CU, I implore you: Don't jump in
Posted by Trey Reeme on May 31st, 2007
This is getting out of hand. We’re fighting a battle against a lot of speakers on the CU conference circuit spreading a message of “Launch a blog, podcast, and MySpace page today! That’ll make you cool!” No! NO! NOOOOOO!
Do not jump in.
Yes, a blog is easy to launch. Yes, anyone can record a podcast. Yes, you can throw a video up on YouTube. Yes, you too can have your very own MySpace page and Twitter account and house in Second Life and Flickr page and on and on.
Throwing social media at your “we’re not cool enough” problem will not make you cool.
Doing something unique and compelling and special with it will.
So, what’s special? So far, my favorite approach to social media for financial institutions would be a sponsorship model. Instead of being the mouth, be the mouthpiece.
If you’re already sponsoring a triple-A ball club in your city, sponsor a podcast about the team and your parent club’s farm system. If you have a tight relationship with your biggest employee group who happens to be a hospital, sponsor a blog about stories of heroism in the ER.
In other words, if you launch a “here are our new rates” blog, expect silence.
In fact, if your content would fit in your annual report, statement stuffer, or regular website, it’s not going to start much of a conversation in social media.
Thanks to Tony on the new Andermahr & Company blog for getting me going on this post.
THANK YOU for capturing what I’ve been wanting to say to several speakers on the “circuit” lately.
Yes, social media is an opportunity. Yes, we need to think about how to make it work for our organization.
Is there a need to leap before looking? I hope not.
Great point Trey.
Great post Trey …. dead on.
Trey, you are SO right.
Before starting my firm I spent five years as an Internet business strategist. Most of my time was spent slowing clients down in order to speed up their desired outcomes.
A blog or podcast just for the sake of being cool is NOT cool.
You are giving great business advice here; I hope people are listening to you.
Technology like the social media of blogging and podcasting is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.
Always good to join in the conversations you start here!
Keep creating, Mike
A medium looking for a message…