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Social media - this is your future
This is a guest blog post by Jenna Yhearm, Community Manager, Kindred
As I sit here typing this article, copy of Wired magazine to my left, pretentious ‘hip’ notebook (because frankly the ones in the stationery cupboard are ghastly) to my right, I could easily (and happily) stay within my wonderfully jolly Social Media Bubble.
In this bubble, brand managers, CEOs and middle management TOTES get why they should be on Twitter, what a ‘Like’ on Facebook really means and the importance of content, content, content. We wear Nike Blazers to client meetings, rarely bother to brush our hair and generally strut about with a smug ‘my job is cooler than yours, non?’ smile on our groovy little faces.
But the reality is that clients aren’t interested in just how limited edition your trainers are or what type of ‘geek chic’ glasses you’re wearing. They want reassurance that their brands and businesses will be in safe hands in what truly is a very fresh way of working. It’s new, ever-changing, risk-heavy, and consequently, it’s scary.
And whilst I used to not understand why on earth anybody wouldn’t want to be at this particularly hip, young party, I now completely and utterly get it. The RISK! Goodness gracious me. Opening yourself up to an infinite world of criticism and, potentially, constant PR nightmares doesn’t exactly sound appealing.
Like it or not, conversations about your brands are already happening online and the very least you can do is to give yourself a voice. I wholeheartedly encourage you to join the party before it’s too late. Otherwise you might just be left out in the cold, clutching your lukewarm beer, wondering where it all went wrong.
Please don’t be scared. It’s a wonderful place to be. Truly. When have we ever had such an opportunity to speak to, and learn from, consumers on such an epic scale? So, whilst you will inevitably have to deal with difficult people (because remember that’s what they are, actual people – real live humans) and the odd customer service bore, be grateful for the opportunity and walk in to this new world with confidence, grace and your head held high. You’re going to love it, honestly.
What’s my point in all of this? We are a serious industry and the likes of Facebook and Twitter are here to stay. Don’t let our uniform of Converse, jeans and Wayfarers fool you. We know what we’re talking about and are, for the most part, hugely passionate creatures (not in a sexy way, you naughty things) who do what we love and love what we do.
So come, take our hand and we’ll step through that door together, ready and experienced to handle whatever comes your way.
And no, we don’t just p*ss about on Facebook all day (much).
Kindred’s blog roll is available here.
