Article

Damian Corbet
Damian Corbet 23 March 2016

Being on Twitter Doesn't Make You a Social Leader

I love seeing executives use Twitter. It's wonderful to watch them step out of their 'LinkedIn comfort zone' and be truly 'social' by tweeting.

They're the trend setters, the ground breakers, the early adopters. They're ahead of the curve. They're the 'blue unicorns' (because they're so rare). 

Too bad they're five years too late. 

I recently wrote an article claiming that leaders who embrace social media have 'first mover advantage'. By social media I was really referring to Twitter.

First mover advantage? Who was I kidding? 

In reality, executives who embrace Twitter are finally catching up with the rest of society which embraced it years ago. Hell - I joined Twitter in 2011 and I was late to the party. So, kudos to those leaders who are plucking up the courage to tweet, but don't kid yourselves that you're trend-setters. The Twitter boat has come and gone. There are already many who say Twitter has had its day. 

If you really want to call yourself  a social leader, look at the platforms that younger people are using regularly: Instagram, Snapchat, Vine, Tumblr. These are now the most influential social networks with Millennials and Generation Y (18-24 and 25-34).  

AAEAAQAAAAAAAAYPAAAAJGI5MDNmMzJjLTQ4MGEtNGE2Ny1iZmMzLTE2M2FjOGU1Y2Y2Yw.png

(Picture courtesy of Tech Insider)

Sure, Twitter is still mightily important as it's the platform where news breaks first. It's also where you'll find influencers, politicians, journalists and 'thought leaders'. But it's less and less the place where you'll find the under 35s. 

So, do you really want to be a social leader? Do you want to be more '2016' than '2011'? Then you'd better start sharing images on Instagram and Snapchat, sharing videos on Vine and blogging on Tumblr. That's where the future is.

Orignal Article 

Please login or register to add a comment.

Contribute Now!

Loving our articles? Do you have an insightful post that you want to shout about? Well, you've come to the right place! We are always looking for fresh Doughnuts to be a part of our community.

Popular Articles

See all
The Impact of New Technology on Marketing

The Impact of New Technology on Marketing

Technology has impacted every part of our lives. From household chores to business disciplines and etiquette, there's a gadget or app for it. Marketing has changed dramatically over the years, but what is the...

Alex Lysak
Alex Lysak 3 April 2024
Read more
How to Review a Website — A Guide for Beginners

How to Review a Website — A Guide for Beginners

A company website is crucial for any business's digital marketing strategy. To keep up with the changing trends and customer buying behaviors, it's important to review and make necessary changes regularly...

Digital Doughnut Contributor
Digital Doughnut Contributor 25 March 2024
Read more
Sales and Marketing Collaboration: A Recipe for B2B Success

Sales and Marketing Collaboration: A Recipe for B2B Success

In the world of B2B, the age-old rivalry between Sales and Marketing often overshadows the potential for a fruitful partnership. Yet, when these two departments align their goals, strategies, and efforts, the results...

Zsofia Raffa
Zsofia Raffa 12 September 2024
Read more
3 Reasons Why Building Social into Marketing is a Significant Competitive Advantage

3 Reasons Why Building Social into Marketing is a Significant Competitive Advantage

Understanding the role of social media in your business is important; however, before you get caught up in tactics first ask yourself “Is my business social?” If not, or if you aren’t sure, here are 3 reasons why...

Anna Fox
Anna Fox 31 October 2024
Read more
Infographic: Direct Mail vs Email

Infographic: Direct Mail vs Email

In the past direct mail has been referred to as dead. So we decided to do some research and compared direct mail to email marketing, it's digital alternative.

Rosie Niblock
Rosie Niblock 15 February 2017
Read more