Gary Vaynerchuk on “Getting in the Game”

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For those who are unfamiliar with Gary Vaynerchuk, I suggest watching this video three times—once to take in the size of his personality, a second time to really listen to what he is saying, and a third to really, really listen to what he is saying.

To make it easier, here are some key points he hits upon about the social media game. For those just getting out of the gate, I’ve added some clarifying points and suggestions…

• Follow Trends. Pay attention to blogs that talk about Social Media. This means getting your hands into Blog Rolls and exploring the Social Media Blogger community. (Gary Vaynerchuk’s site is a great place to start. See my blog roll, at right, for more.)

• Don’t Wait. This is one of Gary’s most insistent points here and elsewhere. While you stall, your competition is getting in the game and learning about new ways to attract eyeballs.

• Anticipate Trial & Error. This might seem like common sense, but unless you’re hiring devoted social media staff or engaging a social media agency (like Chris Brogan’s New Media Labs), it is almost certain you will have to experiment before you find the right social media approach for your business.

• Build a Presence. Make yourself visible. You can’t perform at the open-mic if you’re not on the list! Show up early, secure your place, then you can play. This is what Gary means when he talks about “growing into it” and
“getting involved.”

• Listen In. When Gary and other social media experts talk about “getting into” the conversation, what they’re really saying is: listen up! This takes us back to the first bullet. But it’s also important to learn how others in your industry are competing in the social media arena. You’re bound to discover approaches you like and those you don’t. The idea then: build and strategize accordingly.

Thoughts on a Revolution: What are We Really Saying?

This video, though admittedly a bit “in your face,” is loaded with statistical information about the social media frontier. It’s certainly a lot of food for thought. Sometimes the numbers fly by so fast you may have to go back, as I did, to fully digest them. But what do these numbers mean? After watching the video, I ask you to consider the following questions:

• What do we gain by spending more and more time interacting online? What do we lose?
• Have you had any unique social media experiences that have changed your view of a person or organization?
• What social media behavior do you consider unnecessary? inappropriate? commendable?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. To everyone eager to learn more about Steven’s self-marketing adventure, stay tuned. We’ll be visiting with Steven, our aspiring food critic, later this week.