Tuesday Tip: You Need To Think Bigger

Whenever I'm feeling a bit burned out on the creative mojo, I wander over to YouTube.  Within moments I can laugh, be inspired, or learn something brand new.  It's always an adventure.

Today I found a curated playlist on the YouTube homepage from Media Muesli.  (In case you don't know, muesli is a kind of breakfast cereral which apparently is quite bland.  You have to watch the intro video to get the tie-in.) 

Media Muesli put together a collection of videos that shows how technology is inspiring creativity.  Honestly I watch this stuff and immediately think that I'm not doing enough.  Some of this stuff is mindblowingly awesome.

If you don't have time to watch all 13 videos (all but one are under 3 minutes), these are my favorites:

Perspective Lyrique

Intel uses Lego as input device at CES, 2011 (my kids would die for this)

Alive & Sound: Laser Graffiti

What are some of your favorite examples of technology-inspired creativity?  Share in the comments below!

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Is Social Media Dying?

There is a lot of speculation and discussion out there about social media.  Depite the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites, there is a pervasive undercurrent that these tools are going to "die" and life as we knew it will return to normal.

I spent some time reviewing the 2010 Social Media Industry Report recently.  The first thing to note is that there was a 2009 Social Media Industry Report, and so the authors were able to compare the data collected against the prior year.  (I'm a data geek and I like to see that.)

The second thing to note is that the sample size for the 2010 report is 1900 professionals and 63% of them were small business owners!!  (WOW!)  Statistics become significant at the 300 respondent mark, so this is definitely a robust sample size.  And it isn't just Joe Ordinary on the street- respondents were professional level folks who had exposure to social media.  With this backing, I'm more inclined to believe what the stats in the report tell me.

And what they had to say was this:

• The "big guys" for social media networking are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  (is anyone surprised?)
• For business, Twitter rules the day.  (but only by a smigen over Facebook.)  This should be a big wake-up call in any case because Twitter has only about 1/4 of the number of users as Facebook.
• The longer you use social media tools, the more time you spend on them.  When folks are started out, they are only spending about 1 hour per week on social media.  But the more time they spend with them, the more time they spend ON them.
• Respondents gave more clarity on the what they wanted to know about the use of social media

I read another article that said "social media" had peaked. The data  behind the piece was primarily Google search statistics.  Although the article was purely a piece that was relaying statisical information, but I found the greatest value in the comments/discussion of the post. 

As "social media" becomes more status quo instead of a unique anamoly, it will naturally decline as being a hot topic of conversation.  (When was the last time you saw a heated discussion on the benefits of using email?)  As we integrate these tools into our daily lives, their uniqueness fades, but their effect on our lives never will.

Social media tools are here to stay.  It is time we stopped debating it and started living it.

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A Tool in Your Toolbox

Social media is a brave new world right now.  It is exciting to watch everything that can and is being done to connect companies and individuals with their audiences.  It seems like no matter what you have to say, you have a venue to be able to say it in a meaningful, impactful way.  But as more and more people are crowding onto the scene, it becomes increasingly difficult to make sure your message is heard.  Your message has to be tight, your brand has to have the ability to connect with your audience, and you have to be speaking in the right place.

But it is also important to remember that as powerful as social media is, it is one tool in your toolbox.  It is a tool to connect you with your customers, your partners, your vendors, the media, and others.  It gives your brand a voice.  It helps establish you are a worthwhile person or organization with something important to say.  But there are some things that social media WON'T do for you.

• Your website: If you don't have a web presence, do that first.  This is the first place that you want your customers to find you.  This is your unique platform that allows you to showcase everything you have to say and offer.  People will form a perception of you based on the information they find there, so it makes it worth the investment to have someone do it for you if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.
• Face to Face Networking:  Social media is a great way to further conversations with people you meet in person.  It is also a great way to enhance relationships that you've made online.  No matter how great of a communicator you are, nothing beats face to face to build trust and credibilty quickly.
• Know Your Brand:  Your brand is who you are and the value you bring.  When you venture out into the social media world, you have to be able to succiently share this value in an honest, approachable way.  Social media will help you connect your brand's value to your audience's needs.
• Industry Research: Make sure you know where your target audience hangs out.  Spend time surfing the web and seeing where your competitors are before diving in, and then amp up your message to differentiate yourself.  Know where people who talk about your industry hang out.  You want to spend some time connecting with those resources, because they can help you promote your brand to the people who count: your customers.

Remember social media is only as good as what you put into it, and it's a tool that enhances the foundational work you've already done.

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