Many people attribute this to age. However I happen to disagree. There are many people in their 50′s – myself included – and older that get the power of Social Networking. The problem is not age but mindset.
Seth Godin, recently wrote a post where he says that the reason it is so hard for companies to understand and embrace Social Media, is because it is a process and not an event. Processes take time and they are harder to manage than events.
In the fast-paced world that we live in, the tendency is to focus more and more on events and less and less on processes. While events may be sexier and garner the headlines, remember what Aesop’s fable of the Turtle and the Hare taught us: slow and steady wins the race. Embrace the process!
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Hi Rick — I’m a freelance working for Fidelity on a series of articles on how financial advisors can use social media. The first article will provide an overview of twitter, facebook, linked in, you tube and suggest how advisors can use each to promote their practice. I know you’d be a great reseource and hope you might be available for an interview sometime next week. Many thanks, Nancy Opiela (508-359-2557)
You nailed it, Rick! Absolutely is not about age. I don’t usually advertise this, but I’m “beyond 50″, and I’m an active user of social networking (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, a Ning site, and now about to launch a blog & YouTube videos). And I think you (and Seth) are right about the problem being with the process aspect — it’s too slow & painstaking for so many. Guess that’s why it appeals to me, one of those “process people”! It’s not a bit like speed dating; you have to invest some time for relationships to ripen and develop into something more. I’m convinced it’s worth it in the end, though, so me, I’ll just keep plugging away.