Steve McKee over at Business Week says that Social Media Is Nothing New:
Who hasn’t recommended a product to a neighbor, received a tip from a colleague, or asked for a referral from a friend? From grocery store aisles to cocktail party asides, the “social media” we’ve commonly called word-of-mouth or relationship marketing have always been the most trusted form of outreach.
In the last few years, however, a dramatic transformation has taken place in this oldest and most effective form of media. It’s been a cause for celebration for many, confusion for others, and consternation for a few. What it should not be to anyone, however, is surprising. It’s the same transformation that has happened to industry after industry, from computers to cars, televisions to telecommunications.
Social media has gone digital.
He’s of course absolutely right. Social media has always been with us, but now the digital era has allowed everyone to speak across greater distances and to more people than ever. Social media and word of mouth have moved beyond the regional and have become global.
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