Social Media Stratergy

This is probably going to rub some folks online the wrong way: to start messing around with social media including Twitter, Facebook, etc does NOT require a strategy.

From Wikipedia: Strategy refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal.

How many people first got on Twitter or FB, worked on a Wordpress blog, or finally figured out an RSS feed with ANYTHING resembling a strategy?

Did you REALLY have a plan of action with a particular goal in mind? I still don't and no doubt it shows. Everyone is saying that in order for a small business or someone breaking into the "blogging for money" racket they MUST have a strategy.

Now, I'm sure there are plenty of social media gurus/pundits/bloggers who would say, "But Todd, I don't think everyone needs one when they start." Of course, these are the same folks that have ads selling such things as "How to Become the Social Media Rockstar of the Universe" or are giving away their own free e-book on such topics.

And yes, I suppose you can make the case for saying, "I only want to show people how NOT to make the same mistakes I made."

Fair enough, except most of these people are looking to make a dime off it.

I say, throw the folks in the deep end. You certainly would not provide someone with a 140 page E-book and then expect them to run a major marketing campaign?

I saw someone online bemoaning that corporations are allowing their social media efforts to be run by the interns. The only problem I see with that is that its temporary. Someone in the company/organization needs to own the social media issue.

The real question is begged by knowing the answer to the one part of the strategery question I agree with: what is your goal?

Are you online to connect with customers, create some brand awareness, what? But, why not take a dip in the pool to figure it out first!

Learn some of the ins and outs, the unspoken rules (and there are a ton of them!), and develop YOUR own expectations.

I'm sure someone bigger and smarter has said it, but I REALLY needed to say it. Go out and find your own strategery.

PS you can check out social media strategery here, thanks to Steve Radick.

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook. There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast Such a fun time!

New Life

It's weird, sad and slightly freeing. I've been headed towards a completely different life for a lot longer than I even knew. It took me a while to catch up to realize it was happening. Thankfully, I was cognizant enough to see it finally and mostly ready for it. It's amazing when you have the rug completely pulled out from underneath you. The adjustments are jarring. I made mistakes, but like most I learned from them, adapted, and tried my best to do better. The reason you see that truck next to a storage place? That's the sum of my life right now. Never take for granted that you will work hard for something or someone, and it will end up meaning very little. You are guaranteed nothing, owed nothing, promised nothing. Anything and everything can be taken away in a heartbeat. I wrote this to my kids a while back: I tried to be the best father I could be based on what I knew when I knew it and how I could. One of the lessons for your life needs to be: you need to b

Todd Lyden

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