Social Media Isn't......

There are so many things that Social Media is, and covering those would take a rather long time and make for rather long post. However, I felt compelled enough after researching with social media strategies, to address what 10 things Social Media Isn't.

Social Media Isn't: Easy

So many public relations professionals, advertising agencies and even search marketing firms see Social Media as this "bright, shiny, new medium" that's easy to just throw things out there and think it will automatically just work. If it were only that easy! Social Media takes a lot of hard work and it also takes time (the next bullet item).

Social Media Isn't: Fast

"I put it out on Digg, it should hit the front page in an hour!" If you have worked in Social Media, and heard anyone say that, more than likely you've snickered at hearing a statement like that. Only in the very rarest of situations does social media take off like a rocket. Most plans take time, effort and planning to make them successful.

Social Media Isn't: A Substitute for Sound SEO Practices

Not ranking in the Search Engine Results? Think Social Media will shoot you up to the top in no time flat? Think again! There can be some cases where it might happen (the keyword "purple and blue polka dotted widgets" comes to mind here), but for any competitive keywords, Social Media alone just won't cut it if you want to rank for keywords. Websites still need sound SEO fundamentals if they are going to compete in competitive markets.

Social Media Isn't: A Substitute for Sound PPC Practices

Just like still needing sound SEO fundamentals, if you have a PPC campaign, don't abandon it just because you're dabbling in Social Media. Social Media can be fleeting. You can hit big one day and it may last 2-3 more, but then you can sink like a rock for weeks to come. Abandoning your PPC would only hurt your online marketing efforts.

Social Media Isn't: A Practice to be Done by Interns

If you are a big company looking at interns to "play around in Facebook", please stop. Actually, maybe you should, then, you can call a professional (like me, or many of my fine colleagues) to fix up the mess your intern created. Seriously, Social Media is serious business, stop and think, do you REALLY want to leave your brand's identity in the hands of a college or high school intern?

Social Media Isn't: Another Place to Distribute Your Press Release

If your public relations company is saying "Oh we'll send this out to the social media outlets, too", run, run far far away. Ever hear of the "Bad Pitch Blog"? If your PR Firm or Advertising Agency is offering this, you'll end up there in no time flat! Then you'll be paying the PR Firm (or it might be better to hire a social media or search marketing professional) to dig you out of the mess the PR Firm created in the first place.

Social Media Isn't: Something That Will Work if Your Site is "Broken"

How is your conversion rate now? Are people reading what you want them too? Are you getting the subscribers you want to your email list? If your site isn't working - forms are broken, links are broken, shopping carts are difficult to use, etc., Social Media won't fix that. In fact it might make things even worse, or make you believe your Social Media plan isn't working.

Social Media Isn't: Something To Send Out Mass Emails For

This really, absolutely, makes experienced bloggers irate. Your email gets dumped in the trash. If you send out a mass email with the same exact wording to bloggers, word will get around and you will likely end up on that Bad Pitch Blog.

Social Media Isn't: Something You Can Do Without Participation

Many marketers are under the assumption they can just submit things to social media sites and they will have success. This is where their thinking/judgment errs. Social Media is about .... *drum rolls* .... being social. Without a conversation, without being part of the community, the community will backlash and "out" you for what you really are, a marketer.

Social Media Isn't: Something You Can Do in Disguise

You might want to ask Edleman, Walmart, Sony and Microsoft about this one. Social media communities can smell a fake right away, and when they out you, it isn't pretty. Even a year later, we're still pointing to these major snafus as what "not" to do, that should be enough to show you, be transparent from the get go.