I have to admit that Fortune 500 companies do have an edge when they want to get people to start talking about them, for good and for the bad. However, in terms of the level of interaction with the community, everyone will start equal. This is why big corporations pay bloggers, social media power users and authoritative journalists (in mainstream media) to tap the fan base of theirs.

Social media is all about interacting with the users and building the relationship with them. Of course, relationship building also involves building the trust, which will then bring credibility into the picture. One thing is for sure, that is, some users will accept your marketing messages easily while others will be hard for you to even start a conversation with.

Take your plumber scenario as an example. There are so many well known or credible plumbers around but they will not reach the success they enjoy if there are no early adopters. Of course, they will fail to get most customers when they got started but when time goes by, after they provide great services to the early adopters, news will definitely start to spread. They will then be able to move upwards in the level of trust that customers have in them.

Oh yes they do. When social environment/interaction is involved, it is human nature wanting to hang out with the cool kids than the shy loser sitting at the corner. Its all about credibility. ie: between a blog written by Donald Trump against wayneliew dot com, who you think people will go for? why?

As a user, my time in cyberspace is limited, I still need to attend to the business in the real world. So why should I spent that little time to care about the unknown that live in the suburb? I’ll take on the fortune 500 rep any day.

Although the fortune 500’s are nothing at point entry, but they sure can amass followers a lot faster.

Everyone hates a poser, because a poser is not as good as he claim himself is. On the other hand, though not many wants to befriend a brainy snob, but they quietly, sickeningly admit, he’s dang good at what he does, and they secretly keep it from their friends, they bought what he sells.

What’s in a name? Everything. Credibility is important. the main purpose of marketing is to establish this. When someone is a nobody, people won’t trust them. They don’t need to trust you, they need to trust your ability. It IS highly important to boast the expertise, or else what is the point? That’s what slogans like “Second to no one, “bringing tomorrow today” etc.

But boasting alone won’t cut it. All the boast-y providers got away with it because their stuff is proven worthy of their boast. Not some experimental, buggy stuff.

Get certification.

“…Shouting does not work on social media platforms. Solve problems for the community if you have ample knowledge about your niche in order to earn respect. Doing so will get their interest because you are talking about the problems they face.”

True, everyone hates the spammer. But before one can solve the problem for the community, the community need to trust who is doing the solving for them. And people will only listen to those they trust.

I won’t let someone inside my house to fix the pipe for me no matter how good he say he is. Just because he came up to me, say hi, shake my hand, show me his plumbing diploma and portfolio, and say he want to fix my pipe for me, ain’t going to give him entry. What if he’s a sly serial killer that is really good at fixing pipes? My pipes is perfect, but I’m dead.

Common mistake is when people engage in social interactivity, they seemed to forget about their original purpose for being there: to make business.

Soon they will find they are working harder to make people like them, as a person, instead of what they’re offering.

Its a shift of focus and they started to try convince everyone what a good guy he is not his business or what he can do.

So he’ll end up being that nice guy with 3000 contacts, who everyone is excited to see when he’s online, but none of them ever bought anything from him.

Thanks for the support.

Seth Godin doesn’t use twitter. Not because he doesn’t get it or think it’s an amazing networking tool. He simply doesn’t think he could keep up with it and go at it %100. He understands not just jumping on board everything and instead focusing your energy to things you can do really well.

@Brand4profit What you have mentioned is correct. The major difference between social media and traditional advertising is the major reason why most big corporations get social media all wrong. They don’t realize that average consumers are changing their mindsets towards interruption advertising.

Social Media Marketing is just the opposite. It’s the pull of the tribe. The tribe already has your trust so the actions they take are ones you align with. On a larger scale, it’s the allure of belonging in the group as you take action together. “I am doing this so why don’t you do it with me?” On an individual level, the attraction is to behave the same way to get the same results that benefits your fellow tribeswoman or tribesman. “She looks hot! I want to look hot too. I want to go to her hairstylist” and you do. Social Media Marketing uses the power of attraction.

While advertising tries to use the same tactic, with a billboard for instance, of a gorgeous woman telling you the benefits of the salon, it doesn’t have the same impact because it’s pushing you to go. It is not pulling you in as a trusted friend. Your friends have your best interests at heart and advertisers do not. Social Media Marketing is based on building trust and that foundation will make Social Media a dominant player in Marketing.