Tables and forms

I just read another blog post about how 'social media' is changing businesses and consumers. And all I can think is that it isn't changing anything. It has changed everything. Period to end. 

People resisting the forces of social media (or even more dangerous—businesses) are merely attempting to protect a system using yesterday's business tactics that aren't working (or, at least not as well anymore).

It's ok to not participate. That's the beauty of social media. If you ain't social, you don't have to socialize. But attempting to manipulate and malign the tools is just a plain bad idea. In fact, the forces of social media will effectively nudge you out the door. Sorry, don't mean to be so frank. But it's true.

It's the same thing with the person who was telling me about a fortuitous career ahead of him a a travel agent. Sorry to say, but the internet has changed that business... drastically. 

I don't know what my reaction is going to be the next time I hear:

facebook (or twitter) haven't proven themselves yet

I do know one thing though, I'm not going to run to a computer and do a competitive search analysis and line it up on an excel spreadsheet. I may, in fact continue to blog about it, tweet about, and post it to my facebook wall. 

Just embrace social media. Not because it's fun. Not because it's viral, but because it's good for business. Maybe not right now. But in a little while it will be... and a table and form-laden static website will be comparable to the pony express.

Sorry, but the need for proof that facebook, twitter, etc are powerful is called denial.