The Social Revolution

Are we in a revolution?

Revolution: “a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving”

With the above definition, we most certainly are. Since the beginning of marketing and business communications, we have been lead to believe that we tell people what to do and we tell the market what it needs. Now it’s a complete shift… the consumer has taken the reigns and is focused on finding companies/brands/products that will, not only listen to what they have to say, but also mold offerings to fit into the lifestyles of those consumers.

This way of “thinking and behaving” is definitely a drastic and far-reaching change from what we were doing only 5 years ago.

Now the question becomes… Are you a part of the revolution or the resistance?

Photo courtesy of Flickr - marcel601

Social

Wikipedia discusses the term “social” by saying… “It always refers to the interaction of organisms with other organisms and to their collective co-existence, irrespective of whether they are aware of it or not, and irrespective of whether the interaction is voluntary or involuntary.”

No matter what you or your company are doing (not doing) in the social media environment, you are still social. “Whether you are aware of it or not…”

The question becomes, Are you aware of it?

Brand Passion

As continue to talk about social strategies and how to integrate our brands further into the lifestyle of our customers, we talk routinely about improving brand loyalty and advocacy. Why don’t we take it a step further?

With the levels of loyalty and advocacy we can create with these social personal conversations, shouldn’t we be discussing brand passion instead?

After all, a passionate person is a force to be reckoned with. Imagine if we had handfuls of extremely passionate individuals leading our cause and communicating our message through vast social networks.

Just imagine…

Through social media we have an opportunity to have conversations with real people, in real time, on a personal level. These conversations increase trust. This trust builds loyalty. That loyalty turns to advocacy. Finally advocacy turns into passion.

2010: The Social Challenge

Well 2010 is now here… Lot’s of changes, lots of excitement, with many opportunities in front of us all. I wanted to challenge, not only myself, but all of you to make 2010 The Year of The Social.

With this, I challenge all of us to push what is possible with communications… Take marketing from a pushing, intrusive act to a meaningful relationship between trusted friends. Create brands that are malleable to allow consumers to take only the information they want a need and provide real-time branding through relevant, targeted conversations. Interact with our consumers in a way that was never thought possible. Use technologies and content to reach our customers where they are…

Take time everyday to push the social envelope.

Victories.

With every challenge, there will be victories… I want to shout these victories from the mountain tops. If you or someone you knows creates a social phenomenon, please send it my way so I can publish it’s results. Let’s all work together to make 2010 The Year of The Social.

Enjoy!

Google’s Social Web

Over the past year Google has been covertly making strides, to move towards and complete social web. Below is a list I wanted to point out to give you a heads up of what is happening.

Social Search: This allows you to see relevant information about your search parameters within your own social circle. For example, what are your friends saying about a particular restaurant in San Diego.

Twitter Search: Google is now working with Twitter to allow relevant Tweets to be indexed for particular search parameters.

Sidewiki: In one fell swoop, Google has made every web page social to Google Toolbar Users. This component allows users to comment on any webpage anywhere and allow anyone who visits that site to see their comments. Everything is now social.

Wave: Real time communication with a robust conversation platform is the backbone of Google Wave. This beta technology will turn online communication as we know it on it’s side.

OpenSocial: With OpenSocial, Google is allowing users to create one login and persona for the entire web allowing for easier cross channel communication and proliferation.

As you can see, Google is making strides to achieve a social web. Everyday we are moving closer to this realization and uncertainty. What will these new technologies and communication strategies do to and for your business? How will your brand react and adapt? Will you embrace this shift or sit aside and try to ride it out?

The Social Web is coming (faster than you might think). Will you be ready?