Daniel C Berman Communications

This video is making waves right now over at Mashable for its assumed absurdity in trying to stem the tide of rampant software piracy around the world. There is one quote though that is striking,

be authentically you, practice your craft until its crystal clear. …There are new rules in this wireless age, can you make your art and still get paid. Can you walk the line and not get played.

I have seen many people on twitter try to pass themselves off as social media experts, “follow my strategy, and increase your follower count.” Numerous self-help books and blog posts have been published describing how companies can cash in on social media to reap millions. Plans and ideas are excellent, but the bottom line is that it is critical to tell your company’s story in an easy to understand terms that realistically show how you can contribute to your customer’s life and work.

Kevin Cole mentioned recently,

The best you can do in this new world is to actually, authentically BE something and take part in the conversation. Word will get around. But a word of caution. Do NOT claim to be what you can’t or won’t consistently be. Because that will get around too.

What is the overwhelming lesson being learned throughout the early 21st century with the rampant rise of social media, increasing number of scandals involving public figures, and growing mistrust of large advertising campaigns (thats why they made TiVo right?) and authority structures? We have spent billions to create images we want people to think of in connection with us. Those images are cracking though, and we can’t simply martial people to tell our story.

Our story must be worth of connecting with.

Looking to design a website or a social media campaign? Be you, communicate you, and help them! Can you walk the line and not get played?