They say the definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Not sure exactly who said it first (and yes, I could Google it, but I choose not to), but I do know that it has been repurposed and reused a number of different times by many a-famous people. Which, if you think about it is its own set of irony (insert thinking emoji). I digress.
“They” also say that the moment you think you have it all figured out, is the moment you start to fail. While this saying is more of a personal mantra versus a widely adopted adage, it’s true, more so now than ever. In today’s digital landscape, what worked yesterday, or even 3 hours ago, will most likely not work tomorrow. This forces agencies to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies, trends, tools, and trade secrets. It also motivates us to rethink our client strategies, shifting expertise and focus toward new mediums and channels, keeping them steps ahead of their competition, which, at this point, isn’t necessarily other brands, but other people in general.
Staying up to date and realizing nothing is ever set in stone is never more evident than it is in the social media world. From the burgeoning offerings of Instagram, influencers becoming brands themselves, and algorithms changing constantly, it’s not enough to merely “have a Facebook” for your business. (And if you still call it “The Facebook,” we should chat.)
Our friends at NetBase caught wind of the new and exciting things we’d recently done for our clients. Namely, our new “born on social” strategy, which essentially uses social listening to guide strategy (instead of merely supporting previous assumptions.) So, they invited us to speak at their conference in Los Angeles, as well as participate in a follow up webinar. Which, in case you missed either, you can now listen to at your leisure.
Change is never easy. It’s like Garth said, “We fear change.” If you want to not only succeed, but also survive online today, you need to be ready to know you’re (probably) not the smartest person/brand in the room. Be open to shifting strategies, and know it’s going to (most likely) work out. Because regardless, it’s better than staying the course and falling behind.