How to get to Carnegie Hall?
Practice, practice, practice.
How do you get to be a Social Media expert? Same answer. And I haven’t practiced nearly enough. Nonetheless, more than a few companies and associations have asked me to speak to them about Social Media. I suppose that’s a good sign – they’re becoming aware of the issue.
Direct Marketing and Branding have always been my major topics and a few years ago I began including thoughts about Social Media in speeches but I’m still no expert.
I’m not even sure who is. We’re all learning and practicing and just when we think we’re close, someone throws a monkey wrench into the works, like Facebook’s new privacy challenges.
Whenever I mention any social medium – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. – odds are that dozens of people in the audience will know a lot more about it than I do. But I still practice. I’ve been practicing yoga for years and although I’m probably better at tweeting than at downward-facing dog ruminating on the topic remains a stretch.
Of one thing I am certain: if we don’t keep learning about the strategies that work and those that don’t, we’re just stunting our growth.
The real joy of the Social Media arena is that it is dynamic and the halls are filled with people who can teach me new things every day. But if you ask me to speak at your association, don’t invite me as an expert but as someone who is enjoying the practice!
P.S. About 30 years ago, National Lampoon magazine sent a writer tricked out as a tourist to Central Park West (8th Avenue) in New York, a few blocks from Carnegie Hall. The “tourist” asked hundreds of passersby “Excuse me, how do I get to Carnegie Hall” and two thirds of the people answered “practice, practice, practice.”
3 comments
I really love this post; it says much more then you say
But first the variation I used to hear was…. practice my boy, practice my boy…. I wonder why 
Fast forward to Social media and just take a look at the many very accomplished women practicing, teaching and proficient with Social Media.
When I stated on twitter in December 2008 I joined with a research focus. But to truly understand all the dynamics and implications of twitter (that’s where good research should lead) I researched by practicing. I am still learning and practicing and especially glad to have found you to follow, to share and exchange and to learn from. This exchange is going to be all the more important as Social Media evolves and I think the evolution (changes) are going to be increasingly faster, which means we are all going to need to be super alert so we can stay ahead of the curve. And staying ahead is the name of the game, isn’t it?
You will be amused that on my recently updated LI profile, under education as ESSENCE OF LIFE I included Social Media.
@CASUDI
You’re the best @CASUDI …and thank you so much for this comment. It is a lot better than my post. Hope to meet you in person one of these days!
You make a great point about keeping learning. I wouldn’t bet all of the big 3 – Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook – will be here in 5-10 years, but we must go after them. But then they could be THE three dominate portals on the web in 10 years and I wouldn’t be surprised.
There once was a dubious practice called fax marketing, though it was successful for many. Now I cannot remember the last time I sent a fax. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. But we marketers will have to be up on it, what ever “it” may be.
What you do best on Twitter, Lois, is pass out wisdom – the occasional Tweet with good advice. I just decided today to follow your lead on this idea with my #Relevance140 Tweets – one day will do ya.
Cheers!
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