Beth Harte

shares

JasonFalls and I have been debating who should own SM...PR or Mktg. What say you intelligent Plurkers? tinyurl.com/59bufc

91 responses to this plurk

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:49AM

  Beth Harte

  wonders

  if she should keep commenting on his blog...She feels like a comment hog!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:52AM

  Connie

  Better check that out. It's the topic of the panel we proposed for SXSW.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:53AM

  miketempleton

  says

  I like Tom O'Brien's quote, 'PR is by definition a broadcast function.' Social media is a tool for engaging customers. That's marketing.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:56AM

  gwfrink3

  feels

  there is no single, right answer. Varies depending upon where the required skills are resident. If my knee must jerk, however, marketing.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:57AM

  pchaney

  says

  But, PR is public "relations," which denotes building relationships. The new PR is that don't you agree?

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:58AM

  frankmartin

  This debate is so old school it misses the point of New Media, which will cut across all aspects of companies: ,Marketing, PR, Cust Service.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 09:59AM

  frankmartin

  We need NOT to put it in a little box of yesteryear's definition!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:02AM

  Connie

  Thank you, FrankMartin. It goes BEYOND any box you can try to put it in.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:03AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  BINGO frankmartin! I just think there are so many stereotypes on both sides! I just don't want a broad brush stroke that it should be PR

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:03AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  By that I mean only PR. I am a marketer and a PR person. Maybe I am odd. But I do *listen* and not just participate in one-way comm.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:06AM

  pchaney

  says

  I heart what frankmartin said.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:07AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Keep it coming folks! I want to hear from all sides! B2B, B2C, Community Comm, etc. SM even effects HR, just look at glassdoor.com!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:12AM

  Connie

  For social media and HR, look no further than Plurk's own seerysm.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:14AM

  gwfrink3

  says

  I'm with you, frankmartin. Those little boxes can be deadly. Ya gotta have order, without breaking your own legs with chop logic decisions.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:15AM

  frankmartin

  thinks

  it's easier for us to understand something new if we can classify it in one place or another.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:16AM

  frankmartin

  thinks

  also that social media will transcend our meager abilities to control or classify or own it.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:18AM

  frankmartin

  thinks

  All of us should get together at the first conference opportunity to brainstorm this in detail. In person.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:18AM

  MackCollier

  says

  go Bret, it's your birthday

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:18AM

  frankmartin

  thinks

  Lewis - with social media, let us agree that we will be Shaw's definition of "unreasonable men"

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:19AM

  KDFrawg❤

  says

  being a democratic type of guy, I think it should be owned by social media users.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:20AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Hmmm, me thinks this is an ongoing debate. Yes! FrankMartin, it needs to be debated in person. And, there are too many boxes.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:21AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  MackCollier, you are just freakin' hilarious, aren't you?! Bret Harte...signing off! (Jason felt bad about that!)

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:22AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  BTW, what I can't get through my thick head is how pure, straight up PR folks think they know more about a market than a marketer.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:22AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Can someone help me see that side of the coin? Perhaps then I will be less resistant to see Jason's argument as valid.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:23AM

  frankmartin

  Beth, everybody thinks they know everything about marketing! sigh...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:23AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  I am actually going to have lunch with Steve Lubetkin (PodcastSteve) to discuss this further.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:24AM

  JasonFalls

  says

  Great additions to the discussion. Too much of the above points have been addressed on the blog, but I enjoy all of your perspectives.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:25AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  jasonfalls, plurk is about conversation...I didn't want to hog up your blog w/comments...and I wanted other perspectives.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:27AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  frankmartin and scellura I think you are right. SM will be the force behind NEW communications, marketing, PR, etc .

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:28AM

  frankmartin

  I read the blog bethharte - we will be having many more conversations on this topic...there is much still out there.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:29AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  I guess my views are jaded by always being in marcom and always handling the mashup of PR, marketing, comm, etc.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:30AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  That's why I was so intrigued by Jason's post...and why I want to hear other other companies handle it.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:31AM

  frankmartin

  not jaded bethharte. Influenced.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:31AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Frank, I hope so. I am willing to learn more and see all perspectives...it's not good to be in a bubble...or box...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:32AM

  MackCollier

  says

  Beth I see Jason's point that in general it needs to fall under the umbrella of the people that are n charge of the company's coomunications

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:33AM

  MackCollier

  says

  but for now, Brian's point is more relevant, the people that understand these tools and how they relate 2 the bottom line should handle them

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:33AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Mack, I agree with that...but I don't think those folks are just always the PR folks.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:33AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  That was my only point.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:35AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Thanks all for commenting...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:35AM

  Connie

  I think you almost have to take it case by case. Each company is different.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:35AM

  frankmartin

  Hmph. I think they are hardly EVER the PR folks

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:42AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Connie, agreed! I like Brian Solis' point (people that understand these tools and how they relate 2 the bottom line should handle them)

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:42AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  We can thank JasonFalls for stirring the pot! His post was in my head all weekend long! Darn him!!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:43AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  okay, here's another angle (and maybe this is why I am stuck too). My PR students are usually 3rd/4th year. They come to Intro to PR..

