Trying to be relevant
What are social media “Experts” trying to sell?
How about people who sell downing rods?
They are trying to sell relevance.
People want to be relevant. Why do you think that so many people entered the online world when it took off? Why are there so many people cluttering up the web with “lists” and screaming about buying their product?
They are trying to be relevant.
“Snake oil” salesmen have been doing this for years. They jump on whatever the hot trend is, and they move forward being relevant.
The first people to be “relevant” in any field are looked at to be the experts. They are the standards that all the late-comers are measured against. Notice how rarely you see someone who comes late to the party emerge as an expert?
This is not just in business, though. My church, Eagle Brook Church, has a goal to be relevant. They saw what was happening to churches across the country, and wanted to buck that trend. So, they relaunched, and have turned into a mega-church that sees 12,000+ attendees across its 3 campuses every weekend. While church attendance across America has gone down as a whole, they have had to expand, and their attendance has continued to increase. This can all be traced back to them being relevant. (To point this back to the “expert” argument I am making, they currently get hired to teach other churches how to “do church”.)
My point is that, in everything that you do, be relevant. It is the best way to be ahead, to stay in the front, and to be the most prepared when there is a new trend.
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about 7 months ago
I think the real challenge is not in being relevant, but keeping meaning and purpose while doing so.
about 7 months ago
Okay Mitch, so what is relevant now? How are you as a Social Media Expert doing this?
about 7 months ago
As someone who is versed in social media, there are a few ways I am working on/towards relevance:
Personally, I am trying to stay at the bleeding edge. I want to be there when the New Relevant is created.
Professionally, we at SMCpros are helping companies be relevant with their social media activities, and all their on-line activities. Anyone can be on social media, but it takes work and planning to be relevant with social media.
It all comes down to realizing what the actual value is in a trend, and leveraging that.
about 6 months ago
I equate being relevant with adding value; and, we bring value to any relationship when we genuinely listen and care for the other. Translating this to marketing and social media: we help our clients be relevant when we teach them how to listen, respond and inspire their core communities online.
I think this article in AdWeek is related to this conversation:
http://twurl.nl/23zvd6