Monday, July 18, 2011

The Business Innovation Debate: Can It Be Too Much of a Good Thing?

Businesses are told that innovation is a must these days -- but can it be too much of a good thing? I was a guest contributor on Hearpreneur and weighed in on the topic of businesses and innovation: Is there such a thing as too much innovation for businesses? 

Yes, I think innovation is too much of a good thing, especially when it comes to technology (specifically social media). I help my clients with their social media marketing and there is one common thread I see when we work together: they feel overwhelmed with social media and are like deer steering into headlights. They are on technological overload and the supposed social media experts out there feed on business professionals' fears. They send out the message: if you want to liked and be an overnight sensation, then you aren't anybody if you don't use social media. This is dangerous as NOT every company, market or culture needs to use social media.  Technology (and social media) won't be going away anytime soon, but the attitudes and mindset towards tech/social media needs to change.

Social media is just a tool and there is NO way people can keep up with all the latest and greatest innovative internet technology that hits us on a daily basis. You do not have to be everything to everyone and although, I am a big supporter of social media tools/apps, social media is not the end-all, be-all answer to bail out a failing company/brand.

Businesses need to stop thinking in terms of instant gratification and realize that the next big innovation that Zuckerberg or Jobs puts out there on the market, while it may helpful, may just be your downfall. Companies need to return to the basics – the human touch – and take their online relationships and networks offline.

Check out the other answers on Hearpreneur. 

Do you think innovation is taken too far when it comes to business? 

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Therese Pope, Copywriter/Content Developer & Digital Buzz-icist

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