Social Media for the Good
I’ve run across many conversations over the past year about ‘why use social media’, insert a network. Obvious reasons come to mind (promotion, narcissism, recognition, connection, utility) and hey there’s nothing wrong with them I play into all of them to some degree. As I search for deeper reasons I find the most interesting in people helping people. And I would put companies helping people – their customers – in this category on a surface level. The best of this is expressed through use of social media “for good” and there is a real life example of this that you can participate in or observe going on right now.
It involves a woman with three children (one with a disability) who has fled an abusive situation and a weblebrity, David Armano, using his extensive network to help them out. The fundraising goal was $5k and the magic of social networking has resulted in raising at this moment over $11k in hours, yes hours less than 24 hours. The initial Twitter post indicates 12 hours but I can’t be sure how accurate this is. Here’s how you can participate.
Spread the word through your network. Blog it. Twit it use hashtag #daniela. Email it. Follow the Logic+Emotion blog or David on Twitter @armano.
Silently send a kind thought or prayer.
Offer a word of encouragement this is a really brave move for a woman and takes a lot of strength. Hats off to you Daniela I bet you have no idea what a strong and amazing woman you are at this very moment. Thank you for allowing David to tell your story publicly it will help another woman.
A few more notes:
-He is using PayPal, I’ve used it for transactions and commerce and it’s an excellent tool.
-And ChipIn this is the first time I’ve seen this widget, it is integrated with PayPal. Very cool.
-Another notable people in the socialverse (I love it that I can just make words up in this space) using technology for the good is @nateritter and @tillyritter they are finding ways to use social networks and technology to provide information portals for disasters and crisis for the good of communities (ex: San Diego Fires). Nate’s blog. I met Nate at a social media networking event and as each person in the room described why they were there and what they wanted to get out of the meetings (typical answer was how to monetize social media) his answer was to learn how to use social media for the good.
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Excellent article. My favorite social media campaigns are the ones based around some form of social cause.
BUT THIS, is a whole new level. Great find, and hopefully a lot of people will take a look at it. I’m going to post a link to this on my blog.
Once again, great article.
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Chris
guerrillaRed.com
The old method of advertising is interactive marketing. The term is misleading. Most people think it means that there is some type of interaction on the part of the person advertised to, and there is. But, it is not conversational. Instead, the advertiser wants you to interact with their campaign in a specific set of steps. Following the call to action and visiting a website for instance. It’s the push to make you do something. Live this image. Buy this now.
Social Media Marketing is just the opposite. It’s the pull of the tribe. The tribe already has your trust so the actions they take are ones you align with. On a larger scale, it’s the allure of belonging in the group as you take action together. “I am doing this so why don’t you do it with me?” On an individual level, the attraction is to behave the same way to get the same results that benefits your fellow tribeswoman or tribesman. “She looks hot! I want to look hot too. I want to go to her hairstylist” and you do. Social Media Marketing uses the power of attraction.
While advertising tries to use the same tactic, with a billboard for instance, of a gorgeous woman telling you the benefits of the salon, it doesn’t have the same impact because it’s pushing you to go. It is not pulling you in as a trusted friend. Your friends have your best interests at heart and advertisers do not. Social Media Marketing is based on building trust and that foundation will make Social Media a dominant player in Marketing.