Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

December 10, 2008

What Mack Collier Said … About Social Media Mistakes

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:10 am

A community isn’t built or befriended,
it’s connected by offering and accepting.
Community is affinity, identity, and kinship
that make room for ideas, thoughts, and solutions.
Wherever a community gathers, we aspire and inspire each other intentionally . . . And our words shine with authenticity.

Nobody’s Perfickt

Learning a new culture is something that comes in bits, by listening, trying, making mistakes and adjusting until we get it right. It’s like learning to sail, play a guitar, or ride a bike. Not many, maybe not any, can do it from the start. No one can do it perfectly all of the time.

Here’s what Mack said . . .

“The expectation that a company will adapt immediately and seamlessly without error to new culture is unrealistic. You and I didn’t. Did we? What a business moving into social media needs is a way for people get to know them.”

And I think that companies need to also know that getting started using the tools is more important than using them perfectly. Companies need to understand that they WILL make mistakes when they first start using social media, and that that’s ok. And we as bloggers haven’t done a very good job of getting this message across. We too often tend to have a ’shoot first, apologize later’ approach to a company that makes a first-move blunder in this space. I still remember the outcry about how Dell’s first blogging attempts in 2006 ’sucked’, and the criticism was mostly coming from the same bloggers that previously had said that Dell ’sucked’ cause they weren’t blogging. Then as soon as they started, they got attacked anyway.

Companies need to know that it’s ok to be less than perfect when it comes to using social media to connect with their customers online. And we need to make sure they get this message, and re-inforce it with our actions when they do join us.

Mack Collier from a comment on December 9, 2008

A successful and outstanding blogger said that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss





Filed under Successful Blog |




C'mon. Let's talk!

10 Comments to “What Mack Collier Said … About Social Media Mistakes”

  1. December 10th, 2008 at 7:02 am
    Karin H. said

    “Ready, fire, aim” comes to mind.

    Doing, starting, dipping that first toe in the water is often better than to wait for the perfect temperature of the water - or come to think of it: that perfect wave ;-)

    And: patience is a virtue - that also comes to mind. Mark is right, lets not shoot the first attempt out of the water, applaud and give advice (preferably in the comment-box, even more honest).

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  2. December 10th, 2008 at 7:54 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Great idea you have to keep our advice in the comment box, to keep it honest and to keep it on the side of applauding. We do tend to get carried away with how smart we are when we’re no where near facing the person or company that we’re talking about — who might actually have an answer to our clever thoughts. :)

  3. December 10th, 2008 at 8:47 am
    Adam said

    Well, am I relieved! Mark was right on in that statement. We just need to try and learn. That’s the way all of life works too, so why demand perfection in using social media?

    Every tool I work with in the furniture shop has taken years of patience and error to get to the point of using them proficiently. And there is always room for improvement. Social media is yet another set of “tools” I’m learning through practice and mistakes. And, there will always be room for improvement.

    Great article once again, Liz. Thank you.

  4. December 10th, 2008 at 11:09 am
    Richard Reeve said

    Tomorrow morning I make the Social Media pitch to our administrative team at work, and recognize how important it will be to convey the message you develop for us here. This is a great follow up to your interview with Guy yesterday (quotes from which have already entered my presentation by the way…).

  5. December 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
    mack collier said

    Liz, thanks for the post, and thanks for writing the wonderful post that prompted the comment.

    BTW, who’s this ‘MaRk’ guy Adam and Karin are talking about? ;)

  6. December 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
    Adam said

    Oops. Sorry Mack. Uh, dusty contact lenses are to blame?

  7. December 10th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
    mack collier said

    LOL No worries Adam, everyone does it the first time ;)

  8. December 11th, 2008 at 5:16 am
    Karin H. said

    @ Mack:

    “Nobody’s Perfickt” ;-)

    Sorry!

    Karin H.

  9. December 11th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Adam!
    All of the tools of social media are only as good as the people who use them. Watch folks like Mack you’re sure to become a master. :)

  10. December 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Richard,
    I can’t wait to hear more about your presentation. You’re pulling together so much great information. I hope it comes together in a blog post too. :)

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

C'mon Let's Talk!