A New Job For A New Landscape

Take a look at this quote;

 Earlier this week, The Drum reported the findings of a survey which claimed that 69% of companies planned on hiring social media managers.

It's from the creative marketing and media people at The Drum - (as an aside, it's funny how age affects people; years ago I used to get The Horn now I look forward to receiving The Drum.  Ah well!)

The full article is here;  http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/07/29/24223-analysis-what-should-companies-look-for-when-recruiting-a-social-media-manager-/

Anyway, focus!  69% is quite an incredible figure.  Basically through-out the land there's a new job being created and this really only happens once in a generation.

Do you remember when the first big conglomerates had to hire 'mail room staff' as the Penny Post took off?  All the Pigeon handlers were made redundant overnight.  

Telephones also heralded a major recruitment drive when businesses had to find skilled staff able to talk to Bakelite handsets - no mean feat in those days. 

So technology has always driven which type of people need hired from the advent of computers and emails to now, Social Media Management.  

Still feel sorry for the pigeons though!

Anyway, that aside, you have yo ask yourself why?  Why are companies spending £30k and upwards more a year than they did last year?

You may have more suggestions, I would say;

1.  Retention and extension of existing customer base.  Sell more to those who've bought from you already.  Facebook and Twitter means you can be friends with these people long after they've left your premises.  

2. The numbers are so overwhelming.  Something like 500million Facebook users with Twitter not that far behind.

3.  You'll know someone on Facebook!  Everyone's at it and more importantly after they have checked out their pals and some celebs on Facebook, there is increasing evidence that they go to check out their favourite brands.  A subject of another blog but the big names are so good at this.  They're not being loud but rather clever.  Their Facebook pages are an entertaining place to stop where you might win something and/or receive a discount.  Pages that do nothing but sell will go the way of those pigeons I'm afraid.

4. The rules of engagement have changed.  A static website where nothing really happens is a bit boring.  It's a bit last century.  People expect to chat to brands - well the big boys are doing it so it's is the expected thing.  Social Media is well.....social!  If you're not a social brand then don't get involved but of you want to start a conversation with your customers then the tools are all here.....and by tools I don't mean myself...well I do...but I'm not a tool...well I am in one sense...eh....lets move on

and

5. It's fun...yes I could have said if you're not doing it your competitors are but that's so overused I'm not going to use it.  Social Media was created to pick up girls!

                                   (the creator of Facebook with some eh, 'friends'.)

So don't let's get too po faced about things.  This is an online environment where people come to spend quality time, have fun and catch up with friends.  If your brand is one of their 'friends' then surely you are in a great position to sell but that's for another day.