Blogging - The Times They Are A-changin'

I, along with my employer, and good friend, Eric Chong, recently attended the Asian Bloggers Social Media Conference over the last two days. (July 28, 29, 2010) It was held at Berjaya Times Square and hosted the 'best of the best' of Bloggers from not only Malaysia, but many other parts of South East Asia.

It was quite an enlightening occasion, I must say, particularly for a young and budding Blogger such as myself. Every single speaker offered some golden nugget, some small piece of advice that one could not have helped but have prospered from. I am greatly in appreciation to all the fine people who spent months preparing this mammoth of a project, and further more, brought it to such a powerful and momentous conclusion, particularly 'My Events International'. Thank you.

However, while I was looking around, I was at first surprised at how many people from different industries were there. Then another thought struck me - how many people from different industries WEREN'T there.

I hear the same thing a lot, "You know, I'm a bit too long in the tooth for such things, and my company really doesn't have the ability to compete online right now." But that's just deflection, and trust me, I know. I used to do that myself. However, that won't do anymore.

Today is becoming increasingly dependent on what is called 'social media', particularly what some like to call 'social media 2.0' - which includes the use of Twitter, blogs, Linkin,Facebook, Foursquare, etc to communicate regularly with large groups of people. This makes communication of information so fast and so efficient, that it boggles one's mind to even think of it.

My point is this...it is no longer 'an advantage' anymore to be able to do this...its no longer just another feather for a company's hat. This is no considered 'accepted standard' for modern companies. A few years back, it might have been fine to have had a website, email and maybe a chat programme id, but no more. These are also 'standards' but more important is your ability to 'jack' yourself into the steadily growing global media platforms.

For those struggling to keep up with this, and yet not giving up, I salute you. Our perseverance will reward us some day. (Perhaps with free coffee even) For those who hope to keep their heads low, and wait for this wave of social media to pass them safely by, I quote my hero Bob Dylan.

"Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’"

People, the times HAVE changed, and if you want your company to be around in 10 more years, the time to make those changes are now.

I apologize in advance if anything I say has bothered some, but I think sometimes a wake up call is necessary...And we've all got to start swimming even harder now.

Do not go gently into that good night.

Dougie.