Posts Tagged ‘geoff livingston’

Written by Geoff Livingston and me and originally posted on The Buzz Bin.

The bad economy has brought to bear one unwelcome change.  With a desire to use more cost effective communication forms, companies are looking to social media.  As a result, there are many, many companies, agencies and consultants rushing to offer social media services. Unfortunately, they don’t know what they’re doing.

Companies need to turn a discerning eye onto their potential social media partners. Here’s a quick list of some ways to vet potential social media experts.

1. When asked about listening, gives you a blank stare.
2. Converses at people instead of with them on social networks
3. No tangible past experience delivering return on investment either for themselves or others
4. Doesn’t understand how social media integrates into larger corporate communications or business strategy
5. First recommendation is to blog
6. Believes in delivering messages
7. Will ghostwrite blog posts and other social content for you
8. Is willing to impersonate you online in social networks
9. Trots in “social media expert” for sales meeting
10. Their blog is less than six months old or has no comments
11. Blog only has links to traditional 1.0 media sites
12. Cannot host conversation without constantly interjecting self into said conversation
13. Talks about cultivating your personal brand
14. Will not allow employees to participate in larger conversation
15. Will guarantee results without any prior experiences
16. Just added new social media department
17. Recommends Facebook Group as first tactic
18. Defines social media as only tools (Facebook, blogs, Flickr <INSERT SHINY OBJECT HERE>) as opposed to conversations with communities
19. First campaign involves a contest without a strategy
20. Doesn’t know what Technorati is
21. Talks about applying mass communications theory
22. Posts less than five times a month on their blog
23. Thinks social media is about creating content
24. Suggests publishing promotional copy as social content
25. Believes social media is the sole terrain of either PR or advertising

What would you add to this list?

[Image: Rifle Expert by Randy son of Robert]

Added on 12/19/08:

An hysterical video version from Andrea Vascellari (it’s worth the 5 minutes, Andrea adds on some good ones):

Even More Goodness! Related Posts:

• The Meme to End All Memes
• PR 2.0 will double your workload
• Livingston Communications is off to the races with CRT/tanaka
• 5, in the morning

My friend Geoff Livingston and many others believe that it can. From what I have seen so far, social media gives non-profits the ability to reach out, spread the word, develop communities, and have conversations in ways that traditional marketing never could─or at least not in a way that wouldn’t potentially eat up an entire year’s marketing budget.

Seeing it in action has led me to believe that social media and the tools available can help non-profits. But what I have noticed is that blog posts on social causes, Facebook Causes (people join the cause, but that’s about it), tweets on causes, etc. never get the same attention as the latest social media snafu or raging social media debate.

With the world more connected now than it ever has been, non-profits have a way to use these connections to share someone’s pain from hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. But what good is that if their social media efforts aren’t moving society for the good of that cause?

I think one of the new challenges non-profits face is the ability to get the people they network with online to move into offline action as well and even perhaps simultaneously.

Geeks who Give

Geeks who Give, here in Philadelphia, proved last night that this combination is fruitful indeed. With over 100+ people attending their charity event and tweet up they were able to collect over 900+ lbs. of food for Philabundance. They built the buzz up using social media and enticed us to donate food (the price of entry) by promising a great time at National Mechanics. And they delivered just that with a cooking demonstration (Fork demonstrated how to make an easy meal completely out of non-perishable foods) and karaoke. Geeks who Give will be utilizing social media for social good throughout the year as they continue to support local charities.

Save Darfur

Another cause that is showing great momentum by utilizing social media for social good is Save Darfur. A little bit about Save Darfur:

“Around the country and across the globe, the Save Darfur Coalition is inspiring action, raising awareness and speaking truth to power on behalf of the people of Darfur. Working with world leaders, we are demanding an end to the genocide, and our efforts are getting results.”

The Save Darfur campaign is utilizing a balanced combination of online and offline activism to help educate people and raise donations to help end this terrible genocide. The Facebook application alone has over 1 million members that have raised $75,000. And their student grassroots effort, Dollars for Darfur, raised more than $450,000 and engaged thousands of schools.

If you are with a non-profit, let us know if social media is working for you and how you combine online and offlice advocacy.

[Image: OneBigU]

Even More Goodness! Related Posts:

• The Meme to End All Memes
• PR 2.0 will double your workload
• Livingston Communications is off to the races with CRT/tanaka
• 5, in the morning