Social Marketing

So this guy gave a presentation in our sales meeting today about social marketing.  Basically, the pitch was to Facebook and Tweet to generate clients.  I understand that I can use my blog to establish myself as an expert in marketing and to give advise on how to generate more customers.  However, I enjoy Facebook as it offers the opportunity to keep in touch with family and friends in a way we have never been able to.  You can literally stay in touch with people on a daily basis and you know how they feel, what they've been doing and the "complicated" relationship status.  I like being able to joke about something without worrying about who we might offend.  I like complaining about the Broncos.  I don't think that work should pervade our lives so much that we can not be ourselves.   As it is I can't watch TV, read a newspaper or drive around town without prospecting or observing marketing campaigns and some of it really amuses me. 

Marketing articles, books and lectures discuss how businesses can use Facebook to generate more business and maybe it does but frankly I am going to eat at a restaurant because they have good food and good service.  I go to certain stores because their selection and prices are right.  I'm not going to join their Fan Page on Facebook--that doesn't matter to me.  I know because of the business I am in that it is getting harder and harder to reach and motivate the consumer but the latest greatest isn't always effective.  Like the internet it isn't going away but most businesses need to focus on their product first.