Bears and Bulls Ride Social Media into 2009
by Bill Ives
For my first post in 2009 I will share Peter Kim’s Social Media Predictions 2009. Now Peter did this two weeks ago and I am sure it has been commented on. I learned about it through Susan Scrupski who posted in on Knowledge Plaza. I will not repeat the details.
However, I am struck by the mix of bears and bulls on the social media market and presence for 2009. There are more bears than bulls. That might not be surprising in a down market. However. I am hearing from a lot of enterprise 2.0 vendors that sales are up. However, this is a small, and likely biased sample.
There seems to be only one real bull – “Dwindling budgets suddenly make low-cost social media look like the pretty girl at the ball.” – Ann Handley – who was consistent with what I am hearing although she used a different metaphor.
In addition, there were a number of people who were somewhat positive but said that more accountability and ROI are needed. I would certainly agree with them. I also side with Ann against the bears.
Last year at the time I went out on a limb and said I would lose weight. I was right but I did not like that fact that this applied not only to my body but my retirement funds. I hope I am right again for 2009 on social media. I think they will become common place over time. It is a matter of when not whether in my mind.
