Avoiding Disaster: How Not to Use Social Media - #bwe08

Speakers: Jason Falls, Lee LeFever, Patrick O'Keefe, Darren Rowse

Got a late start as I was updating my tweeter handle to @therichbrooks

Rowse: Follow leaders then replicate their success/behavior. Learn the culture, find key people w/the culture.

O’Keefe: Understand the norms of behavior.
Falls: It’s not about selling your wares.
Rowse: it’s also about letting other people introduce and connect you.
Falls: Push stuff that’s not your own. Makes you more credible.

Property rights:
LeFever: Use creative commons to explain how you want people to share your content. Most people want to do the right things, but don’t always knows. Ambiguity is bad, being clear is good.
Copyright doesn’t induce sharing, but creative commons does.
Falls: You may need to have communications w/Legal. It may seem like their job is to say “no,”, but really it’s to reduce risk. (So they often do say no.) Good legal will work with you to find a way to say yes, but you need to coach them through the norms of social media.

LeFever: If someone’s using your IP the wrong way, assume the best so you get off on the right foot. (Don’t start w/a cease and desist.)

Rowse: You can turn those people into your best evangelists.

They all suggest that you associate with the right people. “Look around at your five closest friends and that’s who you are.” Will Smith.

Avoid companies that promise you # of followers or integrate your products into forums and message boards.

Don’t be too afraid of soc med; just take off the sales & marketing hat. You can use soc med to become an expert and increase your credibility.

Comments

[Jack Hadley]

Thanks for summarizing this bwe session. I was in a different one. It concerns me a little when people say "pushing" other people's content builds your credibility. I think that is ABSOLUTELY true... BUT ONLY if you REALLY believe the content is useful and relevant. As social media pioneers we must not compromise the medium by referring anything and everything JUST for self-serving motives.

[Patrick]

Mr. Brooks,

Thanks so much for attending and, especially, blogging the panel. I appreciate it. :)

Mr. Hadley,

Good point. That's 100% true and was a point that was made, as well.

Thanks,

Patrick