As I was surveying my homepage on linkedIn.com…

I could not help but take notice of a discussion started by Shari Weiss, a partner at Performance Social Media, and member of The New Generation Agency Network, a group on Linked-In in which I to am also a member. The discussion entitled: Is Social Media THE ANSWER when traditional marketing “sucks”? sent my mind into a whirl! Enough to feel utterly compelled to share my views. I started to leave a comment, but soon found that my little comment was starting to take on the characteristics of a small to medium size blog post instead. So, with that being said, here is my formal response to the “mind-whirling” question: Is Social Media THE ANSWER when traditional marketing “sucks”?

Well, with all due respect, I have to say no, not necessarily, not really at all. An alternative option perhaps, but Social Media will simply not be the best answer for certain companies and brands whether their storefront happens to be online or off. I look forward to the evolution of the advertising world just as much as the next future thinking thought leader because, I happen to be one.

I will also be one to show respect  and give unique differentiation to the value provided by traditional marketing. However cliche’ it may sound, traditional marketing holds core values that will stand the test of time. Who could really predict what the most relevant method of approach will be in 20 years?

Who can really feel how the market is breathing, until you are right there, able to breathe with it yourself? If the traditional marketing sucks, then the marketing itself sucks, and most likely would have the same result whether utilized through a social media outlet or not.

In my opinion, the only viable solution for marketing that “sucks“, is simply Better marketing.

Missy Martin is an ambitious young women from Dallas, TX, who hopes to become successful enough to soon live (extremely well) in the Upper East (or West) Side of Manhattan. She is an entrepreneur, CMO, Social Media Consultant and author of the blog, "Missy Martin | New Media Genius." Quickly gaining in popularity, the blog, which started out as just a small personal side project, was recently voted one of the "Best Marketing And Social Media Blogs Of 2009."

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