Author: Suzanne Gunther

Marketers have been expending an enormous amount of energy reporting on and discussing social media marketing. News outlets, forums, blogs and associations devote a huge amount of time and space to the topic – and there is no shortage of “solutions” being offered to help companies get the most out of social media marketing. But have you noticed the tone is starting to get a little desperate? Does it feel like we are using fear tactics to get the point across? I have to ask: Have we created mass hysteria over the subject of social media?

In the new world of conversation-centric marketing, it is certain that you have to think differently about ways to reach prospective (and current) customers.

Before we let the robots take over the world, we need to think about some very basic “human” essentials. Humans will always have a need to connect with other humans - to feel wanted and to build relationships with other like-minded individuals.

It used to be that a company could define its value proposition, package and promote it, and the customers who the message resonated most with responded.

Current marketers have to think and act differently in today's conversation-centric landscape. Consumers today can sense manipulative marketing a mile away.