In Part I, I asked the question whether posting to social media during a formal presentation had murdered the art of good listening.
But this assumes that the only reason I am at such an event is to “receive” the presenter’s information. And that the presenter’s only interest in being there is to impart information. Not true – and the explanation lies in the 4Ps of Marketing, - price, product, promotion and place. More specifically, the third one – promotion.
As a small business owner, selling independent professional services into a competitive market, my brand is me. And that means making the most of my dollars to promote my brand by networking whenever I can.
So why did I choose this particular organisation and this particular event on which to spend my limited dollars? Because, in addition to being an interesting, relevant topic, my fellow audience members represent networking opportunities. I am not there just to listen, but also to promote my brand.
And that is also a large part of why the presenter is there: to promote his/ own her brand by sharing ideas and experiences.
By posting to social media, the writer raises both his/her own brand-profile and that of the presenter to an audience beyond that in the immediate room.
Okay – but why does it have to be done in real-time while the presenter is still unwrapping his/ her argument?
Part III – Sacrificing understanding for urgency. Am I taking notes or giving an opinion?
