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The Power Of Women In Social Media

Marketing and PR have long been fields dominated by women and, as we move into the world of new media, especially all things related to social mediums, it’s no surprise that this is an area where women are amazingly adept. I’ll be the first to admit that, right now, men seem to dominate the field. You can’t toss a stick without hitting guys like Chris Brogan, Brian Solis, Jay Baer, Gary Vaynerchuck and other heavy hitters in the world of new media.  My advice to those talented gentlemen: enjoy it while you can, because it won’t be long until you’re overtaken by the Estrogen Team.

I am joking – but not. I just read a brilliant post Why Women Thrive In Social Media written by my good friend and occasional colleague, Owen JJ Stone, a/k/a @ohdoctah on Twitter. Owen is a big presence in the social media realm and is especially well known for his vlogging.  He understands video in a way that not everyone does, and is a sought after consultant when it comes to businesses wanting to integrate video and other tactics into their social media marketing efforts. But the beautiful thing about Owen is that he also understands women – and why they are so good at what they do.  His latest post on women in the social media realm is insightful and right on target.

Women make the majority of the purchasing decisions in most households

Women make the majority of the purchasing decisions in most households and nearly one-half of the workforce is comprised of women. In fact, in a recent poll done by Time magazine, some 40% of women surveyed indicate they are the primary breadwinners in their household. So, when it comes to brands and their never-changing objective of reaching their target audience, it’s a no-brainer that that audience is, in most cases, women. And women instinctively know not only how to connect with other women in effective ways, they also know what moves women and compels them to make buying decisions.

Our male counterparts… have to work infinitely harder… men are not, by nature, givers.

Manager 300x199 The Power Of Women In Social Media

Power Exercised In Social Media

As such, it only makes sense that women are front and center when it comes to marketing and PR. And, in no time, we’ll see them really dominate (if they aren’t already) the world of social mediums. Women have been unloading on one another since the beginning of time. We dish dirt, we ask advice, we share tips and ideas, we offer shoulders upon which to cry and take them just as willingly when needed in return. We are often unflinchingly honest, with ourselves and one another, and share pieces of ourselves that would – and often do – horrify men. We are empathy personified and are conditioned to nurture from literally the earliest stages of toddlerhood on. As such, with the very fibers of our beings, we completely and totally “get” how important it is to listen within the social media world. And to give before we ever expect to get. Women are born givers. As such, we understand that giving is a natural part of the equation. Our male counterparts, no matter how accomplished, have to work infinitely harder to understand that concept, simply because men are not, by nature, givers.

And so, I leave you with this. The world of social mediums, while filled with manly movers, shakers, book writers and pontificators is, ultimately, a world that will be lovingly and most capably conquered by and led by some amazing women. They are out there already, quietly doing their thing. Some members of the Estrogen Team to whom I look for inspiration are @Laura_Lake @adamsconsulting @BuzzEdition @LizStrauss @Nongling @BethHarte @SSmirnov @zenaweist @BridgetAyers @SarahRobinson and @AnnEvanston. Some of them don’t even know me, or barely know me, yet they still inspire – thus, the beauty of Twitter.  And, please know, this is only a drop in the bucket of the many, many female voices singing so beautifully in the social media choir that so consumes me on a daily basis.

Who inspires you?

About The Author

Shelly Kramer is a Co-founder of V3 Integrated Marketing and founder of Kramer & Co, both headquartered in Kansas City, MO, and doing business with clients all over the world. She’s a sought after consultant and speaker, well-known for her “keeping it real” persona. She’s irreverent, irrepressible and possessed of a wicked sense of humor.  In short, when she’s in the room, you know it. And, when it comes to business her clients will be the first to tell you she is, without question, their secret weapon.  You can read her blog here: http://www.v3im.com/blog and find her on Twitter @shellykramer http://www.v3im.com

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  • http://scrapsofmygeeklife.com/ Michele McGraw

    So true. Women definitely are natural at Social Media. Since it is very important that social media be organic, we are the obvious ones to dominate the field. I think the next few years will be exciting for women online.

    @Pistachio inspires me.

