Who needs social media?
If you’re a business that would be listed in the Yellow Pages, if you’re a business that would have a business card, if you’re a business that would get written up in the newspaper, if you do your business online or you’re a public figure — Social Media is your new calling card.
If your an arms trader, your business is illegal, or you have a security clearance … naaah.
Social media, like PR, is not for everyone.
But the bottom line is, if you want visibility, if traditional PR can help your business grow, then social media is for you too. And for that reason, social media is quickly becoming a tool in the marketing/PR professional’s arsenal — to complement speaking engagements, press tours, article placement, trade shows and the like.
It is by far, the easiest, cheapest, fastest, most effective promotional tool I’ve ever used.
Better than email. Better than newspaper ads. Better than brochures and postcards. Much better than a website that nobody ever finds or reads. Faster and thus sometimes even more effective than traditional news media press relations.
Some businesses are better off without Social PR
As a marketing pro I ran into at a cafe the other day said: “Most of social media is pure bullsh*t for my clients.”
And he’s right…for his clients it’s a waste of time. For a few, select businesses, like lawyers, (unless they deal with high profile cases that generate publicity), or people with government or corporate jobs (unless they are company spokespersons), or arms dealers, or private detectives, or schoolteachers who want to protect their personal privacy, or anyone with a security clearance, it’s probably better to keep a very low social media profile.
But for some businesses, like doctors, dentists, real estate agents, authors, consultants and especially small businesses and sole proprietors, it can bring you a whole new level of visibility.
And for others, like artists, musicians, performers, workshop leaders or anyone who throws events, it’s downright essential.
Giselle Bisson
