By Maureen Renzi, Vice President - Communications
I recently went to see
The Artist. For those of you who are not familiar with the plot, it’s a movie about a silent movie star in the 1920s who refuses to adjust to the new “talkie” technology. I think we can all predict the conflict for this actor. As I watched the movie, I kept thinking about the revolutionary changes that are happening today, and how they will help CPAs, and the PICPA, succeed. We are moving from the wonderful “talking” technology to a new form we can more easily listen to what our members, clients, and customers are telling us and about their needs. It also made me think about the dangers for CPAs who refuse to engage in these changes.
To listen, we need to be where people are talking. Where is that? Blogs. Twitter. Facebook. LinkedIn. Google Plus. YouTube. Foursquare. And, they are just the big platforms. At the PICPA we have a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Our blog is our newest addition to the conversation.
Are they really as big as some people say? Yes they are: 845 million on FB; 100 million LinkedIn users; 200 million Twitter users; and, 48 hours of video downloaded every minute from YouTube. Explosive is the most accurate term to describe social media growth in the past few years. For instance, Facebook grew by 50 million users in just two months — from July to September, 2011. If only we could claim the same kind of growth in our businesses! If you’re still not convinced, what about the potential $10 IPO scheduled this spring for FB?
Since you’re reading this blog, does that mean I’m preaching to the choir? Maybe. Perhaps you’re connected via all the social media platforms, but your company or your boss doesn’t see the value it could provide toward future success. I might be able to help you fix that.
Let’s go back to The Artist analogy. Did you know that the movie is a silent film? The director, Michel Hazanavicius, decided that he needed to produce the film in the style in which it is about. He got an Academy Award nomination for his efforts. If you want to be rewarded for your efforts, you may need to talk in the language of the decision makers. Numbers and dollars can help. There are lots of resources available that detail who is on social media, their age, and their income. The numbers may surprise some people. Check out demographics on the Slide Share resource at the bottom of this entry.
Now for a “spoiler alert.” The movie did have a happy ending. An up-and-coming “talkie” actress mentors the silent actor, helping him identify what talents he had that would work in the new film industry. “Out with the old, in with the new” didn’t apply to everything the silent actor had to offer. Some tried and true traits of the past will translate into successful tools in today’s listening environment. If you are a younger professional, maybe you can mentor your boss or supervisor to help them succeed. It may be a great way to boost your career development.
And finally, one last lesson I learned from going to this movie: it’s never too late to try something new. I wasn’t really sure a silent movie would be able to hold my attention, despite the rave reviews and Academy Award nominations. My 86-year-old mother-in-law came with me to the show and shared the same concerns. It was a first for her too — which doesn’t happen often for someone who has lived as long as she has! We were both pleasantly surprised by the experience.
I hope you find the same positive experience by starting a new conversation with the PICPA. Is there anything you would like to know more about that I should cover in the future? Looking for marketing trends? PICPA programs and services to help market you and the CPA credential? Let me know, and I look forward to continuing our conversation.
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