Everyone talks about how important the use of Social Media is
today. Depending on how comprehensive a definition you wish to use,
social media can include sites like Facebook, Flikr, LinkedIn, Twitter,
Active Rain, MySpace, YouTube, etc., as well as Blogs, e-mail, personal
or business websites, etc. But are these sites really social? Granted
you contact many other people. But far too often these sites are used so
that an individual can somewhat anonymously "speak" to others, without
having to make eye contact. In many cases, social media has actually had
the effect of making people less sociable, preferring to use the less
personal avenues because they are often more "comfortable."
While I completely believe in using these media and extensively do, I still believe the "old-fashioned" method of "face-to-face" contact, or picking up a phone, are still more effective. Social media is best used to drive a reader's attention to a more detailed blog or website. Those formats drive business or contacts to the writer or creator of the site/ blog. However, the use and effectiveness of a Blog or a website is ONLY as effective as how well that vehicle stirs interest or excitement in the reader. Blogs and websites must meet a reader's expectations, or they will only be looked at once! You must also remember that merely because you post something, it doesn't mean everyone will see it, look at it, or pay attention. How will you drive people to actually seek out, and want to view these posts, etc?
Think about how often you send an e-mail and don't get a response. Or the response doesn't answer the question, or elicits another question. Think of the amount of time and energy that have been wasted, when simply picking up the phone might have quickly resolved the issue. Many people rely on e-mail, for example, rather than the telephone, because they find it easier, more comfortable. Others find it easier to express themselves, especially negatively, in an e-mail rather than in a phone call. However, beware to fall into the trap of avoiding making those calls, having face - to - face contact, etc., and using Social Media to add to or augment, rather than replace other types of communication.
E-mail (and for this article, also includes, texting, etc) and social media are best used either as an introduction, or a follow-up to other forms of contact, or when the other more personal forms are impossible to achieve. For example, statistics indicate that the "closing ratio" (or percentage of sales to contacts) is far higher with calls than with e-mails. Statistically, face-to-face is most effective, however.
I fear that far too many are becoming too dependent on this non-personal form of communication, and that important messages might be misconstrued. The argument is sometimes made that it is faster and easier to use e-mail than the phone. While it may be easier at the moment, because of the lag-time, the incorrect interpretations, and the back and forth, the reality is that often a phone call accomplishes a task much more effectively and efficiently. While an e-mail might suffice for simple announcements, or less pressing issues, it often is not the best medium for more urgent issues. Think about it!
While I completely believe in using these media and extensively do, I still believe the "old-fashioned" method of "face-to-face" contact, or picking up a phone, are still more effective. Social media is best used to drive a reader's attention to a more detailed blog or website. Those formats drive business or contacts to the writer or creator of the site/ blog. However, the use and effectiveness of a Blog or a website is ONLY as effective as how well that vehicle stirs interest or excitement in the reader. Blogs and websites must meet a reader's expectations, or they will only be looked at once! You must also remember that merely because you post something, it doesn't mean everyone will see it, look at it, or pay attention. How will you drive people to actually seek out, and want to view these posts, etc?
Think about how often you send an e-mail and don't get a response. Or the response doesn't answer the question, or elicits another question. Think of the amount of time and energy that have been wasted, when simply picking up the phone might have quickly resolved the issue. Many people rely on e-mail, for example, rather than the telephone, because they find it easier, more comfortable. Others find it easier to express themselves, especially negatively, in an e-mail rather than in a phone call. However, beware to fall into the trap of avoiding making those calls, having face - to - face contact, etc., and using Social Media to add to or augment, rather than replace other types of communication.
E-mail (and for this article, also includes, texting, etc) and social media are best used either as an introduction, or a follow-up to other forms of contact, or when the other more personal forms are impossible to achieve. For example, statistics indicate that the "closing ratio" (or percentage of sales to contacts) is far higher with calls than with e-mails. Statistically, face-to-face is most effective, however.
I fear that far too many are becoming too dependent on this non-personal form of communication, and that important messages might be misconstrued. The argument is sometimes made that it is faster and easier to use e-mail than the phone. While it may be easier at the moment, because of the lag-time, the incorrect interpretations, and the back and forth, the reality is that often a phone call accomplishes a task much more effectively and efficiently. While an e-mail might suffice for simple announcements, or less pressing issues, it often is not the best medium for more urgent issues. Think about it!
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