The Razorfish Social Media White Paper recently came out, and it has been all over Twitter this morning.  Reading different article and posts on the subject has brought on a range of emotions of the state of Social Media Marketing for me.

First - Media Post wrote about how "marketers must still try to reach consumers through social media since that's where conversations about brands are increasingly taking place."   They had an optimistic outlook on social media and just wanted brands to know that more could be done, that social media shouldn't be a marketing afterthought, as it has been in the past.

Another post from Marketing Pilgrim shows a much more grim and pessimistic outlook on social media marketing and the concept of online friends.   "It’s somewhat encouraging to see that we’re not collectively being duped into believing that when we add someone as a "friend" we’re instantly BFFs."  

Since my first encounter with Thea and Alexandra when they came to visit me at Kokomo Winery last summer, my personal objective for social media has been to meet my online friends.  I knew that I wanted to learn more about wine and the way to do this wasn't to do online tastings and discussions, that this was all an excuse to make "real life" or "3D" friends.  Thus far, I think I am doing a good job and I look forward to meeting more online friends offline and debunk the idea of online only friends.

Now it is time for me to read the actual White Paper to make a honest assessment for myself.  I encourage you to read it as well and let me know what you think!

*shana.