The document discusses various strategies for brands to engage with social media and online conversations in a positive way. It recommends appointing a "conversation department" to listen to online discussions, clarify information, and represent the brand without trying to control the conversation. It also emphasizes adding value to communities, avoiding false identities, and envisioning the social web as an interactive space for shared knowledge rather than a one-way channel.
3. Adopt Versus Create Identify previously existing opportunities Evaluate for appropriateness Reach out and partner Cross your fingers And, hopefully, watch your sales increase (which Stride Gums did)
4. Lites Carson Williams Electrical Engineer Deerfield Township, Ohio 25,000 lights Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Wizards in Winter" FM transmitter
7. Its Easy (Mostly) Stride Miller Lites Verizons Twittering Teddy Samsung Instinct on Twitter Personalize (Dexter) Deep Focus CEO Twitter auction to Metacafe Busted Tees Facebook Application Create your own social network DIY Network Blog Cabin Dumb Luck
9. Its Easy (To Screw Up Too) Fake blogs (Walmart, Coke Zero, Sony) "yo where all u hatas com from... juz cuz you aint feelin the flow of PSP dun mean its sum mad faek website or summ... youall be trippin." Second Life (multiple disasters) Unattended Facebook, MySpace Profiles
10. Its Easy (To Be An Idiot) Coke paying for blogging is no different than Coke paying 'Street Teams' to sample product. Both groups are paid for conveying a new and/or positive message about the product. Paid bloggers can be viewed as the online form of 'Street Teams'...you just can't see them live! - Adrants commenter is reaction to Coke i9 blogging effort. http://www.adrants.com/2008/07/cokes-i9-blogger-outreach-program.php
11. Online, Brands Never Had Control "The Internet interprets censorship as damage and routes around it." -- John Gilmore, 1993. From day one, the notion of control was doomed Cant control but can listen, learn, participate, converse
12. The Conversation Department Dedicated person or persons Mission: Join. Converse. Clarify Identify relevant conversations online Familiarize oneself with the subject matter Represent the company in these conversations Identify action items from the conversations Distill information from conversations Share action items and information with appropriate parties (from Tom Hespos blog post) At all costs, avoid the urge to control
13. Social Networking Credo "As a participant, I will add value to my community. I will not assume a false identity or post under a false name. I will not pretend to be something other than what I am. Dave Evans, Digital Voodoo, Author, Social Media: An Hour a Day Really. Its that simple
14. Envisioning The (Social) Web "I had (and still have) a dream that the web could be less of a television channel and more of an interactive sea of shared knowledge. I imagine it immersing us as a warm, friendly environment made of the things we and our friends have seen, heard, believe or have figured out. I would like it to bring our friends and colleagues closer, in that by working on this knowledge together we can come to better understandings." --Tim Berners Lee, 1995