Playing to Social Media Success

Jun10 2010

Sarah Findle

Yesterday, despite being tempted by the giant Chess and Connect Four games, I was able to make my way to the Triangle Interactive Marketing Association (TIMA) Lunch and Learn, “The Dollars and Sense of Social Media”, at the Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh.

I soon realized that those classic games were a great segue to the panel discussion that was to ensue. The topic addressed the way different players in the business world seek and document social media success.  Each player in a game may have a different strategy or skill set to use, yet collectively everyone involved has an end goal – to win. Similarly, players in business approach strategy in their own way, but strive for achieving a common goal – success for the company, client or consumer.

Jeff Cohen, our social media marketing manager, moderated a diverse panel of professionals representing the agency, brand and platform service provider sides of business (Morgan Siem of Media Two Interactive, Phil Buckley of Sinclair Institute, and Adam Covati of Argyle Social, respectively).

After discussing and answering audience questions on everything from budgets, to time commitment, to what measurements actually matter, the panelists were asked to wrap-up with one piece of solid advice for social media from their business perspective (for an in depth summary of the full conversation Karl Sakas provides a great recap).

Like a game, Adam addressed the fact that you need to know how you want to achieve your goals. What, in your eyes, would be the win or the ‘happily ever after’ to your story?

Morgan mentioned that you need to have lots of data and knowledge in your back pocket, but keep it simple when presenting to the client.  Similarly, in a game you want to have all your cards on hand, but know when to play them at just the right moment.

Finally, Phil emphasized that you have to have a way to show your winnings and gain the credibility, and budget you need to continue success.

So maybe those oversized Alice in Wonderland style games were a little juvenile, but it seems to me the more complex game of business success follows a lot of the same rules.

Click here for a video clip from the panel.