  • http://scrapsofmygeeklife.com Michele McGraw

    So true. Women definitely are natural at Social Media. Since it is very important that social media be organic, we are the obvious ones to dominate the field. I think the next few years will be exciting for women online.

    @Pistachio inspires me.

  • http://nothingbutsocnet.blogspot.com/ Zena Weist

    Great post to get these weeks conversation juices going, Shelly! Thanks for including me in this powerhouse list of women in social media. You reminded me of a time when someone asked why I’m on twitter and my automatic response was “to be helpful.” The guy I was talking with kept coming back to the “What’s In It For Me” (WIIFM) angle. I told him that if I’m being helpful, then I’m needed. If I’m needed then my differentiating utility is there. Plain and simple. Glad you “need” me : )))

  • http://nothingbutsocnet.blogspot.com/ Zena Weist

    Great post to get these weeks conversation juices going, Shelly! Thanks for including me in this powerhouse list of women in social media. You reminded me of a time when someone asked why I’m on twitter and my automatic response was “to be helpful.” The guy I was talking with kept coming back to the “What’s In It For Me” (WIIFM) angle. I told him that if I’m being helpful, then I’m needed. If I’m needed then my differentiating utility is there. Plain and simple. Glad you “need” me : )))

  • http://iqmz.com/blog Owen JJ Stone aka Ohdoctah

    One I just hope the ladies drop me a bone. The bigger picture is that the world in general is moving fast to make everyone equals finally. One day it won’t matter what race or gender you are. It will only matter who is getting the job done.

  • http://iqmz.com/blog Owen JJ Stone aka Ohdoctah

    One I just hope the ladies drop me a bone. The bigger picture is that the world in general is moving fast to make everyone equals finally. One day it won’t matter what race or gender you are. It will only matter who is getting the job done.

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  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com/ Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Organic marketing and a less direct “pushy” sales approach is important for marketers to understand when it comes to social media. They should think about it like a conversation between friends. This means that the marketer needs to appreciate the give and take in the exchange of information. The marketer needs to have the savvy of an endearing friend and knows when to offer services through targeted questions. Failure to do so just translates into shouting on a street corner through a bullhorn.

    Women, who are the greatest users of social media, understand this key difference.

  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Organic marketing and a less direct “pushy” sales approach is important for marketers to understand when it comes to social media. They should think about it like a conversation between friends. This means that the marketer needs to appreciate the give and take in the exchange of information. The marketer needs to have the savvy of an endearing friend and knows when to offer services through targeted questions. Failure to do so just translates into shouting on a street corner through a bullhorn.

    Women, who are the greatest users of social media, understand this key difference.

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  • http://dbagsforsale.com/ Courtney

    Agree and Agree. GO WOMEN. We weren’t thinking of women when we crafted this product.

  • http://dbagsforsale.com Courtney

    Agree and Agree. GO WOMEN. We weren’t thinking of women when we crafted this product.

  • http://www.coffeeandbluejeans.com Jessica Hampson

    @ericaogrady, @gwenbell, and @cosmopolitician inspire me daily. I highly recommend following them.

    Thanks for the great article!

    Jessica

  • http://www.coffeeandbluejeans.com/ Jessica Hampson

    @ericaogrady, @gwenbell, and @cosmopolitician inspire me daily. I highly recommend following them.

    Thanks for the great article!

    Jessica

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  • http://SweetTea-StraightTalk.com/ Kathy Drewien

    Wish I could remember what Twitter stream pointed me this direction so I could give due credit…

    My morning reading jolted me into a feminist mood when I learned my favorite copywriter felt compelled to write under a male pseudonym to survive. Your Estrogen Team has broadened my Twitter horizon and added female voices to my Google Reader. Thank you!

  • http://SweetTea-StraightTalk.com Kathy Drewien

    Wish I could remember what Twitter stream pointed me this direction so I could give due credit…

    My morning reading jolted me into a feminist mood when I learned my favorite copywriter felt compelled to write under a male pseudonym to survive. Your Estrogen Team has broadened my Twitter horizon and added female voices to my Google Reader. Thank you!

  • http://www.buxmontdigital.com/ Craig Peters

    Look around you in your offline world: Who are the social ones, the men or the women? Who are more likely to talk and connect and share and recommend, the men or the women?

