The “Zig Ziglar” of Social Media Les Adkins Talks Social Media for Corporate Businesses

                                    It’s more than just buying their stuff. It’s a community, it’s about community, it’s about environment, it’s about sustainability and it just allows people to have a voice outside of buying or promoting these two companies. In contrast, if you look at Burger King and Pepsi, they actually had a big article a couple of years back that said social media is a big fail. If you look at what they did on social media, they did exactly the same thing on social media that they did with their television radio and then sat back and wondered why it failed.

                                    Companies that are embracing that social business strategy is so much more than selling your wares or selling your services are the ones that are getting the rewards from social media, social strategy and even a mobile strategy. Keep in mind, most people are finding companies now with their mobile devices. They don’t go to their desktop or the laptop to open up a website.

Craig:                  It’s just changing that fast too because it’s only been in the last few years that mobile technology and changing the websites to really be functional and readable as the phone technology changed has really taken off. We need to have phones that were a little bit easier to use and to navigate. Before, you could view the web for a long time but it didn’t make sense to really try to do anything with that first. Now, it’s pretty easy and lots of people, that’s the only way that they’re viewing these companies or interact. It’s just been easier for them.

                                    Where do you think this kind of speculating that … Do you see big changes coming in the future, anything kind of new on the horizon that you’re watching that you’re willing to share?

Les:                              Yeah. We’re watching several things. One of the things that … One of the statistics that came out of this last Mobility LIVE in 2014 this past week and it was the second one they’ve done is that by 2015, there will be more mobile devices on the planet than human beings.

                                    One of the big things too that they’re looking at, they’ve got the connected cars now that you can do everything in your car. You’ve got the wearables that are really trending and coming out … iPhone is coming out with the iWatch here … I think it’s called … I don’t even know if it’s called the iWatch but it’s a wearable that is actually going to be used from a perspective of people where they can actually not have their phone in their hand all the time and be notified by text that you have a call on what used to be a watch or a bracelet or things of that nature.

                                    The big trends that are coming around is more things that allow people to continue to be more mobile. You’re not tied to your desktop, you’re not tied to your laptop. If you look at the phones that are being created and developed, some of the phones have a lot more power than some laptops and desktops that are out there.

Craig:                  Yeah, I feel not to be cool, but people are updating their phones all the time as the technology changes faster than they are. They are not updating their laptop that’s still working, but maybe not the latest … The phone would be the latest.

                                    What is your ultimate vision for your company? What direction do you really feel like you want to focus on in the future?

Les:                              One of the big things that we have talked about and have seen … I come from a corporate background so I was in corporate America for over 30 plus years. Then when I started my business, I just did that … I called myself an accidental entrepreneur because I got to the point where people are saying, start a business and so I did.

                                    One of the big reasons why I was asked to start a business was because I understand both sides of the coin. I understand the goals and objectives from corporate America whether they’re a public company or whether a private company, their ultimate goals, and how they work.

                                    It’s a hundred year old culture that … You don’t change a hundred year old culture every night. There’s this entire new industry with all these startup entrepreneurs and millennials and people that are doing things completely differently and bypassing all the rules and regulations that corporate America had put in place to get ahead and be successful and to get their brand and get their customers and loyalty and things of that nature.

                                    Where I see our company, Orange SMS being a vital part in moving companies forward is being that gap in between that old culture and the new culture and showing both sides on how to meet in the middle and be successful.

Craig:                  That’s a unique place where you can really give a lot is to be that bridge in between, “Okay, I have 30 years experience on the corporate world, I truly understand how this is done but I’ve also continued my education and I have this experience with social media and I’m following this so I can bridge that knowledge for the people coming from that corporate background.” It makes sense to me. It’s definitely a need.

Neil Howe

Neil Howe is a 3-time #1 Best Selling Author, Online Media Strategist and business radio talk show host. He covers the most Innovative Business Leaders in Small and Local Business helping them share their stories with the world.