Comments on: Social Media Is Not New

By: Jessie D

Jessie D — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:37:02 +0000

I agree completely. Social media is something my generation has grown up with and can use with ease. I am currently in my last year of a three-year public relations diploma program. Every time a professor starts a class with “Lets talk about social media!” my classmates and I either groan loudly or settle in for a nice afternoon nap. Even worse, the poor first-year students are being forced to take a social media class.

In my first and second semester, my classmates and I were required to take an electronic publishing class. In this class, we learned all Microsoft Office programs, Photoshop, QuarkXpress, and Adobe Illustrator. While I found the class boring at the time, I am extremely grateful that it was part of my curriculum. I am currently in the process of applying for internship positions. Each position requires proficient use of Microsoft Office programs as a prerequisite to applying for the job.

Two years later and this electronic publishing class has been replaced with a social media class. A friend of mine in this class told me that they had an entire class dedicated to learning how to open a Twitter account and how to tweet. I opened a Twitter account and learned how to use it in all of five minutes. Instead of learning skills that will help these students succeed in the workplace, they are learning how to do things they already naturally know how to do. Teaching a 19-year-old how to use Facebook is like telling a fish how to swim.

As you said, it IS important for the current and next generation of public relations practitioners to learn how to use social media effectively and strategically. Just as we are taught to strategically use integrative marketing, press releases, media drops, and creative campaigns, learning how to use social media appropriately is incredibly important for succeeding in a career in public relations. I just can’t help but laugh at the thought of the program coordinator at my school who is probably thinking, “We have a social media class! Look how innovative we are!” Sure, it’s innovative for her, but is it innovative for us? Not even slightly.

It was a pleasure reading this blog post. I can’t wait to share this with my classmates and professors!

By: John Sinclair

John Sinclair — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:38:26 +0000

Social media hardly new when some of us were using BBS and an “Archie” search for legal reform materials as “Distant Education” and “Telemedicine” Health Cost Reduction Research”? Nor are we fooled that “Neuromarketing anything more than some slick USP or repackaging/positioning/branding/segmenting of “Skinner, Jung and Chomsky for Dummies!” Get it?

John Sinclair
Message and Media Analytics

By: Catherine Lockey

Catherine Lockey — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:15:39 +0000

No, it’s not new but today it’s the buzz. That’s good for me because ’round these parts there are still a lot of social media beginners!

By: Regina

Regina — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:07:57 +0000

Those words could come from my mouth.
I couldn´t have said it better myself!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:09:42 +0000

I say social media will stay for some time. Its not going to go away very quickly. It is because of social media brands are able to reach out to their target audience.

Social media is the most potent tool to influence people on the web nowadays. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, etc. allow you to get directly in touch with potential customers. There is no limit to the number of ways you can promote your site or business through some of the social media channels mentioned above. Only social media has the reach that can get online attention and huge traffic to your site at virtually no extra cost.

http://blogs.position2.com/why-social-media-marketing-is-essential