I think companies and people, need to figure out why they are joining an outlet before they do.

But the biggest problem I see out there is actually, what I like to call “The Attack of the Gurus.” People who aren't social media experts (because IMO no one is, it's to new for there to be any) who sell companies exactly what you put out there in your example.

It's a vicious cycle that goes dead end to dead end.

You bring up an excellent point, I wish more people would consider what's good for them and what isn't.

I think companies and people, need to figure out why they are joining an outlet before they do.

But the biggest problem I see out there is actually, what I like to call “The Attack of the Gurus.” People who aren't social media experts (because IMO no one is, it's to new for there to be any) who sell companies exactly what you put out there in your example.

It's a vicious cycle that goes dead end to dead end.

You bring up an excellent point, I wish more people would consider what's good for them and what isn't.

It's important to be able to do the proper research to find if social media is right for any company. I first joined Twitter as an intern to see if it would be a viable supplement (notice I don't say solution) to clients's PR efforts. We found that with some of our B2B's, it wouldn't be right for them to dive headfirst into it, while others could reach their audience to a certain degree.

I noticed something else, too. Sometimes the B2B companies with a very limited client-base want to “do” social media. Now. And see results, now, while other companies that could use social media to effectively boost their brand, are slow to take recommendations from PR's and implement social media as part of their PR efforts. Ah, the life of a PR pro…

Anyway, again, great points, Jess!
Thanks,

Tom
@TomOKeefe1

And you're exactly right. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,etc. were not the beginning of social media. As Jeremiah Owyang is fond of saying, e-mail was the original social media, and it still is one of the best forms we have of it.

As you know, I've talked a lot about this very subject before, that Twitter may not be the best option for every company. There are certainly some industries that are still a year, maybe more, off from being ready to adopt certain parts of social media, but I think the points you have outlined above would be excellent for any company to keep in mind in terms of enhancing its brand, even with B2B companies.

@KeithTrivitt

Some folks just miss the point and are easily amused by the new shiny toy that gets shown to them from “experts.” Its an unfortunate reality that we'll have to keep fighting.