Are Black Authors too Late to Jump on the Bandwagon by Dee Stewart

Written by RAWSISTAZ · December 2, 2009 · 663 views

Are Black Authors too Late to Jump on the Bandwagon by Dee Stewart

For the past month I’ve found something quite peculiar in my email inbox, tons of social media notices. From Twitter Direct Messages[DMs] to Facebook Notifications to Messages from some member of an online community I belong to. I belong to at least one hundred. Don’t be shocked.

Furthermore, don’t be shocked when I state that I mostly delete those messages.

Here’s why…

Basic Marketing Philosophy and Psychology has proven that most people are bandwagon jumpers. And being a bandwagon jumper is not a bad thing. It is just the reality of human nature. We, marketers call this behavior the Bandwagon Phenomena, and we use it for our client’s advantage. However, if you want to be effective online you have to learn from past history and leverage yourself by knowing it.

Seven years ago blogging and podcasting platforms were introduced into the world wide web (WWW.) It took two years for bloggers to learn how to build communities, monetize, and change mass media conversations.

However, blogging didn’t become a household name until the next year (three years later.) By the time artists added blogs to their websites/online presences there were too many words for readers and not enough readers for words (blog saturation.) Thus, many stopped blogging.

Seven years ago social networks were introduced into the worldvieweb.

One in particular, MySpace*. The same interaction timeline happened there, the Bandwagon Phenomena took place and we know the results.

Facebook opened its doors to non college campuses three years ago.

Likewise, three years ago microblogging platforms were introduced:

Twitter, FriendFeed, Plurk, Utterli, etc. Same timeline. And so we can assuredly say that we are now in the Bandwagon phase of the three online marketing tools: microblogs, social networks, and online radio.

What do you think will happen next?

During this phase newbie end-users (those who joined at least a yearago) are doing 1 of 3 things:

1. trying to move their fanbase from other online tools to the networks/fan pages/online communities

2. Following/Befriending other end-users who have a bigger base than you, then trolling their list to gain new friends

3. talking too much or too little about nothing/no strategy/not building connections that translates into your followers/friends doing what you would like them to do

And thus the reasons I delete most messages. And after chatting with my HARO/PRSA Atlanta buddies I am not alone. By now we know how these dog hunt. Each tool after a certain period of time becomes saturated with people clamoring for status.

Here’s a tip. Don’t fall in that bandwagon trap. Instead of gaming the system, destroying your public persona, and wasting so much time that should be devoted to operating in your sweet spot you on pace with the pacesetters- the brand marketing experts not the social media rockstars/bandwagon jumpers.

Why do they know about these services before you do? Where are they spending more time now? And what are they doing with Facebook and Twitter and Ning now? And are you there?

This answer is crucial. You can’t Shine in 09 and you definitely can’t Win in 2010 operating as a Bandwagon Jumper. You can as an Innovator.

That is what other successful authors/musicians/businesses are doing, in order to sell heavy volumes online. Remember. Most aren’t playing in the new market system. They sit on the sidelines, follow the crowds and make excuses why they don’t win. You stay ahead of the Pace Car.

*”To Aim Ads, Web Is Keeping Closer Eye on You”. March 3, 2009, The New York Times .

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/technology/10privacy.html.

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