Why Big Brands Struggle With Social Media

While I was on Twitter today, I came across this article on Mashable a few times, Why Big Brands Struggle With Social Media. It’s great, you should read it. I always look to my friends on Twitter to expose me to new and better ways to use Social Media.

As a Marketer for over 15 years now (yes, 15 years), I have always been at the forefront of Marketing. I have worked for some major companies including MTV, VH1, USA Networks, Universal and Hearst. I’ve had clients like: HBO and AT&T. No, this article is not about name dropping. It’s about being enough of a pioneer and risk-taker to enter into new ways of marketing. To find new ways to talk to consumers. What frustrated me most about some companies, is how some of them live in a silo. I know, there are some of you right now from big brands nodding your heads. Frustrated sitting in your chairs. Half the reason I am a consultant is because I’m about moving forward quickly and finding new ways to communicate and learn from the consumer. To me, you don’t wait until something is tried and true. By the time you’re tried and true, time has passed you by. Someone else nabbed your audience, your customer. (I’m also someone who was on the waiting list for the iBook when it came out. I wasn’t waiting for the technology to be perfect. It served me well for 5 years by the way.)

We have been blessed by some brilliant minds in marketing and technology over the past 20 years. I was just speaking with a colleague the other day about how the transformation of marketing is completely parallel to the transformation of music formats. During my lifetime we’ve gone from the 33, to the 8-Track tape to the Cassette to the CD to the MP3. That’s like a lifetime for some people. Heck, my niece is younger than that and she can drive. Marketing has seen the same transformation.

So, I dare you. Be bold. Try new things. Get familiar with social media. Instantly you’ll see how it can benefit your brand. What’s the matter? Afraid the consumer might find you out?