This article is directed more at Pubic Relations people who should know better, than at the social media user.  However, it may be valuable to read for the entertainment value or that you may see some of you in what happened to me.

Tuesday begins the Mega-Convention in Las Vegas commonly known as CES, or The Consumer Electronics Show.  About 140,000 people are expected to attend.  Don’t worry, I will have some updates from the show on twitter and here.

About two weeks before the event, my inbox starts to get flooded with press releases from some of the exhibitors, wanting me to inform you of the newest, greatest and best gadgets for the new year.  Some of these press releases were used for articles in a couple of the websites that I manage.

Several of the emails (as well as Facebook messages) were more hate mail, than press releases.  Maybe hate email is the wrong word…  The PR firms were noting that I referred to several of their client’s competitors, but failed to mention their clients in the same article.  They wanted to know why?  What can they do to get their clients mentioned in future articles??

My answers and their responses was a bit shocking, but not unexpected.  I replied that their competitor sent me press releases and offered more in-depth information as well as a variety of images I could use in my article.  They responded that they did the same thing.  I replied wondering how I missed that email.  Their counter response was that it’s not in a press release, I needed to go to their Facebook page or twitter feed.  It’s all right there ready for me to copy and past what I need.  With it there, they don’t send out press releases anymore.  In other words, I  need to seek them out.

The funny thing was that they sent me an email telling me how I forgot to talk about their client, but they can’t send me an email telling me about their client??

I need to Seek You??

In the business world of Social Media Marketing, who needs who??  The idea behind businesses using Social media, the object of the game is to get people talking about you.  To do that, you need to get out there and make the connections.  Feed the mill and prime the pump.  Just because there is a new named attached, doesn’t mean the old rules of marketing don’t apply.  It’s still marketing.  You still have to pound the proverbial pavement to find the people who can spread your message.

With 200 exhibitors, I should be following all of them, actively seeking out bits of news and information I can use?  Why?  When the smart ones use Social Media Marketing as a tool, not a crutch.  That your competitors try being social with their media, interacting with potential outlets that can spread the message they want spread.  With that, why should I go looking for you??

A great example is YouTube.  When you look at some of the videos that go viral on YouTube, notice how they go viral?  Many of them are not natural in the beginning.  The boost comes from some old-fashioned marketing.  Some direct emails are sent to  people; journalist, bloggers, etc…  who can spread the message. The video goes viral once the news of the video goes viral.   They seek out others who can spread the message.

Social Media is a tool in your box of marketing tips and tricks.  It’s not the only tool.  Don’t be afraid to spread the message to get the message out there. That’s why it’s called “social.”