In our business of Online Marketing it is sometimes an uphill struggle to convince people that utilising Social Media within their marketing mix is a good idea. We all know people don’t like change and for some, the methods and tools employed in a Social Media programme can be a little too left-of-centre for their way of thinking.

Here at LeadGenerators we include a Social Media session in our Internet Marketing seminars and have found that by demystifying the mystifying world of Social Media slowly (some more slowly than others!), our clients are embracing the change.

There are however, some traditionalists who still resist the so-called “New Rules of Marketing”; ie: Social Media and Digital Marketing. They’re probably doing very well thank you but as I have seen time and time again in our Internet Marketing seminars, a little goes a long way and it’s a lot easier for people to embrace a change if they actually understand the reasons behind the change. 

Last week, I did however come across a very amusing argument for continuing to do business the old way. While many of the “40 Reasons Why the CEO Still Uses the Yellow Pages” are obviously tongue-in-cheek, many a true word is spoken in jest and it actually highlighted quite a few points that made me go “Mmmm”. Not in the sense that I thought, “Oh yes, that’s true”, but more in the sense that it helped me to understand more fully why some sceptics of Social Media feel threatened or suspicious of it. I mean how can you argue with Number 20? “Direct Mail has worked for me for the last thirty years”; or Number 14, “It’s a safe one-way communication”.

Well, sometimes even if something ain’t broke it still needs a little fixing (see how I’m embracing the change?) and in fact the very first reason highlights the core of why NOT using Social Media can be dangerous for your business; Number 1, “The Yellow pages have no room for comments”.  Exactly. If you don’t listen, as well as speak to, your customers you’re effectively putting your hand in their face and telling them you don’t want to have a conversation with them.