If you are a baby boomer, or for that matter anyone who is not a digital native, you may be getting some very mixed messages about social media.
On the one hand you know that just about everyone other than yourself seems to be spending all of their free time, Tweeting, sending out questions on LinkedIn and reconnecting with the class of `72 on Facebook.
On the other hand, you’re being told directly and subtly that baby boomers and social media don’t mix.
Last summer, I was listening to an executive of a Fortune 100 company talk about wikis, blogs and social media tools that the company was implementing worldwide. It was impressive. And then he said, “Of course, we’re not going to get the boomers involved in this. They’ve let us know they are not interested.”
Jonathan Freed, one of Digital Wagon Train’s founders, was sitting in a social media workshop when the presenter announced, “Whatever you do, don’t ever pay anyone to help you set up your LinkedIn or Facebook pages. It’s really easy.” Jonathan rolled his eyes, knowing that for the uninitiated, guidance is needed and boomers require guidance.
Not so long ago, Toby Bloomberg, our own Digital Marketing Diva, was doing a workshop for retailers. Many were baby boomers. The more she explained, the more overwhelmed they became. Clearly, taking smaller steps to get them onboard would reduce stress.
Baby Boomers are hearing that being part of social media is easy, but that’s not how it feels. For many, social media feels confusing, intimidating, a complete invasion of privacy and a huge waste of time.
Baby Boomer and Digital Wagon Train’s connection to the nonprofit world, David Zemel likes to say about his first impression of Twitter, “rampant incipient narcissism."
The result is a lot of confusion. On the one hand baby boomers are being told social media is for people who need to get a life. On the other hand,many of the Fortune 100 companies are actively implementing social media strategies both internally and externally.
What does that mean for baby boomers? It means despite all the negative impressions, people in power see something very worthwhile in understanding and using social media. It means unless you take the time to learn what they are learning you could end up being perceived as a dinosaur and that can be a career-ending perception.
We at Digital Wagon Train understand that trying to figure out social media is like being in the Old West and getting a horse and a map to head out to Pikes Peak on your own. Maybe you’ll get there… maybe you won’t. Either way,the trip can be scary, dangerous and very lonely .
On the other hand you can join a wagon train with people who know the ropes and know how to get you connected, so it’s both easy for you and productive for your business and personal life.
DWT folks are experienced guides, boomers ourselves, who can show you the short cuts, teach you the new culture and help you thrive.
That’s what we do at Digital Wagon Train.
