The Big Seven

I had a discussion with my family about my class schedule and course list. The majority of people I speak to are always so interested as what public relations majors study. When I shared with my family I was taking a social media class I recieved interesting responses and comments. My personal favorite was from my dad, "You are taking a Facebook class? What a waste of money! You could have just had your sister teach you how to air out your dirty laundry over the internet, for free!"

Now granteed this is the edited version but let me give you a little background on my dad to help paint a picture. He is a small town redneck (I wouldn't have it any other way!) He was born in Trenton, Utah and made it to the big city of Smithfield, Utah and thinks that he lives in a big city... He hates social media/aka facebook. He isn't a huge fan of technology and hated using his phone and only used the internet to check email.

After his general reaction to my being enrolled in a social media class I asked him to just hear me out and give me a chance to defend social media as an educational tool, resource, and business managment in addition to a social networking site.

I went through the main social media sites that could pertain to him and would be the easiest to convert him to, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I didn't want to overwhelm him with all the possible social media platforms, Google+, Linkedin, Flickr, Tumbler, Pinterest, Blogger, Foursquare, and more.

I started with Facebook trying to have him look at it from a business stand point rather than looking at what 'dramatic girls' post. I tried explaining that using Facebook is a new way for customers to have a voice and to instantly be heard. I showed him this email that gives explains of successful social media customer service.
http://mashable.com/2011/10/28/social-customer-service-brands/

I proceeded to Twitter which he didn't even know existed yet a lone what it was. I told him once again to look at is as a business tool for a chance for the company to conect and relate on a personal level with their customers.  In turn to see it as a chance for their customers to be in the know of what the company is doing now, at that exact point in time, and to connect and be heard.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/05/24/true-tales-of-twitter-as-a-business-tool/

I concluded the conversation with something that was a little more familiar to him, YouTube. I didn't want to completely overwhelm him with social media.  I told him that youtube isn't just music videos and people making funny videos, I told him that it has become an educational tool on multiple levels. It has been intergrated in classrooms and  has do it your self tutorials for a hands on step-by-step learning method. This was the silver lining that made social media 'O.K.' He sterotypical hardass that can't ask for help or directions so he was a interested to learn more about what types of videos were available to him on YouTube.
http://www.google.com/educators/index.html

He thought that social media was a fad but I broke the news to him that social media is here to stay and he might as well embrace it.  It isn't just about social networking anymore and it has become a valuable form of communication in our society, and I would recommend to use it as wisley and responsibly as possible.
http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/social-media-it-s-here-to-stay-so-use-it-wisely-1.29304



P.S. I had this conversation about two months ago, he now owns an iphone and is slowing exploring his options of social media.