Have a conversation about marketing today and I bet the subject of social media will be raised. Some people even capitalize it – Social Media!
While social media has changed the game, it’s important to emphasize that it is not the answer. It is (get ready to have your mind blown) part of the equation.
Too many folks dive head first into every social media site they can find without a clear reason for doing so. Because these sites are “free” what harm can it do? That’s a bit like buying every car on the lot just because you can. In reality, though social sites may not cost a monetary amount, they do cost time and effort. Each of those cars needs to be driven, washed, and maintained if you want to get the most out of them.
Make sure you have a plan before you jump in the driver’s seat. Know where you want to go and how you plan to get there, otherwise, you’re probably “gonna have a bad time.”
Demand Generation Consulting 
Very nice. There’s so much attention being paid to these websites that we often neglect the original intent towards gaining a greater audience for our product. Whether a business or a personal profile, success on these sites is determined by ‘likes,’ ‘retweets,’ or ‘pins.’ Just as you’ve pointed out, you can’t simply log in, put up a picture of a puppy with your product, and gain business (Bad time, “pizza when you should’ve french fried”). It takes work and, mainly, interaction with people to really make a mark.
Thanks Brian! I totally agree, it’s very easy to get caught up just trying to keep up with all the new toys. It’s more important to consider the reason for using each.