From now on when people ask me what I “do” I’m going to say life insurance… Telling them Social Marketing/Media is too painful at times.

My suggestion was simple. Carry a short case study in your back pocket and show them the value. Her response was short, but it got me thinking…

…It’s not fair to have to always prove what u do is valuable.

And she’s right. It’s not fair. But if you believe in what you’re doing strongly enough, you can show the value to others and educate them on your way of thinking.

As many of you know, I worked for three years at the local Apple Store. On a daily basis, people would come in and question products, ideas, and processes. And everyday I would stand firmly behind my Apple Logo and defend against the attacks, point for point. Why? Because I believe in Apple. I believe in their products. I like their ideas about how things can be done. I understand that their processes are not tailored just for me, but do have some wiggle room.

And I wasn’t always successful at what I did. There were many people who didn’t buy. However, there were only three people in those three years that I recommended a PC. Yes, the managers knew about it too. A Mac just wasn’t for them. And you know what, I was ok with that.

As professionals who work with social media, we have to remember that we’re on the bleeding edge. Being on the bleeding edge of technology is rarely fair. Deciding to live on the bleeding edge comes with responsibility as well. It’s up to us to show the value of these technologies to the public at large. Why? The “public at large” aren’t motivated about technology like we are. But they are motivated about quilting, reading, metal fabrication, and forestry. Tie the value to their interests and let them play. Trust me, they will.

How have you helped people learn the power of social media? What tactics did you use? Please share your stories in the comments.