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Has anyone taking a dive into the world of social media? Is anyone putting together programs for themselves or for their clients that focus on people-powered media? Is this real or is social media yet another name for what's been around forever: the fact people like to talk to each other?

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I wanted to do a campaign to promote my book in SL, but I don't have the skills or the time, unfortunately. I'm afraid that's all I have to say on the matter.
Volvo has an interesting program that ties traditional medi, the internet, real world lemonade stands, Volvo dealers and fundraising for cancer. This program was an interesting evolution started by one passionate young girl with cancer who wanted to make a difference. I think it represents a very good form of a social-media project. Some background and full info at http://www.alexslemonade.org/

It works becuase it's honest.

It would also appear that there may be a broad interpretation as to what social media is, just as there are broad interpretations to what viral marketing is. The concepts and principals appear to change little over time, merely keeping pace with advances in technology.

Telephone party lines become video dating which becomes internet dating which becomes... Kids hang out at each other's house after school becomes kids talking to each other on the phone after school becomes kids talking on cellphones to each other after school becomes texting becomes myspace becomes...

For as far as we'd like to think we have come, the world's oldest profession is still being practiced very much the same way it was 500 years ago. Basic needs and desires are still being addressed with little true "change". We still have direct mail marketing, infomercials and handpainted signs on the sides of barns. The core needs remain the same, no matter what vehicle of delivery is being used to provide the marketing message.

As a good friend in the clothing industry tells me, "Until man sprouts a sixth finger, don't expect any major design changes in gloves."
You've delved into the world of social media. You're there, right now, on AdGabber. :)

(more later...)
So, to continue, the question has come up with clients recently. A few are standing on the edge of the pool wondering if they should dip their toe in, but none of the clients I serve are sprinting for the diving board or even strolling toward the deep end. I'm still excited to hear those who are asking start the conversation.

I have developed a voracious appetite for information around this subject. So much so that I've become the go-to girl for all things social media/network related. Well, that's a lot to ask of a single brain, so I've formed a team of other (albeit not as deeply) interested parties at the agency to divide and conquer and create a solid knowledge-base around the subject (and active as well - I'll be requiring everyone to participate in social networks). I'm doing this b/c I know we will need to lead our clients into this space long before their ready to go and we'll need to have our game on to do it well and responsibly.

The 'phenomenon' is based on the fact that humans like to interact, sure, but the intriguing part is the speed at which they can (and do) share with one another now AND how that's changing what and how much they're willing to share. So, sitting at the computer, they're connecting with each other with an openeness many reserve for close friends (not becoming desocialized and reclusive as older generations always fear). That's a culture shift that should not be ignored. They expect others to function similarly, hence the demand for corporate transparency. Who has been able to force the hand of Corporate America more swiftly than the blogosphere?

One of the smartest things I've heard recently, from a presenter at a PAF (Portland Ad Federation) event is that you just have to jump in and get wet to understand the culture. Embrace it instead of resisting it (not that you are, personally, resisting it).
Back in 2005, the Online Publishing Asscoaition published an in depth study on "internet engagement'. I covered the study and wrote about it in Create Magazine. The study analyzed the "aspects' of websites to determine 22 experiences or "dimensions of engagement" The top 4 were, "entertains and absorbs me, looks out for people like me, regular part of my day, and my personal timeout". There were negative aspects of online engagemtn represented as well; contributing factors as to why someone wouldn't re-visit a site or perhaps not visit it in the first place.

It would appear that many successful social media sites will have many of the positive aspects of internet engagement; other positives were "a safe place, easy to use". Social Networks aim to include these "selling points",while these sites try to eliminate those aspects of the internet that users felt were negative.

Perhaps not so oddly enough, many positive and negative aspects of web users are similar to the experiences of newspaper and magazine readers and television viewers.

Things that annoyed them across media, were "too many ads, old or outdated information, too much content that they found didn't pertain to them, being preached to, difficult to understand".

Again it seems as though good social sites understand these principals and put them into practice.

Many users also were excited to start trends, discover "new things", have exclusive knowledge, feel superior to at least some others.

I think one just needs to understand "engagement" at it's base to understand not just why Social media is popular, but how it can be used to present messaging.
Is it still on-line? Do you have a link or website?
Just answered my own question
Dimensions of Engagement Study
Of course it's been around forever.. but now it's on the internet! I think it's this fact that seems to boggle people's mind. Additionally, trying to "talk" to people as a form of marketing seems to completely scare people when they really like just throwing ads at their target audience instead.

I guess to answer your other question.. yes I have clients that I work with regularly to leverage social media online.

Cheers!
We're creating a tool for Brands to connect to the social media world right now at XLNTads.com. We're building our own social network of talented video creators who haven't yet broken into the agency world, but who have great ideas nonetheless, and have the production chops to create some amazing things.

If you're interested in learning more about what we're doing, check out all the great creative we received for our latest assignment! http://xlntads.com

And of course, email me if you've got any questions! We're studying the social media landscape with a microscope. You also might be interested in my blog (http://xlntads.com/blog/) where I have been writing about the convergence of video advertising with community.
We actually just got a petty big assignment to use social media to engage the elusive 18-24 year old. It will be a combination of ad buys on social media sites, social profile creation, blog development and participation as well as a Widget element. It is very interesting and we believe it will work. I'd be happy to share in about 6 months what the results have been. Let me know if you want to know fees, work effort, etc. as we do the work. Hope this helps.
One thing I've found missing in the discussion about social media related projects is that we tend to forget the value that traditional media plays. Without traditional media, most social networking projects would fail. I talk about this quite abit on my blog, http://www.marketingtactegy.com and would love to hear what your opinion is.
Everyone is trying to jump on the social media bandwagon. When I got started in it, no one knew what it was. Now so many networks are popping up, I think people are getting network fatigue. To that end, Facebook and maybe Google's new platforms allowing an open API might help temper the chaos.

The key to any network is the passion of the audience. Everyone is here because beyond getting paid to work in marketing, we truly live it and breath it. Would a less interesting industry have an active social network? The same goes for brands. MINI got 3,000 people to drive cross country with them in Mini Takes the States - a sort of live social network. What other brands have that kind of passionate following of its users? Not that many. Certainly you will not see a men's underwear network anytime soon. Right? RIGHT?

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