Archived entries for social media

Social Media and Sex Pistols

Social Media and Sex Pistols - www.design58.com

Social media is influential in adding value to human communication aided by technology, 1970′s band the Sex Pistols were influencers of global cultural shifts that are still being seen today. Is this the right time to stop talking about social media and to start using it?

Throughout 2010 we have seen a massive shift in people jumping onto the fast moving social media train. Trying to understand it, trying to use it and trying as hard as possible to make it into something unbelievably complicated.  That done they are then in a position to re-brand and become an expert charging excessive fees to confuse people even more.  Some going  as far as having a Facebook page with an RSS feed of international social media sites like www.mashable.com , not engaging or inspiring.

Is it all a con; is there a risk for businesses using social media?

Of course there are genuine people ready to share their experiences and knowledge to help businesses develop an effective presence online.  By building a strategic plan which includes a policy and schedule the risks are not eliminated but found, dealt with and overcome.  After spending time monitoring activity on social media platforms there is still a definite need to relax and take risks. The first risk is simply being true to you; those doing so are generally the people who are influential and inspiring.

Don’t judge a book just by the cover
Unless you cover just another
And blind acceptance is a sign
Of stupid fools who stand in line
Like EMI
Sex Pistols, EMI www.sexpistolsofficial.com

The Sex Pistols initially didn’t last long but did influence people to be independent and creative which is embedded into society still today.  It gets regurgitated within the fashion and music industries regularly, always throwing up  gems along the way.  In business should we really just continue with what is accepted, or should we enable people become more engaged? This has definitely being seen online over the past six years.

Social media technologies are the most basic and effective form of communication, so why would you decide not to use it?  With over 2 billion people online globally it would be surprising to find a business that has no reason to use the internet.  The risk is worth taking but that risk to some is that their customers will see a personable and approachable side to the business they are dealing with, this should be seen as a chance to change perceptions rather than run and hide.

By engaging and building a long term relationship with the customer or client budget costs can be changed. There is still a cost, but this is focused on building trust and loyalty by delivering genuine and informative content. Thoughtful positioning of information to specific communities is cost effective and should be used alongside traditional methods. Within this strategy there are vast opportunities for monitoring activity to maximise time and effort and to encourage flexibility not complacency.

Even if this is just the beginnings of social media it’s time to move on and stop believing its magic, myth or mystery, we are simply communicating as we have done before.  The risks should be taken now, creatively and technically otherwise the next generations won’t be influenced or inspired other than to be corporate and grey.  Maybe that would be a good thing as we would then get innovation and creativity through revolution.

Is it right to pay for Facebook fans/likes?

Is it right to pay for Facebook fans/likes?
There are companies which offer 1,000 “real” people with a genuine interest in your page for under $100. Can this be authentic? And is it ethical? Any views or experience of this?

I recently saw this question on Linked In, here is my response, please add your thoughts below.

Building relationships through informed engagement and meaningful conversations will build your likes and followers one by one.  If you haven’t  got time to wait then pay, but the people you pay have no reason to inform others about the qualities of your busioness as they are not loyal or trusting simply taking a payment.

If someone asks you to pay them any money at the bottom of a long scrolling one page website for the answer to how to get friends, followers and likes it’s a scam to get your cash and give you nothing.

One like at a time will do it, at least you are engaging with your connected community, delivering informative information  suggesting you know your industry not that you are constantly delivering sales pitches.

I saw the question recently asking if you could have one more like or one more follower which would you pick Facebook or Twitter? the answer is you don’t need either because having one follower or like already means your mesaage is being seen by others who may follow or like your profile or page.

Real people are out there and are far more social media savvy than some businesses. Don’t provide what you think they want, listening actively will help you understand their needs and hearing what they say will help define your strategy.

Promote or engage?

This post is in reply to the following question on Linked In:

How do you promote your business without trying to sell your business? A minefield

Simply provide information about yourself so anyone reading will be aware that you are knowledgeable with regard to your industry and area of work. With the objective of making you a source of information that the reader will return to.

People buy from people, relationships are key to any brand development. Building networks and communities and knowing who your connected community is will help define your strategy and objectives.

When you begin listening and see what is discussed, how and where you will better understand how to engage. Wherever you listen though make sure you hear all, don’t just take what you want to hear. This can be offline [face to face] as well as online. There are loads of free to use online solution for monitoring activity as well as pay to use software.

