Buddha - the Social Media Strategist!

Recently, I've been involved in many discussions pertaining to the impact of social media conversations and how to best monitor and manage an organizations' online presence.  Much dialogue revolves around the necessity for good quality engagement, transparency of message and adding value to the consumer.  How is this attained?  In a nutshell, the Buddhist path is a great starting point for "how to manage" a social media strategy.  


To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:

(1) to lead a moral life,
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and
(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.

 Let's break this philosophy down.  Point (1) tells us as marketers that we need to be open and realistic about our product/service.  Give an honest representation of how we can accommodate our prospective customers.  Always strive to under promise and over deliver, you will sleep better at night if you do!  Point (2) reminds us to ALWAYS think before you speak, or tweet, or blog, or post.  Be aware that you are representing your company and your voice is heard around the world.  Be mindful of the impact that your comments have on your organization - positive or negative!  And point (3) is critical to success.  Never stop your education, stay humble and remember that there is always more to learn and understand.  Put yourself in the shoes of others - often.