Social media: MLM or late-night infomercial?

Here's a question I recently posted on LinkedIn:

Is social media like MLM or maybe late-night infomercials?

Here's what I mean.  It seems like there is a handful of people who use social media well to make a very good living.  They are, in many ways, professional social media users who have very successfully leveraged their online "brands" into lucrative careers.

At the same time, it seems like these careers are centered around telling others how they, too, can create social media success.  I can't get the image of the late-night infomercial out of my head.  "Follow my simple 12-step program and YOU TOO can enjoy life as I do!"

Don't misunderstand.  I'm not "anti-social media."  I'm simply making an observation and wonder if anyone agrees.

PR & Social Media

Nice post from Ashley Wirthlin at PublicRelationsBlogger.com on the importance of making sure social media fit (not "fits") into your public relations strategy before jumping in nilly willy.


Pay attention to points #3 and #4.   Number three speaks to a recent post of mine - consistency and follow-through; number four is meant to force the question of why social media?


Good work, Ashley.

Social media dilutes brands?

I just watched a video that had me laughing so hard. Why? The guy in it is obnoxious and says things that run completely contrary to just about every marketing person out there.

I also think he may just be right. (If you don't believe that I agree with him, go back and read some of what I've posted in the past on social media.)

Now, he may not be 100% spot on, but if you listen to him (even the sales pitch toward the end), and can get past (1) his obnoxiousness and (2) the fact that viscerally you won't respond well to what he's saying, you may just find yourself nodding your head.

Kudos to my buddy Gelman at Alliance Distributors. His note to me when he sent me this video and other content from this guy: "I think I found your soul-mate.")