Social Media Naysayers

Have you ever tried to convince someone who has never read a blog, who’s anti Facebook and hates the concept of Twitter that Social Media is one of the most valuableSocial Media Naysayers marketing initiatives they could ever engage in?

If you have I hope it went better for you than it did for me. In my experience trying to convince social media naysayers that they should get on the social media band wagon is largely a wasted exercise.

These people seem to able to block out the sound business rationale behind using social media. Common comments are…it’s a fad, it’s just like every new tool that comes along – it won’t change a thing in the long run, it’ll be here today and gone tomorrow…and no matter how much evidence you present these people with they still seem to think that social media lovers are a bunch of starry-eyed daydreamers who aren’t ‘Getting Things Done’.

Perhaps there is some merit to this argument but I feel it’s countered by loads of peeps who are are throwing down seven different kinds of smoke in the ‘real world’ and still pimping it in social media- yet  the naysayers seem to be unwavering in their defiance of social media as a wicked tool for business.

Have you ever encountered this argument? If so how do you deal with it? Do uThink we should embrace the haters or ignore them completely?

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  • socialsammy
    Thanks for chiming in Andy - I feel that your yarn is not all that uncommon. I've also had a similar incounter with a web developer of all people - needless to say I think his days in the business are numbered.

    The tweeps of this world (the ones that need the L painted on the foreheads) often cop a lot of flack from people who simply don't understand the medium. And you're dead right - for the people that just can't/don't want to be convinced it's very much their loss.
  • I'm worried others might perceive our convo on here as a social media dictatorship - it definitely isn't that! So to balance the argument I should point out that the person in my story, whilst they were dead against Twitter, did present a valid argument why not to use it.

    What they brought to light was the likes of Twitter are so mainstream now that those who don't want to conform would look for a more nichey (that a word?) outlet that better reflects their own personality - kinda like what happened with myspace (in NZ at least).

    I definitely think there are those that hate on SM for hating sake, but in this case it was more platform - user personality clash. I'm sure if the right social network popped up online it would be embraced by this type person. In saying that you have to have the right frame of mind to want find your outlet and some people just aren't interested in hearing about it. I'm guessing these are the people that laugh when you say you're on Twitter???
  • Several months ago I had an initially heart-hearted argument about social media with a friend of mine. Her vibe was simply that (mainly) Twitter was not cool, and she wouldn't be seen dead either on it or using it in a biz capacity.

    I presented what in my opinion was a well thought-out, articulate, and undisputable case for the use of Twitter. She totally rejected all my points and continued to tell me it was as lame and I should get a big L tattooed on my forehead. I got infuriated, she got upset and s#*t got personal real quick.

    Eventually we kissed and made up but I won’t even attempt to go down that track with some-one I actually like again. I reckon there are some that get it, some that don't, and another group that just don't want to. Their loss if you ask me.



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