I hardly ever tell you to try out things I have
not personally experienced, tested and found
useful.

That’s because there’s an ‘opportunity cost’ to
all stuff - even free things.

In the time you take to ‘test’ something, you may
be better off doing something ELSE - that really
works!

Though I haven’t often presented it that way,
THIS is the REAL value you get from being on
my email list.

* Not the products I create or promote to you.

* Not the cool things, events and projects I
write to you about.

* Not the people I evangelize to you.

All that is useful - but the value comes from the
TIME and EFFORT I save for you by directing you
towards what works… and NOT telling you about
the rest that is less effective, or worse, totally
INEFFECTIVE.

Social media marketing is one such thing where I
can honestly say:

“Your Mileage Will Vary”

For some folks, social media marketing will ROCK.

For most, it will be a total time drain.

I’m talking about stuff like Twitter, Sphinn,
MySpace, StumbleUpon and the latest darling of
the IM arena…Facebook!

Yes, the same Facebook that John Reese seems to
have suddenly thrust into the limelight of an
‘eager-for-the-Next-Big-Thing’ IM marketplace.

Social media marketing is something I’ve been
working on intensely, testing actively and
exploring extensively since May-June 2007.

That’s when I tested Facebook - and gave up on
it!

I also found Twitter and StumbleUpon most
exciting, useful and valuable in networking
and generating website traffic.

But here’s the thing… each social network
has potential - for specific purposes.

And like all forms of socializing, the more
you do it, the better you get at it - and
the more value you get from it.

Sadly, most marketers look at the huge crowds
that frequent these services - and see a
herd waiting to be exploited.

Just like mailing lists.

Or forum communities.

Or even blog readers.

But these are folks who don’t have a clue of
the nature of the beast we call SOCIAL media.

It’s like the difference between Web 1.0 which
was about ‘lecturing from a platform’ and even
Web 2.0 which was based on ‘user generated
content’.

Social Media Marketing is the coming Web 3.0

It’s about ENGAGEMENT and PARTICIPATION.

Not merely ‘marketing’.

Or sending out mail blasts.

Even orchestrating a ‘launch’ with JVs.

Social media marketing, to be effective,
DEMANDS YOUR INVOLVEMENT.

It cannot be ‘outsourced’.

It cannot be ‘automated’.

It cannot be ’syndicated’.

And no, you cannot ride the coat-tails, hop
on a bandwagon or piggyback on someone’s
popularity and ‘fame’ the way you can with
joint venture deals or conventional marketing.

It is the NEW MARKETING - and we’re all learning.

If you have the time, interest and curiosity to
want to learn it, and have the analytical skills,
judgement and perspective to see what it can do
for your business - and then, are willing to
COMMIT TIME, ENERGY and YOUR PERSONALITY to test
it out, then go for it.

You’ll have fun - and learn a lot - even if all
you try doesn’t work.

But if you’re looking for the BEST, most effective
and workable solutions because you are starved for
time, have too much to do, and don’t really ‘get’
this whole ‘engagement/participation’ thing -

You’re Better Off Giving Social Media
Marketing A COMPLETE MISS!

Don’t try and pervert or manipulate it.

That could be dangerous and detrimental to your
business health.

I predict quite a few ‘big name’ marketers will
find this out the HARD WAY - and quite a few
will end up with mud on their faces.

Don’t be one of them.

Play the social media marketing game the SMART
and RIGHT way - or get off the field. That’s
safer than doing it WRONG!

No one has the answers. Everyone is learning.
You can join the fun - if you have 3 things:

* Enough time to explore and experiment

* Desire to involve yourself in social
intercourse

* Curiosity to test, learn and change

All success
Dr.Mani

My main social media identities are:

* Twitter -
http://www.Twitter.com/drmani

* StumbleUpon -
http://infopreneurblog.stumbleupon.com

* MySpace -
http://www.MySpace.com/drmani

* Facebook -
http://profile.to/drmani

(I’m not listing my Gooruze, Ning, Gather,
Sphinn, Reddit and other IDs because I
don’t use them much any longer)