Should I Have A…?
Writing by Darrin Dickey on Wednesday, 26 of September , 2007 at 11:33 am
I was very fortunate to have been involved with the Internet very early. I have a natural enthusiasm for technology. As my parents used to say, “He likes anything that makes noise, lights up and has buttons.” So I was pretty well at home on the web by the time most people started investigating it. One of the questions I was asked frequently from business people was, “Do you think I should have a website?” My answer was always, “Yes. Yes! YES!” I foresaw the trend of people using the Internet rather than the phone book or catalog when they needed to find a business or product.
Now, it feels like that period all over again as people are asking, “Should I have a blog/podcast/Twitter account, Jaiku account, mySpace page, Facebook account/etc.?” My answer is a resounding, “Maybe….”
If your do it for the right reasons and go in with a clear understanding of what’s required, go for it! If you think you need one because everyone seems to be doing it, or you don’t know that this will take time and effort – and lots of it – forget it. Unlike the old websites that could be thrown up on the Internet and left alone, today’s web applications (including websites) require you to invest work, time and money…continually.
Before you put those branding irons in the fire, answer these questions:
- What are my goals for this blog/podcast/Twitter account, Jaiku account, mySpace page, Facebook account/etc.?
- Do I have enough time to invest in blog posts, Twittering, recording and editing podcasts? (If you answer, “Sure, I’m going to have the PR or Marketing Person do it for me, we have a whole new set of issues to discuss.)
- Do I have enough to say? (It’s easy to post to your blog the first day or record your first podcast. What about a year or two down the road?)
- Do I have anything interesting to say?
- Am I willing to expose my product/company/service to the criticism that might come from this added exposure? How “out there” do I want to be?
- Should I have restrictions on what I talk about (business only, personal issues, funny stories, links to other interesting stuff, links to goofy stuff)?
- How long and I willing to give this before I expect a measurable “payoff”?
Engaging people with these new tools can be very rewarding. You just need to be prepared and educated before you get those irons glowing red hot and realize you’re not prepared to brand the cattle.
Category: Marketing 2.0
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