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:44AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  and Writing for PR. And I always make them do a media kit. So I say, what kind of PR work do you want to do?

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:44AM

  Connie

  Ike Pigott nailed it in comment #1 and echoed by Brian Solis later on ...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:44AM

  Connie

  Social Media gets owned by whomever plants to bug in the ear of the CEO/COO, & is willing to assume responsibility for the risks of failure.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:44AM

  Connie

  (the above was a quote from Ike, not me)

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:46AM

  Connie

  My thinking (and that of our proposed SXSW panel) is that over time a new silo will evolve, Social Communications, that will redefine

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:45AM

  Connie

  existing responsibilities between PR/Marketing/Comms.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:48AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Most want to work for a corp or agency.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:48AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  But, they have never had a business class. They don't know the diff. between B2B, B2C, gov't, community, etc.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:50AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Social Communications...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:51AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Man, I wish I was going to SxSW, would love to hear your panel Connie!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:51AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Any other suggestions on who to read that has covered this topic?

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:52AM

  Connie

  Well, we have to get selected first. Voting begins on August 8. You will be invited to help promote us.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:55AM

  Connie

  Beth, I just started a new del.icio.us tag for "socialcommunications" - and as I find good stuff it will get tagged as such.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:56AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Cool Connie! I'll check it out, thanks!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:57AM

  Connie

  I need to apply it retroactively to some links. Geoff Livingston and Valeria Maltoni are good to follow for this topic.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:57AM

  Beth Harte

  wonders

  if here career has been limiting...i.e. in seeing all angles of this great debate. Hmmmm....

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:58AM

  Connie

  says

  we all bring our own backgrounds to the discussion, and mine is largely from a non-corporate perspective.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 10:59AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  that's true...

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:02AM

  JasonFalls

  is

  astonished at the sheer volume here. You folks are fantastic.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:04AM

  AmberCadabra

  Wow ok a lot to digest here, but I agree that the people who know it and are passionate about it should be a big part of it

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:04AM

  AmberCadabra

  but I say "amen" to frank martin that we have to start drawing different lines instead of our old classifications

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:06AM

  vargasl

  says

  very cool Connie! This subject stirs all of us. Great to see such passion!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:08AM

  Connie

  JasonFalls - Plurk is incredible for generating lots of great comments and allowing more in-depth discussion of topic in short time.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:10AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  JasonFalls...you are witnessing the value of Plurk...and all it's great plurkers!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:11AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Amber, I totally agree! I am wondering how long that will take...I hope in my lifetime! And who will lead it? B2B? B2C? What companies?

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:12AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Valeria's blog is awesome because she touches on every aspect of a company. Conversation has no boundries!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:15AM

  AmberCadabra

  Beth, ok, you need to stop asking me hard questions before I've had my second cup of coffee.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:27AM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Sorry Amber! You know me, I like to spark debate.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:32AM

  AmberCadabra

  I know!! I love it. I'm just behind the 8 ball when i'm sleepy. Cocktail hour, now that's a different story

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:41AM

  Beth Harte

  shares

  sncr.org/ Gonna read up!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 11:45AM

  Connie

  SNCR is a good organization. I have wanted to go to their big conf. every year in April but too pricey.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 12:02PM

  Kellye_Crane

  says

  Beth, you're right that PRs should get more biz education in school. I think universities are failing them in that regard.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 12:04PM

  Kellye_Crane

  says

  I always joke that I got my business education "on the street." Successful PR does require business strategy and understanding.

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 12:35PM

  Beth Harte

  says

  Kellye_Crane, exactly my point. Thank you for stating it so concisely!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 12:35PM

  Beth Harte

  says

  And welcome to Plurk Kellye_Crane!

• 
  Jul 21, 2008 - 12:54PM

  Kellye_Crane

  says

  Thanks for the welcome, Beth!