Social Media Kickstand: I'm on it, but I don't use it
Posted by Mark Campanale on Wed, Nov 04, 2009 @ 08:07 AM
By Mark Campanale, Marketing & Social Media Manager
At the beginning of my social media presentations, I always ask:
"Can I get a show of hands of who is on (twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn, etc)?"
The forest populates with just about 100% of attendees arms waving in the air.
Then there's the follow up:
"Keep your hands up if you are using (twitter/Facebook/Linkedin, etc)."
And the forest becomes sparse with a few saplings (ie, arms half raised), and then a little chuckle from the audience (as in, 'hey, I'm not alone!')
When I follow up with 'why?', I get the following responses:
1) Too busy
2) Too time consuming
3) Don't get it
4) I'm too old
5) I don't see the value
Which for me is perfect, because then I can focus my presentation on opening people's eyes to the value of using social media for personal and professional success.
I'm finding that many people see the social media tools like a gym membership - some sign up, go a few times and then decide that it is too much hassle to go. While others see the ‘membership' as what it should be; they become members of a network of people that share the same goals. In the social media case, it is the sharing of information.
Help me out -what have you heard as excuses for signing up for a social media account but never using it? Comments will be posted with full credit in my new e-book, 'The Kickstand.'