starting to figure out Twitter, and blogs and apps are on the rise. Now the real question is why, why is everyone really getting involved in this social media craze? How in the world did something that was once college students connecting with classmates on Facebook and teenagers expressing their desire and love for one another through MySpace updates turn into a marketing strategy for the majority of businesses?

There are many companies who have implemented social media into their marketing campaigns  and that is great, but why exactly? Do they have a reason or are they merely doing it because all the other companies are? How many of those companies who are using social media, actually have analytics to back up their results? I am sure many businesses have a social media platform in place, but do they really know how to monetize that information. So are these companies just engaging in social networking because that is what everyone else is doing? That it just seems right if they want to keep up with the times?

When you were younger and wanted to do something you knew your parents didn’t want you to do, your “argument” to back up your case was often that all your friends were doing it. If that was the case, you were probably denied. So why is that argument affective for businesses? Simply backing up your claim by stating your competitors are doing it doesn’t necessarily mean it is right for you.

Surely successful companies need to be in the loop with new trends if they want to be successful, but until they know what they are doing, all it may be is a waste of time. So there are those companies who think they get it, and then there are those companies who actually get it. The companies that are monetizing their results are the ones that are actually seeking benefits from social media. The businesses that are constantly looking for new ways to improve their social media platforms are the ones that know what they are doing. If you are one of those companies who are just going through the motions by updating your Facebook and Twitter every so often, yeah that is a great place to start, but other than increasing awareness for your brand how else is it truly helping you?

Those first people who can figure out how one can really make money off of social media, are those who are going to make their businesses successful. People are beginning to understand how to make money of sites like Facebook with things such as affiliate marketing, but are they really doing anything for their actual brand, or are they taking the focus away from themselves by directing their attention else where?

I am curious to see how all will shape out in the future, but the first companies, businesses, and people, who can effectively let their followers know that they will benefit from following them on Facebook, Twitter, or any of the other social media sites are the ones to watch out for. Some have already begun to integrate these plans into their businesses, and others are merely along for the ride and just updating their status with a few fun facts about their company.

There are the companies who think they get it and there are the companies that get it. Which category do you want to fall under?

- – -

Pictures by the photosteam’s of brood wich, daveynin, and cogdogblog on flickr

Photos fo

Related posts:

  1. How Insurance Companies Could Be Using Social Media
  2. Online Marketing Week In Review (2/18/11)- Small Business and Social Media Edition
  3. Which Of The Top 100 Internet Retailers Are Using Social Media Buttons On Their Websites?
  4. Giving People Value In Return For Social Action
  5. Spring “Social Media” Cleaning
Tags: , , ,
  • Brittany

    Thoughtful post, but it would've held more value to me if you included examples of companies who “get it” and why, which is what I was expecting from the headline “Which companies really get social media?”.

  • http://www.jasonfpeck.com JasonPeck

    Good idea, Brittany. Maybe that will be a separate article that Matt can focus on. There are a lot of possibilities. In your opinion, which ones would you say really get it?