You’re in marketing for one reason: Grow. Grow your company, reputation, customers, impact, profits. Grow yourself. This is a community that will help. It will stretch your mind, connect you to fascinating people, and provide some fun along the way. I am so glad you’re here. -Mark Schaefer
Pop quiz: Over the next three years, what is the number one skill that will be needed by marketing professionals?
Answer: An ability to entertain.
I realize that is not normally something you would put on a resume. Let me explain.
I often wonder, “Who really has the time to read all these blogs?” Don’t you feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information coming at you every day? Of course. Who doesn’t?
Well, guess what … you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! 2010 will The Year of Content as the fight for your attention gets much, much more competitive.
Who do you think will win that fight? The organizations with the most riveting content.
What will make that content riveting? It will entertain, it will amaze, it will amuse.
And who is going to make the big money on the social web? Those who can make that entertainment happen.
Yes folks, the ability to entertain will be a white-hot commodity.
Of course creativity and an entertainment factor has always been in demand in advertising circles but I think we are looking at a future where you are going to have to employ Madison-Avenue-quality entertainment value just to get eyeballs to your company blog. Let alone understanding of the message. Let alone engagement. Let alone something that turns into a sales lead. Consumer expectations to be entertained, as well as informed, are rising exponentially. How will you deliver?
I’m not saying there isn’t going to be room for serious commentary and discussion. Of course there will. But let’s put it this way, if you have a choice to read a blog that’s interesting or a blog that is interesting AND consistently entertaining, where will you spend those precious moments of your time? Case closed.
What are you going to do to cut through this rising tsnamai of content with YOUR message? Do you really think a company blog or Facebook page is going to cut it?
As for me, I’m dusting off my dancing shoes. It’s Hammer Time. Can’t touch this.
Community alert: Jon Buscall, a frequent contributor to {grow} has written an excellent post on this same topic. Jon writes well but he cannot dance worth a shit.
