Why you need tech-literacy

Last week I downloaded my first audio book from the Internet for ‘reading’ (listening to) on my newly acquired iPod. Both the book download and the iPod are as a result of the influence of one Mike Stopforth. It’s a marvellous antidote to the ‘don’t have sufficient time to read’ dilemma that afflicts us all. Because it’s not on a CD or tape but stored on the eminently portable iPod, it’s ‘listen-ability’ factor is superb in convenience and versatility terms. It’s another small step in my quest to keep pace with essential techknowledge. The device will also play a role in the downloading of a first podcast, recorded this week. So watch this space!

Mike is the 20-something tech-geek who has an op-ed column (envy!) every Friday in the Citizen newspaper and is also an itinerant blogger for www.moneyweb.co.za. He has a formal website www.mikestopforth.com and a blog that serves the needs of his ‘business unit’ (I’m sure he has a much more trendy word for it) within the Dr. Graeme Codrington www.tomorrowtoday.biz international alliance. Mike’s ‘baby’ is www.tomorrowconnecting.biz. Quite a mouthful, but he deals with how cultures, organizations and individuals ‘talk to’ and ‘connect with’ each other in the new ‘connection economy’ as it’s called. If you think this is just so much new-fangled techno-speak and codswallop, think again.

In the last few months of addressing audiences on a variety of topics I’ve intentionally tossed in a PowerPoint slide each time with the question, ‘Do you know what these are?’ Below that question have been: Blog, RSS, Wiki, Podcasting and Viral Marketing. I’ve been consistently amazed by the miniscule number of people that showed even vague recognition of even one of them. Something like 1% of the audience if we’re lucky – and usually someone very young.

This is terrifying when you consider that any one of the elements I’ve just referred to has the ability to mess with an organization’s marketing, advertising, communications, PR, promotions, event management and reputation with a power and impact hitherto unparalleled. A dramatic overstatement? No. Blogs are ‘informal’ websites which are characterised primarily by their interactive element – readers can engage and post comments in response to the writing. They may not (yet?) have become the force they were expected to, they are nevertheless incredibly powerful. All it takes is for a blogger to post something about a positive or negative experience - it then gets syndicated via RSS (really simple syndication) to other subscribing Bloggers or via www.technorati.com or a similar site and the rest as they say, is history.

Mike Stopforth has written articles (go read ‘em) on the power of a blog to make corporates jump up and down as though they’re dancing on hot coals. And yet it’s the marketing and PR people who seem to know least about these new technologies. Maybe CEOs should start asking for a regular new-media briefing and update? It’s one way at least of coercing the required level of tech-literacy.

There’s no excuse in saying you’re too busy. If I were to inform you of a significant impending threat to your business, you’d almost undoubtedly make time to explore, understand and put in place containment or management processes to address that threat. Yet people sail merrily on ignoring the technowave that threatens to engulf them and their ability to market or protect the reputation of their business. Just as it’s a threat, it’s also a magnificent opportunity for the prescient and early-adopters of the technology.

The insidious part of this communications socio-quake is that it’s happening quietly in the background. So folk don’t notice it. A bit like my female Rottweiler, who according to my Vet, has been steadily gaining weight right under my nose. Just because we see each other daily, I haven’t noticed the change. Now I’m doing something about it, before it becomes a health hazard for her. Maybe you should do likewise with your tech-knowledge?

Comments

[mike]

Thanks for the kind words Clive - I'm glad you're enjoying the iPodding as much as I am.

Social software is still a fringe culture concept in South Africa at best, but it seems more evident through my conversations with blue-chip corps around the country that a Gladwellian tipping point is upon us - customers are talking through blogs and corps want to learn how to engage them authentically.

Good stuff!

Who you calling a tech-geek!?

[Ian Curry Bead4Need]

Hi Clive

Mike Stopforth presented his tech world to the SAB MDP class of 2006 currently in progress at the SAB Training Institute in Midrand. As part of the MDP programme the six teams have been given an "Apprentice" type challenge to raise funds for South African Social Investment. Each team was given a box full of beads and things and let loose. June 16 is the deadline.

Our team was so enthralled by the concepts that Mike relayed to us that we are using Social Software, Viral marketing and online global auctioning through eBay to achieve our goal of raising over $10000 by June 16 for South African Charities.

Mike has kindly agreed to help us drive the process and according to him we are one of the first corporates in SA to attempt this.

I have included a link to our Blog http://bead4need.wordpress.com/ for you to have a look at.

In short three beaded artworks "Empathy, Hope and Dignity" are going to be auctioned on eBay from 8 June until 14 June. Every sent will be going to charity via the SAB Corporate Social Investment Trust Fund to give disenfranchised children in Southern Africa Hope for the future, show them Empathy and give them Dignity in this incredible country of ours South Africa.