How should businesses adopt social media: early bird or second mouse?
1st July 2010, 12:28 pm by Jo StratmannLast week Charlie and I spent a lot of time discussing the best way for businesses to embrace social media.
We looked at the pros and cons of using a campaign-based approach to social media, where brands go for a one-off viral success, opposed to a more sustained, long-term social media strategy to enable businesses to build ongoign engagement through social media and begin to embed it in their processes rather than using it as a tool to support one campaign.
So should businesses jump in and use social media right now and be the “early bird” (who gets the worm), or is it better to wait, like the “second mouse” (who gets the cheese), and think about what you want to do with social media before rushing in? Charlie’s thoughts on this are captured in the video below:
As this is a new blog post style for us it would be great to hear your thoughts not only about the content, but also whether we should do more FreshNetworks videos in the future. (I know one thing I need to improve is the lighting – Charlie looks a little orange in this video!).
For social media agency support get in touch or follow us on Twitter.
Basic Training « Success Trafficker:
[...] How should businesses adopt social media: early bird or second mouse? (freshnetworks.com) Explore posts in the same categories: Business [...]
2 July 2010, 2:21 pmTerry:
I like this new video blog you guys are doing. I strongly believe that when companies adopt social media, they need to have a strategy beforehand.
5 July 2010, 7:40 pmEkaterina Walter:
Guys,
I love the format.
I also like your ideas. I don’t believe in waiting too long, however, I agree that trying out something new but starting small is essential. Social media is a lot about trial and error and figuring out what works for you in connecting with your customers. Running smaller pilots and not beeing afraid to fail is essential for success imho. Especially w/social media – if you don’t get your feet wet, you don’t really know how it works.
Ekaterina
8 July 2010, 4:22 pmMatt Young:
I see and understand both sides of what you’re saying but I think you’d need to make your own mind up before going to see a client about which route you’d suggest they take. A bigger client would have more success jumping straight in with a decent budget and a good plan behind them, but smaller companies (imo) should tread more carefully.
On a lighter note, I quite like the ‘Simpson-esque’ colouring on your video. I have a door entry card to work which does a similar thing for me!!!!
Matt
8 July 2010, 5:27 pmScott Gould:
1. Charlie – I totally agree. Like you say, “If Social Media is a big thing, you can wait”
2. Also I love this format – please video blog more – all of you!
8 July 2010, 10:06 pmGraeme Fraser:
Great overview Charlie. As a B2B practitioner myself, your comments hit the spot. ‘Stop, look, listen’.
and yes keep the video’s coming, its nice to see the faces and the hear th voices behind the avatars
9 July 2010, 9:30 amJohn W Lewis:
A very interesting topic, Charlie!
Do you think that this is equivalent to identifying one’s category among adopters in the usual technology adoption lifecycle? If so, it might be extensible to more categories. (And chasms might even be discusssed!)
A personal version of the “second mouse” was described in a great post by David Lowe recently: http://sneezyhead.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/follow-the-black-sheep/. See also: http://observations.johnwlewis.info/2010/07/01/choosing-to-be-an-early-adopter/
9 July 2010, 4:09 pmBusinesses Embrace(?) Social Media | Mom & Pop on the Web:
[...] How should businesses adopt social media: early bird or second mouse? (freshnetworks.com) [...]
19 July 2010, 10:01 pm