via TheKmiecs.com by Adam Kmiec originally tweeted by Barry Cunningham
"You want the truth? Social Media is HARD. It’s not even on the same continent as easy. It’s painfully difficult. Well, it’s hard and difficult to do it right…to do more than simply optimize Facebook posts or recommend what content to pin. If there’s one thing I’ve seen up close and very personal, social media ain’t easy.
To trick yourself into believing the answers can be found in a book, at a conference or in some blog post, is to set yourself up for a path to failure. You have to constantly try different things. You have to fail…repeatedly…over and over. You have to get frustrated. You have to get to the point of wanting to quit, because it’s gotten too tough, but then you come back the next day with even more resolve to succeed. I’m serious. It’s not until you find yourself in one of those conversations, where you can’t believe that person A or team X is really debating the merits of doing [insert idea] in social, that you’ll finally be ready to understand how hard it really is….” (read full post by clicking link)
I want to take this post out behind the Foursquare pop up tent at SxSW and make out with it. Too many people want a “magic bullet” strategy for social media and they don’t exist. Too many people are being paid to “consult” AND DON’T EVEN PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALLY. AT ALL!!!! (this drives me to untold levels of insanity that have often brought me to the “f-this” moments) Executives in every type of business use the excuse of being “too old” or “I don’t have time for social media” and yet cut million dollar checks based on a few social media “articles” their younger counterparts have forwarded to them. (via traditional email no doubt) You’ve got to get in the game, fail, ask questions, embarrass yourself, and wait for it… actually try to have fun! Social media (even as a business strategy) has to be fun on some level for both the content creator and the user. Don’t fear fun. Seriously.