Socialmediaworx

Can’t stop, won’t stop!

That’s certainly how living in the social media era can feel. It’s ubiquitous in geography and the clock never stops running. And if you’re a company - big or small - it can feel like the world has been unleashed on your idea, product or brand. Sometimes for good, sometimes not so good.

Jon Greer at BNet.com wonders if you can put limits on social media:

One of the most intriguing and disruptive elements of the social media revolution is that the creation of social media can happen anywhere, at anytime. For instance, I recently researched, wrote and published a Catching Flack post while riding in the back seat of a taxi headed to San Diego airport. You can blog from an iPhone or other PDA with a decent web browser. I blogged on a laptop with a wireless broadband card. You can post photos and videos to the web directly from your phone. At any time.

All of this makes managing social media relations, frankly, a nightmare. Where do you draw the line? Is line drawing even possible or desirable? What are the ramifications of having social media coverage of anything at anytime?

I think he poses some good questions. For the social media relations pro, participating in conversations, cultivating online communities and engagement is a full-time job. And it can seem overwhelming. But by it’s nature, while social media creates new and untold questions and challenges, it also can bring answers and resources in the same wave.

Yes, the social media relations expert has their work cut out for them. But if they’ve done their job well, they will have also fostered a community that is quick to stand up for the idea, product or brand.

Attempting to limit social media is the wrong answer. Cultivating a community of passionate brand ambassadors can be the best solution to help ride the social media wave.