Using social media to learn about new security products and innovations?

[dkd4deisterusa]

My client, deister electronics U.S.A, has hired my firm to increase their use of social media/WEB 2.0 strategies (http://deisterusa.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/deister-u-s-a-inc-launches-new-communications-initiatives/). This is to help them introduce several innovations they have planned for this year including:


newly developed products
new VARs and the education of those VARs
applications for end users of their unique access control and electronic key and asset management systems


What I'm wondering is how much the security industry is using new social media? It seems fragmented, with a few tweets here and there, some well-organized LinkedIn and Facebook groups combined with HUGE lists of NOT-so-well organized groups in the same areas. A few key sites like SecurityInfoWatch who seem to have healthy forums of discussion combined with some sites whose discussion forums are, at best, tepid.

This industry can be so innovative and at once so set in our ways? But are we changing the way we communicate by using social media?

What are YOU using? And how? How do you get your info on the latest security products and innovations? Do you blog, do you tweet, do you FB or LinkIn?

Look forward to the discussion!

Angela

deister USA...think outside the door!

Angela Kendall-Dempsey,
Principal & Executive Director
DKD Marketing for deister USA
+1.407.760.7360
akendall@dkdmarketing.com
www.dkdmarketing.com

[IP-Alarms]

What I'm wondering is how much the security industry is using new social media? It seems fragmented, with a few tweets here and there, some well-organized LinkedIn and Facebook groups combined with HUGE lists of NOT-so-well organized groups in the same areas. A few key sites like SecurityInfoWatch who seem to have healthy forums of discussion combined with some sites whose discussion forums are, at best, tepid.

I think most people are comfortable on forums as they've been around for years. I agree that this is one of the better ones.


This industry can be so innovative and at once so set in our ways? But are we changing the way we communicate by using social media?

I very much doubt it. My guess is that at least 95% in the industry would even know what Social Media is.


Do you blog, do you tweet, do you FB or LinkIn?

Yes, yes, yes and yes...... but then again I am quite experienced in SEO and am comfortable with how the Internet works.


What are YOU using? And how?

I decided on just 3..... Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for the simple reason that I didn't want to miss anything :D

I have been experimenting and trying to figure out why I should use these sites for a few months now and I've yet to "get it". Honestly, I just fail to see any value for a company on these things. I'm obviously missing something - I just don't know what yet :confused:

Perhaps you can educate me :)

[dkd4deisterusa]

IP Alarms -- thanks for the input. Part of your reply tells me we're on the right track, by focusing on forums like this, LinkedIn, Twitter and FB (in that order) . I have seen much success with my clients who are non-profits and those that are more consumer driven. It's the B2B side that is still in the infancy. But I also believe that being early adopters may benefit those who start thinking creatively about using these sites for B2B outreach. Already, the company's profiles are starting to build a following after ONE day of being "up" -- and that's with a realatively minor bit of news.

I'll keep you posted on what I learn. Meanwhile, invite me to "LinkIn" Angela Kendall-Dempsey, deister PR ; and follow me on Twitter -- dkd4deisterUSA!

Thanks so much,
Angela

[dkd4deisterusa]

I just went to visit YOUR site to find out what IP Alarms is about -- so it works somehow, doesn't it. And I loved the line "will you adapt or stagnate" when it comes to IP and security. Maybe the same goes for Social Networking in this industry.

Take care!!!
Angela

[N. A. Corbier]

Not an expert. :)

LinkedIn is basically general business networking. You just have to exploit who is on your friend of a friend list, through your friends and contacts.

Twitter is basically "If enough people follow me, they'll see me as an information source." I only have 30 people or so following me. I follow people socially (I follow Adam Savage which has nothing to do with work), and sometimes I tweet about crap I'm doing. I'm not insane enough to hypertweet yet, though.

But, if I have a question, sometimes I can get an answer quickly. Especially about IT stuff. Its all about, well.... creating critical mass in followers, and engaging them.

[CameraMan]

I tweet regularly (@the_cameraman), I follow most of the blogs (this is really the only forum I follow because this is really the only forum that doesn't suck) and I'm on LinkedIn. Most in the industry don't really seem to "get" social media (with exceptions such as (@ipvideo, @sam_pfeifle, @apxalarm, @kseniacoffman, @firetide, @leischen, @shawnf naturally, @ACTIcorp used to be very active, @pprobinson sometimes, @secinfowatch- what up Geoff!). That is changing, but slowly.

[IP-Alarms]

OK - I am starting to get the idea now and will focus my efforts on LinkedIn and Twitter. I don't think Facebook is useful for business - is it ?

At this stage in my life, I have no interest in finding someone I went to school with 30+ years ago :rolleyes: I'm more interested in meeting new people from different cultures, but even then, only on a business level.

[CameraMan]

OK - I am starting to get the idea now and will focus my efforts on LinkedIn and Twitter. I don't think Facebook is useful for business - is it ?

At this stage in my life, I have no interest in finding someone I went to school with 30+ years ago :rolleyes: I'm more interested in meeting new people from different cultures, but even then, only on a business level.

Facebook can certainly be used for business, but it's a lot more work to put together and maintain a fan site, and frankly it doesn't seem to be something that would work for the security industry anyway (although I freely admit that this could very well just be a failure of imagination on my part).

Fan sites on Facebook are very popular with companies that lend themselves to fans- retail stores like JC Penney, computer operating systems like Ubuntu, and especially entertainment- musicians, TV shows, and movies. I suppose if the Pelco Jet was still flying there'd be people willing be fans of Pelco on Facebook, but other than that...

ASIS has a page on Facebook, and so does SIW, but those are set up for members to get to know each other mostly.