Our problem in South Africa is that the social media landscape is so new that we have two extremes; people who are using the tools to the maximum and getting the benefit because they understand them, and others who become defensive and dismissive because they perceive the barrier to entry to be too high.  What is this barrier?  It is the learning curve that they have to experience in order to grasp a new concept.

That old adage will always come into effect in cases like this: social media will work, if you work social media.  It is not a silver bullet or a quick fix.  It most definitely takes time and requires learning new skill sets.  It is about have a relationship with your community, your advocates online and not just trying to sell through a different channel.  And now it also means putting up with the people who want to revert back to smoke signals and candles and quills as a fear-filled gut reaction to advances in technology.  Our children already communicate more effectively on BBM (Blackberry messenger) than we ever will; so if we don’t keep up with them then not only is our communication gap going to get ever wider, but we will lose our opportunity to influence, converse and market to them as well.

I know, as a trainer, as a member of the Digital Immigrant Tribe, that it is difficult to face the prospect of learning a new technology, especially as they come ever faster.  But although we need to choose what we embrace, we cannot turn away from them completely without unplugging from the grid.

There are enough extremes in South Africa.  Let’s not willingly participate in creating technological ones for ourselves as well.  We have got to be part of the online, connected world.

Through our training courses and coaching we can make sure that you have a handle on social media.  Feel free to contact us.