Social Media Week Los Angeles 9-23-27 Interview with Drew Baldwin

I have often said that I began writing a blog because no one was listening at home. My blog gave me an avenue to socialize with other moms and be creative as well. I had the pleasure this week to Interview Drew Baldwin Executive Director of Social media Week LA. Drew took time out of his busy week to talk to the ARMY about Social Media and its impact on Marketing and Politics.

I asked Drew about the rend I had witnessed in the Mommy blogger community of Brand reaching out and want us to
become Ambassadors. My question was is this a trend across all blogs or is it more specific. Drew said that brand are becoming more interested in what used to be called "niche" marketing. Looking for specific groups that were more likely to be in your demographic. He said that now it has become a "enthusiasts" market. Brands are looking to market to people who already like or are part of their demographic. for example. Mommy blogs would be diaper enthusiasts. Not to say that we like changing diapers but we moms are the experts and we look to other experts for their opinions. Today we don't just buy something we see. We Google it. Read blog reviews of it. Watch YouTube demonstrations of it and then ask our friends or communities on Facebook about it.

Brands need to be much more aware of what the blogs and Vlogs are saying about their products because a commercial lasts 30 seconds a blog is forever. Enthusiasts have clout. Brands want to borrow that clout for their products.


Next I asked about whether Social media ultimately brings us together from farther away or it allows us to cocoon and isolate like never before. Drew said that social media makes us want to connect face to face. he gave this example.
Drew:"Michelle, in your years as a mommy blogger have you met many people online?"
Me: "Yes a ton."
Drew: "Have you since met any of your online friends in person?"
Me: "Yes quite a few."
Drew: "When Social media does a physical event it makes people want to meet face to face. They fly from all over to meet their friend in person. Social media gives everyone the opportunity to be like a celebrity. Or to even become a celebrity in their own right."

Then I switched to politics. In the last election social media played an unprecedented part in the election. Do you think that it will play the same roll in the 2014 mid term elections or do you think it will evolve? ( Crazy that I know that kind of stuff huh?) . Drew's response was very enlightening. He said  " The last election taught us not to dismiss new ways of reaching people." He gave me this link to see what President Obama's 2012 Digital campaign director had to say about it on Monday. click here.

Finally I asked him if he believed that we the people would use Social media to hold our elected representatives more responsible to their electorate. He thought about it a moment and said that he believed that as our representatives engaged more in social media we the people would begin to feel that our voice was more heard and that that would be good for everyone. We both agreed that Washington could do with a little more engagement with the people.

I thank Drew for his input on this developing media. If you are interested in more about Social Media Week LA click here.