8 Social Media Tips Marketers Can Learn From Dave Matthews Band Lyrics

Today is the first official Social Media Day presented by Mashable.  To celebrate the occasion, individuals around the world have planned live events with the purpose of getting together and sharing their social media knowledge and experiences while having a drink or two.   Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend because the event happens to fall on the same day that the Dave Matthews Band will be performing in my area.  For the last decade, I have associated summer with seeing DMB live.  In honor of these two events, below are 8 social media tips that we can learn from Dave Matthews Band lyrics:

• “If you hold on tight to what you think is your thing, you may find you’re missing all the rest.”  Consumers have become savvier in their ability to filter out advertisements so as marketers we must find comfort outside of our comfort zones.  In order to be successful, it is important to constantly test and experiment with tactics outside of our current mix. 
• “I will go in this way and find my own way out.”  While experts have created numerous tips and best practices for participating in social media, ultimately the journey begins with you.  You are responsible for defining how you will use it and measure success.    
• “She could change everything about her using colors bold and bright but all the colors mix together – to grey.”  Social media involves the interaction of people, with the goal of creating quality relationships.  The only way to achieve this is to be yourself.  In the long run, if you try to be all things to all people your campaigns will fail.
• “Wondering what the other is thinking, but we never say a thing. These crimes between us grow deeper.”  One of the most powerful tools in social media marketing is the ability to listen to the conversations consumers are having about your brand, products and competitors.  However, individuals are looking to have real conversations so in order to be successful you must humanize your brand and participate in the discussions.
• “Hello again, it’s been too long, too long too long, hello again.”  According to a recent study, individuals are exposed to roughly 13,000 marketing messages a day and on Twitter, alone, there are over 50 million discussions (tweets) a day.  Social media requires a consistent presence so before launching a campaign, make sure you have the resources to maintain an active profile.
• “Pay your dues, and your debts. Pay your respects, everybody tells you. You pay for what you get.”  As mentioned above, social media success does not happen overnight.  It requires that you connect, follow, watch, listen, learn and engage.  It is important to add value to the communities that you participate in because you must nurture relationships before you can create brand advocates.
• “Pay no mind to taunts or advances.”  If you find yourself in a situation where the conversation turns negative it is important to acknowledge their rights to complain, apologize or assert yourself if warranted, assess what will help them feel better, act accordingly and abdicate if necessary.   If you have done a great job of cultivating a strong following and the complaint is unwarranted, the best case scenario is that you your connections will come to the defense of your brand.
• “So why would you care to get out of this place, you and me and all our friends.”  Social media is a fantastic tool and it is imperative that your campaigns (online and offline) help your audience connect with your brand via these social media channels.   However, it is also critical that you do not find yourself “living” solely in these channels.  Social media will never replace the value of face-to-face interactions so in order to develop deeper relationships plan for live events such as “TweetUps” to help put a face on your social media profiles.    

Are you planning on participating in the Mashable Social Media Day events?  Can you name the Dave Matthews Band songs that these eight lyrics are taken from?

Author: Brian Rice

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Brian Rice is a marketing professional with a decade of experience on both the client and agency side of marketing.  He holds a BS, Marketing from Cabrini College and a MBA, Marketing from Saint Joseph’s Haub School of Business and is a member of the International Business Honors Society, Sigma… View full profile