Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header about About Home Profiles articles Tools forums inspirational quotes About facebook Twitter YouTube Blog
Share for a Cause











Sorry, Social Media, But Marketing Is Still Cool

Guest post by: Danny Brown

Article Overview: Conversations on blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn and elsewhere are vocal in the opinion that marketing is dead; we choose who we buy from and whose reputation we ruin; what gets our eyeballs and what doesn't. But is this true, or a is there a bit of hyperbole involved?

Free Download - Sorry, Social Media, But Marketing Is Still Cool By Danny Brown
Name: Email:

Sorry, Social Media, But Marketing Is Still Cool

As social media continues its assault onto the mainstream audience, one of the side-effects has been the emergence of the view that marketing isn't allowed in the space.



Conversations on blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn and elsewhere are vocal in the opinion that marketing is dead; we choose who we buy from and whose reputation we ruin; what gets our eyeballs and what doesn't.


Simply put, old school is dead; long live the King (of new media school). And, to a degree, it's correct - old school is dead.


But let's not get too carried away by our new best friend social media, either.


Any time a new marketing platform comes out means that the "old school" is dead as it was; but now you use it in conjunction with the new. The view that we (as consumers) have all the power and that brands now need to listen to us is nothing new, either.


Sure, we have a soapbox on which we can stand now that allows us to share our likes, dislikes and outright hatred of a brand, product or service. Not only that, but we can share it with a worldwide audience looking for the next fix of brand assassination on YouTube.


But at the same time, is this really new? Haven't we always had the power over brands?


It doesn't matter how great advertising, marketing or PR messages are - if we don't like something, we vote with our wallets. This has been happening since the dawn of the first trade agreement. Just because Coca-Cola runs a great Christmas advertising campaign doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly buy Coca-Cola. I don't like the stuff, so their marketing and advertising is lost on me.


The view that social media has allowed us to force marketers to think differently isn't completely true either.


Good marketers have always planned with their audience in mind - it's one of the key tenets to marketing in the first place. We don't just come up with an idea and hope it works - like a duck on water, there's a lot more going on that you can't see, while the pretty stuff on public view looks effortless.


Additionally, good marketers have always known whena message is right, if the timing is there, and reacted as a campaign has progressed, using analytics and feedback. Kind of like social media does - the main difference is now you have instantaneous feedback to work from, as opposed to waiting on figures coming in from print or TV/radio media.
There's no doubt that social media is one of the biggest changes in the marketing landscape (and the business one in general). When it comes to tracking, measurement and engagement prior to, during and after the launch of a product or service, social media offers a great range of options.


To say that it means marketing is no longer needed, though, is missing the boat slightly. Like any sound business, the good marketing tactics will work and the lesser ones won't, especially when they're integrated as opposed to segragated.

But isn't that how it's always been?

Related Articles
  Using Social Media To Increase Your Sales
  Social media : why should my business use this resource?
  Social Media Gains Momentum for B2B Marketers
  Where Are You in Social Media Adoption Curve?
  The Remarkable Growth of Social Media - an Infographic
  12 Tips for the Social Media Newbie
  Resourcing B2B social media
  Social Marketing Online
  How To Use Social Media For Your Business
  Legal Marketing: Social Media and Law Firms
  Engage: The Word of the Year
  Social Media Marketing for Accelerating Your Business
  Free Internet Marketing Strategies That Work!- FAST CASH MAGNETS
  Want to Excel in Social Media? BE SOCIAL!
  Strategies For Utilizing Social Media Outlets
  “Should I or shouldn’t I”
  Legal Marketing: Blog opportunities
  Social Media is NOT about Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin
  IS SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT FOR YOU ?
  How Social is Your Email?

Home > Marketing > Danny Brown > Sorry Social Media But Marketing Is Still Cool >
Article Tags: businesslinkedin, linkedin, marketing, reputation, social media

About the Author: Danny Brown
RSS for Danny's articles - Visit Danny's website

Co-founder and partner at Bonsai Interactive Marketing, a full service marketing agency offering integrated, social media and mobile marketing solutions and applications. I'm also the founder of the 12for12k Challenge, a community-driven social media charity initiative to connect globally and help locally that's raised over $100,000 since inception in 2009. My blog is featured in the AdAge Power 150 list as well as Canada’s Top 50 Marketing Blogs, and won the Hive Award for Best Social Media Blog at the 2010 South by South West festival. It's also syndicated by the Social Media Today, Social Media Informer, WebProNews and Newstex business networks. I've worked with some of the biggest companies in technology, digital and consumer markets, including RIM, British Telecom, Orange, Microsoft Canada, IBM, Ford Canada, FedEX, Scotiabank, Vodafone, Dell and LG Electronics, as well as solo entrepreneurs and SME's. I've spoken at TEDx and am regularly quoted in publications and news media, including Marketing Magazine, Canadian Marketing Association, Fast Company Magazine and City News Toronto.

Click here to visit Danny's website Dashed Line

More from Danny Brown
From Stats to Strats


Related Forum Posts
Re: Kevin needs "social glue" ideas Re: Kevin needs "social glue" ideas - Hi, I like the idea of "10 items that could act as "social glue" because I am an internet marketer. But I agree with the rest that the 10 recent post is nice. Maybe we should open up a new section in the forums on Social Media...or Social Media Marketing. I will tell you that the world is about 1 1/2 behind when it comes to understanding social media. Building a section now will put EvanCarmichael.com is a great position a year down the road when people realize Social Media can produce more traffic than SEO. Jeff
Re: Kevin needs "social glue" ideas Re: Kevin needs "social glue" ideas - [quote="WebBizIdeas.com":gvtxsu7g]Hi, I like the idea of "10 items that could act as "social glue" because I am an internet marketer. But I agree with the rest that the 10 recent post is nice. Maybe we should open up a new section in the forums on Social Media...or Social Media Marketing. I will tell you that the world is about 1 1/2 behind when it comes to understanding social media. Building a section now will put EvanCarmichael.com is a great position a year down the road when people realize Social Media can produce more traffic than SEO. Jeff[/quote:gvtxsu7g] Hi Jeff, Thanks for the suggestion. Why don't you start a new post (with a poll) to see if there's enough interest in your idea for a social media section?
Re: Should Evan add a "Social Media Marketing" category to the f Re: Should Evan add a "Social Media Marketing" category to the f - Hi, Online Marketing would be a great title, and having sub categories would make it even better, there would plenty of categories to choose from, Social Media, SEO, Article Marketing and yes even Affiliate Marketing to name just a few, great looking site btw Jeff, take care, Carol
Re: Should Evan add a "Social Media Marketing" category to the f Re: Should Evan add a "Social Media Marketing" category to the f - Just as an update, Evan has extended the poll's expiration date and says he'd like to see at least 25 "yes" votes before implementing the new category. Moreover, it would probably be called "Online Marketing" instead of Social Media Marketing".
Kevin's Case Study #11 - A New Forum Category? Kevin's Case Study #11 - A New Forum Category? - Hi Everyone, 2009 is a new year and I'd like to create a new forum category to jazz things up! In the past, there's been some interest voiced about adding a "Social Media Marketing", "Online Marketing", "Internet Marketing" or "Online Promotion" category. I'll implement [u:1g2tv6tf]ONE[/u:1g2tv6tf] of those new categories, but can someone first tell me what the difference would be between the existing "Marketing" section and one of those new options mentioned above? Thanks


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article

Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Adapting to Technology and the Internet

The Biggest Domain Name Myth

Why Use an Advertising Agency
Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.