We have all been hearing a lot about new media and social media these days. It seems to be everywhere, but understanding what it is and how to leverage it has some people scratching their heads. This is a brief explanation of how I interpret New Media and why I strongly suggest your business get involved.
Cone, Inc. a strategy and communications agency, defines new media in their 2009 New Media Study as:
dialogue among individuals or groups by way of
technology-facilitated channels, such as social networks (e.g., Facebook);
blogs; microblogs (e.g., Twitter); online games; mobile devices; photo-,
audio- and video-sharing sites (e.g., Flickr, iTunes, YouTube); message
boards; etc. In some instances we also include Web sites and email.
To me, new media means being able to communicate with a vast network of people through many mediums. Some people question whether social media is simply a fad. I, along with many others, believe it is a true paradigm shift in the world of advertising and marketing. The days of corporations telling us what we want is over. The days of consumers dictating what they want and searching it out to get it, is here, and here to stay.
Erick Qualman, author of “Socialnomics,” has put together a very compelling video on social media statistics and practices. It, along with it’s predecessor, Social Media Revolution, offer thought-provoking examples and statistics of who is using new media, how it has contributed to business growth, and how rapidly the trend is expanding.
Your brand is your company, your business, your persona. How is it being portrayed online? Is it being portrayed online at all? It reminds me of the Ken Kesey metaphor, “You’re either on the bus, or you’re off the bus.” Can you afford to miss the ride?
