This document discusses reasons why product managers may not use social media and provides recommendations for overcoming those reasons. It begins by listing the top six reasons cited by product managers for not using social media: lack of time, information overload, perception that only marketers use social media, belief that existing information sources are sufficient, fear of not knowing how to use social media, and company social media policies. It then provides tips and strategies for each of these barriers, such as using tools to filter content and focus on relevant information, understanding how social media can provide real-time market research and feedback, and clarifying company social media policies. The overall recommendation is for product managers to create social media accounts, observe online conversations, and gradually

1. Top reasons why Product Managers
are still not using social media
Lisa Crymes
6/28/2013

2. My name is Lisa Crymes…
and I’m a Social Geek
http://about.me/LisaCrymes

3. Geek:
/gik/ Show Spelled [geek] Show IPA Slang.
noun
1. a digital-technology expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as
self-reference, but often used disparagingly by others).
2. a person who has excessive enthusiasm for and some expertise
about a specialized subject or activity: a foreign-film geek.
3. a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, especially one who is
perceived to be overly intellectual.
4. a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or
disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.
Just to be clear, I am using the first definition …..

4. 1. Time: “I don’t have the time”
2. Overload: “There is just too much information to sort
through”
3. Marketing Job: “Only marketers tweet”
4. Duplicity: “I receive industry information from trade journals
and conferences”
5. Fear: “I don’t understanding how to use and how to get
started”
6. Risk: “My company’s social media policy does not allow me
to post”
Top reasons why Product Manager’s
are still not using social media

5. Use tools that will help
you focus on relevant
information
• Nutshell
• Hootsuite
Filter out the noise
• Use lists or hash tags to
focus on specific
subjects
Socialtis?!
• Avoid the overload
• Learn when and how to
disconnect
• Go into listen only mode
Time: “I don’t have the time”

6. Overload: “There is just too much
information to sort through”
6
 Blog 1-2x month
 Social Networking 1-5 /day
 Microblogging 1-10/day
RecommendedDaily
Allowance
• Decide what
frequency
works best for
you
• Use tools to
filter the noise
and focus on
relevant
information

7. Marketing Job: “Only marketers
tweet”
Social Media is a valuable source for
• Market Research
• Competitive Intelligence
You have to create and own your own Brand!
Who is a better Thought Leader than the Product
Manager?

8. Duplicity: “I receive industry information
from trade journals and conferences”
• Why wait for a monthly/quarterly journal or conference?
• Understand the news/trends as it happens
• Social media allows you to talk to industry leaders and
customers
• You get real-time feedback
• Again.. don’t forget to filter out the noise by using tools, hash
tags, etc

9. Fear: “I don’t understanding how to
use and how to get started”
Create an
account
Professional or
Personal
Account?
Create a Profile
• Professional
Photo
• Who are you
• What do you
plan to share
Create a plan
for what you
want to share
STOP!!

10. Observe
Listen
Engage
Lead
Steps to success
Value
• Decide topics
• Find
interesting
people
• Observe
“rules” and
conversations
• Understand
power of
hash tags #
• Listen..listen
….listen
• Join groups
• Follow
people
• Start
engaging
• Ask
questions
• Respond to
questions
• Know the
rules
• Don’t just
self promote
• Don’t post
info you
haven’t read
or
understand
• Become a
thought
leader
• Share
industry
relevant
content
• Discuss ideas
and get
feedback

11. Risk: “My company’s social media policy does
not allow me to post”
• Be clear of your company’s
social media policy
– It most organizations it is as
your opinion is your own
• Remember social media will
happen with your without you
• Manage bad image verse a
good image
• Important to know your
“googleability”
11

12. Thank you!
See ya Online!