[Des Walsh Update] Social media overwhelm and new program
Published: Thu, 05/10/12
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Hi
I trust all is going well for you.
I know it's been a long time between updates. All I can say about
that is probably best summed up in John Lennon's words that life
is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
In this update
- Experiencing social media overwhelm?
- New Get the Social Edge Kickstart program
Social Media Overwhelm
In my reading and in some recent conversations with financial
advisors, lawyers and other professionals, I've been picking up
that there are a whole lot of people in business who are wanting
to come to grips with social media, but are experiencing a sense
of overwhelm.
So how do we deal with that effectively?
The short answer, as with so many dilemmas in business and life
generally, is "it depends".
It depends on a number of factors, including the kind of business
and market we are in, the financial and human resources we can
call on, and the degree of comfort or discomfort we currently
experience with social media.
But a good operating principle here, to cover most or all
circumstances, is to resist the temptation to just dabble in
social media and instead approach the task strategically
and systematically.
And take consistent, sustained action.
Makes sense, doesn't it? We would all surely do just those
things if we wanted to take our business into a new market,
or launch a new product or service, or launch into a new
country where we don't speak the language.
And yet I continually meet otherwise sane and savvy business
people who have just dabbled on the fringes of social media
and then tell me it doesn't work for them.
Usually I find they did not have a strategy. More typically,
someone pitched them on having a Facebook page or Twitter
account that would bring them multiple leads without their
having to do anything but hand over some money to the
person providing the service.
I tell my clients that if they want to be serious about social
media, they need a strategy.
And they need to commit to the long game.
That's when the sense of overwhelm can be replaced by some
sensible strategic planning and systematic execution.
For anyone you know who might find be interested in by-passing
the dabble approach and getting strategic about social media,
I still offer my no-obligation, no-fee consultation, by Skype or
phone. Naturally I always hope that some of those consultations
will generate some business for me, but the consultation is never
just a pitch: my aim is to give real value in the moment and trust
in the old principle that what goes around comes around.
New Get the Social Edge Kickstart Program
Professional services practitioners are one group where the sense
of overwhelm can be very inhibiting when it comes to social media.
That's partly a function of the "not enough time" concern and partly
about there seeming to be so much to learn and so many things that
go wrong.
I understand those hesitations and at the same time I know there is
a way through the maze.
Again, it's about being strategic, not just tactical.
Which brings me to announcing my new membership program.
As many of my colleagues and friends know, I've been promising
for a while to create a program to guide and support business
professionals who are ready to get serious about social media.
Well, finally it's here.
In just over a week from now I'm launching my Get the Social
Edge Kickstart membership program.
This self-paced program has been designed to meet the needs
especially of financial advisors, lawyers, engineers, consultants
and others in the professional services field.
This group of people has special requirements with social media,
especially in terms of such issues as managing reputational
risk, plus related concerns about regulatory requirements and/or
professional association codes of practice or ethics.
There is another challenge for professional services practitioners,
in that there is a serious lack of social media success stories or
case studies that they can relate to.
My Get the Social Edge Kickstart program pays due attention
to those special issues in social media for professional services
practitioners and helps participants craft strategies that
accommodate those concerns, as well as cultural change challenges
which are commonly experienced when professional services firms
choose to "socialize" their operation.
It's a sixteen week program, which provides enough time to become
comfortable with the social business environment, learn by doing
and get guidance on what works and doesn't work for particular
businesses.
Throughout the program, each participant will be supported,
through regular emails, webinars, Q&A sessions and a member
discussion forum, to create and begin implementing a social
strategy that is appropriate for his or her practice or business.
And there will be a very attractive Early Bird price.
I'm launching the program with an introductory webinar where
I will outline what is involved and answer any questions. I'll also
be providing then a very special deal for people actually on the
webinar. That's happening on Monday, May 21 at 7 pm EDT
(US).
Details at this link, which I hope you will feel free to share:
Till next time, wishing you good health, joy and prosperity.
Des
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