Too much fun not to share

I can appreciate how frustrating it can be to find a social media partner - and wondering why it can be so expensive to use free services. But then again think back to signs - there is a reason Wal-Mart doesn't let their kids just make their store signage. There are professionals out there that make that signage more effective. The same reason you don't let your nephew build your website, they are more effective if you find a true professional. Also remember that many of the tools used to build websites today are free (the software anyway) Much of the technology we use at the Marlin Digital Agency is free. HTML is free, PHP is free, MySQL is Free, Drupal is Free, Linux is free, Apache is free. Still even with all this "free" stuff most of us can appreciate that there is still more to it than handing a "Websites for Dummies" book to your secretary and let her build your company's website.

The same follows with an effective social media strategy. Finding the right partner can be challenging. Finding companies that have been doing it for 5 years don't even exist! Many of the tools being used, the technology that's been adopted so rapidly has only been around for a few years at best.

We've been building websites for a long time, and have been developing for these tools since their beta-launch (sometimes even earlier than that). We don't do magic formlas - we sell solutions, products designed to handle specific needs. Proundly I can say we eat our own dog food here :)

Don't become cynical of social media as one component of your company's marketing strategy, and while you can go it alone - you'll do better with a little guidance. There are a lot of things that are free that can be done more effectively with a good coach.

Happy New Years everyone and have a prosperous 2010!