The Fallacy of Social Media

Don't shoot the messenger.

I know the social media addicts hate when I even so much as suggest social media isn't the marketing panacea they think it is. Not saying it doesn't have its place. But people seem to miss the point with it.

Let me give you an example.

Recently I read this in an ezine:

"90% of consumers trust peer recommendations... but only 14% trust advertising. The ROI of Social Media is your business will exist in 5 years!"

Okay, let's put this under the microscope.

Yes, it speaketh the truth about trust.

No argument there.

But that's a function of bad advertising.

Not advertising itself.

Take email, for example. Do it right and you ARE a peer. You're also a trusted source. And (if you know what you're doing) you're also perceived as a leader in your market/niche/industry by a good portion of your list.

Who do you think wins the fight?

The "peer"?

Or the peer/market leader?

So go ahead.

Tweet your can off.

Spend all day on Facebook.

But unless you're perceived as a leader (or at least an expert) then why would your peers listen to you over their other peers?

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Ben Settle is a direct response copywriter and email marketing strategist. His clients have included Mike Dillard, Jay Kubassek, and even Internet marketing “pioneer” Ken McCarthy. He also conducted the email and blog training for the “MLM Traffic Formula 2.0” product. Although Ben no longer accepts clients, he gives away over 700 pages of his bestselling ideas and insights free on his website at www.BenSettle.com.