Comments on: Associations: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Only Water Will Flow

By: susan kuhn frost

susan kuhn frost — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:46:30 +0000

Thanks for expressing so clearly the bearish view. If we don’t look at how bad it could become, we don’t feel the urgency to act. No one has an answer, but there are some perennial strategies that work in recessions, and innovation is one of them. The other is to offer a compelling value proposition to your customers/members.

I think social media is a tool that can move associations toward the reward side of the risk/reward spectrum. Their business model, like everyone else’s, is getting crushed, and I don’t think it does anyone any good to assume that it is temporary. “True north” is and will always be using your best qualities to help others make it through a tough spot, in life and in business.

By: Smithwill

Smithwill — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:33:57 +0000

And the economy is no where near hitting bottom. The auto company bankruptcies haven’t fully taken effect. The unsecured creditors will get dumped by the roadsides very unceremoniously. Their credit shattered and business prospects crushed. These mostly small to medium-sized businesses employ a lot of middle class people who’ll begin to ratchet-up their credit exposure. Not a good thing. The large companies and banks get paid while the ripple-effect of bad debt and poor sales prospects will continue to drag down everything else.

And we haven’t even addressed the commercial real estate crunch yet. The continued borrowing from the Federal Reserve and promoting more financial fakery will only make the problems worse.

By: Smithwill

Smithwill — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:27:13 +0000

Smedia is opportunistic. It’s simply a new and less structured communications medium. I suppose part of the allure, perhaps even most of it, is the unpredictable nature. Something can potentially become viral and garnet the desired attention.

Threat/opportunity? It’s called risk. And it seems that risk has been thrown completely out of the window in all things Smedia. It’s temporal. Anybody can say anything and it get buried very quickly by the torrent of “spew” coming from many corners. Of course, this doesn’t preclude someone in the Smedia-sphere dredging-up some muck and making hay with it. That unstructured, unpredictable aspect can occasionally rear up and bite you on the arse.

It’s really just another way to sell stuff only with a much looser association with responsibility and integrity. I suppose this best represents the duality of the situation: it IS both a threat and opportunity. The buyer, or consumers of content, should always be very wary that results may vary from those stated.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:44:17 +0000

It is a combination. I make the “digital commute” as a freelancer. Though most of my work is done from home, I will tell you, in-person meetings can never be replaced with technology. That interaction is incredibly valuable and so much gets accomplished during meetings. The virtual workplace does cut costs, but once in a while, an in-person meeting is necessary.

-Ethan

By: Alex Har

Alex Har — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:31:10 +0000

I certainly agree that Social Media can have powerful benefits for associations that deploy them well.

By: Liz Strauss

Liz Strauss — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:27:20 +0000

We need to keep our thoughts on ecg other. We are the opportunity we are because every person brings some experience that offers insight and value.
Building community is it’s own reward.

By: Midcourse Corrections » Blog Archive » The Ivory Tower Responds As A Horizontal Uprising Occurs

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:36:06 +0000

[...] Susan Kuhn Frost argues that it’s the value proposition that threatens “bricks and mortar” associations. [...]