Getting Started in Social Media
Without a doubt, this is the most common question I’ve heard from organizations: How do we get started in social media? Most of the people I’ve spoken to and read about are looking for that first definitive step they need to take on their journey to social media fame. My experience thus far has been with nonprofit organizations and each time they are looking to make a splash in this area sooner rather than later. Since these have been nonprofits, and efficient use of resources is the name of the game, they have been eager to bypass all of the fluff.
The answer to this question is always: Conduct a self assessment. Unfortunately, this answer is not always what people want to hear. The truth is that social media does not provide a magic bullet and it requires a commitment of time, energy, and resources. Before any person or organization commits their resources to an endeavor, a certain amount of reflection is in order.
This self assessment can take on many forms depending on the context but certain questions must always be answered. These questions include:
- Why do you want to get involved in social media?
- What do you hope to gain from your involvement?
- What sort of resources are you going to devote to it?
- Are you willing to make a long-term commitment?
These are just a few of the questions that must be answered before getting involved in social media. I know that every organization thinks it must have a Facebook page and a Twitter account but the reality is that social media is not for everyone. Conducting a self assessment and answering questions like the ones above can either help you better understand the potential that these channels provide or it can make you face the hard truth that a presence in these mediums would not benefit you.
