Do Sponsors _Really_ Want to Engage?

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on June 26, 2008 at 10:49am

I agree, I think there are many assumptions made about social media by people who are either too afraid or just not educated enough about it. Most publishing companies that are successful in social media are using it's existing staff to take part in social media marketing. News flash: Social media is fun. Convincing your staff to use social networks as part of their job is relatively easy if you're asking the right people. Too many companies are trying to hire "community managers" or "vp's of online media" without even knowing the job requirements.

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Permalink Reply by Erika Geiss on July 6, 2008 at 10:59pm

There are a lot of people talking about this very issue, (at least in the SM circles, I've been traveling in) not just for publishers but for businesses in general. Amanda is right on target about companies failing to understand SM, only knowing that "it's a big deal" but not understanding why or how to use it.

As publishers we're providing content, content that inspires reactions and conversations, which to me, is the whole point of SM. I want our subscribers to engage with the magazine and with each other through whatever channels possible...the blog, the forum, Twitter etc. Now, I'm a tiny fish in a giant ocean, so I can only speak for what I'm doing in my neck of the pond, I'm not sure about what other publications are doing especially on the sponsor issue. Hopefully someone else will chime in as well.

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Permalink Reply by John Jainschigg on July 7, 2008 at 9:56am

So ... Clearly, there are certain topics and areas (software development being a prime example) where the culture of sharing (and of 'competition for street cred,' and the need to find working code for a project at 3 AM) seem to compel high levels of participation in publisher-provided social networks.

Elsewhere, maybe not so much. Why?

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Permalink Reply by Charles Novick on August 13, 2008 at 3:31pm

I have launched www.wildfeed.com and I'm growing audience for a digital magazine. It is easy enough to operate a publishing platform online. Building a new brand and getting the word out is a challenge. I'd love to partner up with an established publisher who is looking to go online.

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Permalink Reply by Arielle Emmett on October 9, 2008 at 8:40pm

John, I'm working on an assigned feature story on social media marketing for American Journalism Review, and I'd like to interview you. Please contact me soonest at arielleemmett@rcn.com

Deadline for story is October 22 2008

best,

Arielle Emmett
Member, American Society of Journalists and Authors
www.arielleemmett.com

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