    A guy named Jeff Weidner recently said this on a Social Media Marketing Group discussion thread on LinkedIn: “If you you do it online it’s social media. Do it offline and it’s a BBQ or cocktail party or movie night or just plain life in general.”

    Bingo.

  • http://www.buxmontdigital.com Craig Peters

    Look around you in your offline world: Who are the social ones, the men or the women? Who are more likely to talk and connect and share and recommend, the men or the women?

    A guy named Jeff Weidner recently said this on a Social Media Marketing Group discussion thread on LinkedIn: “If you you do it online it’s social media. Do it offline and it’s a BBQ or cocktail party or movie night or just plain life in general.”

    Bingo.

  • http://zaneology.com zaneology

    For me, I get up every day and just focus on being the best I can be. It is truly the only thing any of us (both men and women) can truly control. Great Post :)

    @zaneology

  • http://zaneology.com Zane Aveton

    For me, I get up every day and just focus on being the best I can be. It is truly the only thing any of us (both men and women) can truly control. Great Post :)

    @zaneology

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  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com/ Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Kathy — Welcome to the team! It is a little known fact that most of the hunting done by and for the pride is by Lionesses!

  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Kathy — Welcome to the team! It is a little known fact that most of the hunting done by and for the pride is by Lionesses!

  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com/ Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Craig — You’ve got it right! It is only the medium that is different. The community, the message, and the esprit de corps is the same!

  • http://www.vongehrconsulting.com Von Gehr Consulting Group

    Craig — You’ve got it right! It is only the medium that is different. The community, the message, and the esprit de corps is the same!

  • http://bit.ly/12UT21 Lynn Fishman RN

    Over the next five to ten years, women will take center stage on a global scale in a way that was never possible before. This includes the ability to market oneself or one’s product or service. On a personal note, women will empower each other because of the access and visibility that social media gives to us. The challenge is to use social media in a productive and efficient way. Women are multi-taskers. This allows us to easily integrate the different forms of social media for our benefit. In the process we have the ability to solve problems, be authentic, & connect with people.

  • http://bit.ly/12UT21 Lynn Fishman RN

    Over the next five to ten years, women will take center stage on a global scale in a way that was never possible before. This includes the ability to market oneself or one’s product or service. On a personal note, women will empower each other because of the access and visibility that social media gives to us. The challenge is to use social media in a productive and efficient way. Women are multi-taskers. This allows us to easily integrate the different forms of social media for our benefit. In the process we have the ability to solve problems, be authentic, & connect with people.

  • http://www.mizzinformation.com/ Maggie McGary

    Wish I could be this optimistic, but just yesterday I blogged about all the reasons that, despite the (correct) argument you make, the gender bias continues in social media careers:

    More Traditional Gender Bias In New Media

    Maybe this will correct over time, but it seems to be off to a pretty bad start and I’m not sure how it will correct now that social media is all the rage.

    Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong!

  • http://www.mizzinformation.com Maggie McGary

    Wish I could be this optimistic, but just yesterday I blogged about all the reasons that, despite the (correct) argument you make, the gender bias continues in social media careers:

    More Traditional Gender Bias In New Media

    Maybe this will correct over time, but it seems to be off to a pretty bad start and I’m not sure how it will correct now that social media is all the rage.

    Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong!

  • http://www.escaping-mediocrity.com/ Sarah Robinson

    First – where the FRAK have I been and how did I miss this amazing post?! I love how you nail the innate power women bring to the social media table. While a few men may dominate at the top at the moment, it’s only a matter of time before we get ourselves there, too.

    EXCELLENT read! (and I am honored to have made such an illustrious list!)

  • http://www.escaping-mediocrity.com Sarah Robinson

    First – where the FRAK have I been and how did I miss this amazing post?! I love how you nail the innate power women bring to the social media table. While a few men may dominate at the top at the moment, it’s only a matter of time before we get ourselves there, too.

    EXCELLENT read! (and I am honored to have made such an illustrious list!)

  • http://warrior-preneur.com/ Ann Evanston

    Shelly! First I am honored to be on this list! Here is my hope as women grow in the market: That we leave behind the petty school girl competitive stuff and really support and embrace other women with all their differences and approaches to life, social media or not!

