Archive for the ‘social media’ Category

Yesterday there was a ‘moment’.  I looked at my Twitter account and was struck by this set of numbers:

Your Tweets:  600

Following:  30

Followers:  200

Not by the marvellous following or my unrelenting dedication to share every moment of my life in 140 characters or less.  I just liked the idea they were mathematically compatible.  Sort of like when your car odometer clicks over an even something thousand.

So I got it all in my head to take a screen shot for posterity.  And maybe even start writing some cleverly related post.  But when I checked back … everything had changed.  Talk about live for the moment before it’s gone!  That’s social media.

Agility in full flight

I’ve just been reading Rohn Jay Miller’s excellent post at Social Media Today, Agile Social Marketing: Engage + Learn Fast.  He discusses how similar social media marketing is to Agile software development.  In essence, that’s where you approach a development task by issuing small releases and allowing for some level of evolution.  You can read more about that at The Agile Manifesto.

But I digress.  Whether you’re writing blog posts, bookmarking or chasing fans on Facebook, social media is a dynamic environment.  One where you need to remain open to change, refine and learn constantly.  That’s what the pundits mean when they talk about engaging with your audience.  Staying on topic … interested and interesting.

The winds of change

Just as Miller explains:

Agile recognizes that we don’t know everything we need to know at the beginning of creating something,

social media grows a life of its own.  That’s because, to work, any campaign needs the flexibility to observe, respond and change.

That, of course, is what my own Twitter experience reflects.  Not that I’m writing pointless posts and expecting to step up on some pedestal.  But that the only social media certainty is … uncertainty.  And if you don’t get on board, prepare to miss the boat.

3 take away tips

1. Social media is a dynamic environment that calls for flexible marketing.
2. Staying open to change means constant refinement but keeps engagement high.
3. Be prepared to observe, listen and respond before the moment is lost.