Here’s a good article about consumer connections and how brands need to to do more than market and promote http://www.briansolis.com/2010/11/the-rise-of-the-social-consumer/ understanding the value of connected communities, emotion and loyalty.
The trust and loyalty received from engaging and building relationships within connected communities will then deliver word of mouth. Virtually everyone [over 2 billion people online by the end of 2010] has an online network; from people buying from people, people also listen to those they trust. Understanding these ‘online referral networks’ add massive value to any business, they are simply people connecting with people.

I was invited recently to hear how to cold call, personally I hate doing it and have steered away from talking to people who within seconds hate you. No good saying ‘Every no gets you closer to a yes’ your time would be spent actually working on finding the the networks and communities that want to talk to you rather than anyone who has a telephone.

Best thing to be though is yourself with belief in your product and service.

Pecha Kucha – Huddersfield 23.09.10

Pecha Kucha – Huddersfield 23.09.10
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This slideshow was first seen at a Pecha Kucha night in Huddersfield 23 September 2010, to find out more about Pecha Kucha visit www.pecha-kucha.org . The basic guidelines are for presentations with 20 slides each lasting 20 seconds, 6 minutes 40 seconds in total for each presenter.

This is just an insight to some of the people I have connected and shared time, experiences and inspiration with from 1983 to 2010.  Some of the slides share direct contact through art and performance others indirect contact to the people seen in each slide.

Slide Details:
1.  Social networking connections through shared interests

2.  1983 Living in Middlesbrough, UK  and my introduction to fanzines, fluxus and the  mail art world.

3.  Receiving mail art from war zones, prisons, friendly Soviet KGB officers to everyday artists and people all around the globe building relationships some of which continue today.

4.  I published a fanzine distributing it globally; the Rough trade shop was one of my most important outlets though.  Where I met someone who too it further around the area an actor with my mother’s maiden name Allen, and also known as the father of a London singer.

5.  ‘Grass one blade or more’ was to be my mail art exhibition;   all i requested was people sent me their interpretation of the request.  I received 327 samples from46 countries over three years and again made more amazing connections and relationships through their participation.

6.  Through a random meeting in New York came the inspiration to exhibit in my own home from someone who became a lifelong friend with factory connections.

7.  Whilst in Brighton, Uk shared time with a former assistant of this Spanish artist and had many insights to a wonderful life.

8.  Performing and dancing in nightclubs around the country and then at the Slut Club, organised by this Glaswegian singer.  Followed by an all day Creation Records day at the Town and Country Club London audience 5000.

9.  Dancing referrals were made about many but often to the artist and poet centre stage in this image again from the Factory in New York.

10.  Image making as a photographer I did a shot with the band in the background of this image and they inspired the Seattle singing sensation in the foreground.

11.  The Church of the Subgenius was never far away especially Bob, memorably performing  as him in a Sinclair C5 car at The Zap Club Brighton, UK.

12.  A Texan actor part of an audience during a surrealist banquet at Brighton Pavilion, UK.

13.  World champion boxing champion often an active audience participant when I performed as a living sculpture in Brighton, UK.

14.  This actor was a member of a street audience who only made himself known to me.

15.  A young model excited to tell friends of her first shoot in The Face magazine unknown in a busy London station.

16.  Electro hip hop brought from LA to a rural English village by MySpace as part of an art fair.

17.  Platform58 is always searching for more creativity whether known or unknown and to find through contacts old and new to help spread the word of everyones creativity as simple as that.

18.  Relationships have come from inside a wall to a life time of art, sound and film and carry on being made.

19.  Mattia Fagnoni and his family truly deserving of anything I can do by sharing what they do in rasing funds to research  and help families affected by Tay Sachs or Sandhoff disease.  For more visit them on Facebook .

20.  It will never be my message that is important but the conversation that follows. Thank you from everyone at design58

Mark Longbottom

Seth Godin on the tribes we lead

This maybe an old speach but it does hit the spot focusing on tribes and their leaders and importantly the connections and sharing of information within our tribes and networks.  providing the opportunity so we can can take action and make change ourselves whether in our imediate community or further afield.

In this video Seth Godin discusses [www.ted.com] how the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes.  Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so.

Not such a wild idea if you consider the possibilities of engaging and building genuine networks naturally.

Here’s where you can find out more about Seth Godin:
sethgodin.com
sethgodin.typepad.com