    Women have the ability to be beautifully different and at the same time have so much in common. THAT will be our greatest strength going forward. Imagine a SoMe conference where the headliners are women, and the conference was created by women! WOW!

    Ann Evanston
    Warrior-Preneur
    The Warrior is Within You

  • http://warrior-preneur.com Ann Evanston

    Shelly! First I am honored to be on this list! Here is my hope as women grow in the market: That we leave behind the petty school girl competitive stuff and really support and embrace other women with all their differences and approaches to life, social media or not!

    Women have the ability to be beautifully different and at the same time have so much in common. THAT will be our greatest strength going forward. Imagine a SoMe conference where the headliners are women, and the conference was created by women! WOW!

    Ann Evanston
    Warrior-Preneur
    The Warrior is Within You

  • http://tdhurst.com/ Tyler Hurst

    Every post I read like this, whether it’s women, kids, black people or any kind of minority, it just reminds me that until you start acting like you’re equal, you won’t be treated that way.

    I feel like patting someone on the head for this. Good job, ladies. Instead of telling us why you’re equal, just be that way.

  • http://tdhurst.com Tyler Hurst

    Every post I read like this, whether it’s women, kids, black people or any kind of minority, it just reminds me that until you start acting like you’re equal, you won’t be treated that way.

    I feel like patting someone on the head for this. Good job, ladies. Instead of telling us why you’re equal, just be that way.

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  • Anonymous

    Tyler,

    Sometimes I wonder if you ever have anything nice to say – about anyone.

    Always such a Negative Nancy. None of the women I know, and certainly none of the women in my post, are looking for you or anyone to pat us on the head and tell us “good job.” Instead, we are going about the business of making great inroads in the world of social mediums. Get over yourself and please don’t patronize us.

    Now go something memorable. And try being positive – at least occasionally. There ARE good things and good people in the world. You just have to open your eyes and quit putting a negative spin on everything in order to see them.

    Shelly Kramer

  • http://www.v3im.com Shelly Kramer

    Tyler,

    Sometimes I wonder if you ever have anything nice to say – about anyone.

    Always such a Negative Nancy. None of the women I know, and certainly none of the women in my post, are looking for you or anyone to pat us on the head and tell us “good job.” Instead, we are going about the business of making great inroads in the world of social mediums. Get over yourself and please don’t patronize us.

    Now go something memorable. And try being positive – at least occasionally. There ARE good things and good people in the world. You just have to open your eyes and quit putting a negative spin on everything in order to see them.

    Shelly Kramer

  • http://buzzedition.com/ Susan E Cooper (@BuzzEdition)

    Oh my, I finally get around to leaving a comment to thank Shelly for mentioning me, and I see comments going off in a negative direction.

    Tyler: I personally don’t feel the need or desire to feel equal to anyone. I always strive for my personal best. Being equal, in my mind, means being ordinary. And I strive for always being extraordinary in everything project I take on. But I also find that embracing the accomplishments of others, not only makes me a better person, but keeps me focused on my personal best. That’s what this article’s purpose was, to embrace women in the field, not to make them feel they had to prove a thing.

    Shelly, what an amazing and inspiring article that teaches us to always reach for the stars in whatever we do. Thank you for mentioning me, and for your friendship that I truly cherish. I admire you so very much. We are women, hear us roar!

    Susan

  • http://buzzedition.com Susan E Cooper (@BuzzEdition)

    Oh my, I finally get around to leaving a comment to thank Shelly for mentioning me, and I see comments going off in a negative direction.

    Tyler: I personally don’t feel the need or desire to feel equal to anyone. I always strive for my personal best. Being equal, in my mind, means being ordinary. And I strive for always being extraordinary in everything project I take on. But I also find that embracing the accomplishments of others, not only makes me a better person, but keeps me focused on my personal best. That’s what this article’s purpose was, to embrace women in the field, not to make them feel they had to prove a thing.

    Shelly, what an amazing and inspiring article that teaches us to always reach for the stars in whatever we do. Thank you for mentioning me, and for your friendship that I truly cherish. I admire you so very much. We are women, hear us roar!

    Susan

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