An occasional series in which a review of recent posts on MyVenturePad reveals the following nuggets:

Social media what?
The tough part about social media at this stage is that companies don’t know what they want and they don’t know what to expect from working with a team, consultancy, agency, etc., in social media. They may ask for a strategy or for a “plan,” but what on earth does that mean?

Time to say goodbye
We fear change. It's tough to take a step out into a new world and leave the known behind. But that's exactly what companies have to do, if they want to continue to soar… Let your ugly babies go, gracefully and gratefully. Keeping them alive can cost you money, resources and ultimately, your business success.
—Rebel Brown: Is Your Baby Ugly?

Because it’s… hard
Entrepreneurs do it because it is hard. We don’t start businesses because it is the easy thing to do. We don’t do it because it is a get rich quick scheme. We do it because it is hard and as a result, we feel a sense of accomplishment that few can achieve. When we take our idea, and execute it, that feels good. But when a customer says our product solves their pain and pays us, that feels better.

Where is the love
When was the last time you heard someone talking about United Airlines with love in her voice? Amm -- never. Get someone into Virgin’s Upper Class and you will pay for the talking to stop… You get the point -- brands get to be lovemarks when you talk about the products they are and how they impact your life. What’s in common to all these brands we talk about? They have CEOs that think that branding is the job of the CEO, and not of the head of marketing. They know that a brand is a combination of product (first and foremost), marketing, customer service any many other attributes.

Now about those pitches
But the sad truth is that we're already a bunch of years into this social media PR thing and, if anything, the quality of the pitches I see might actually be getting worse. I receive far too many unsolicited, off-topic pitches with no customization -- and you'd probably be surprised if I told you the names of some of the worst offenders.

Are you sure you can handle it?
If the core business you have going is stable and mature, it can be a time to consider spreading your wings into new deals. It is not always a wise thing to do, but this is the point when taking moving your attention to something new makes the most sense… However, remember that your ability to spot a good deal and even to execute the startup has very little to do with your ability to manage an increasingly complex set of operations. That is what too many people fail to realize.

Remember to say…
Thank You is underrated and definitely underused. The opportunities you can tap with a value-added Thank You are many. Not to mention that it's just good relationship etiquette or that it'll make you feel good—if you do it sincerely. When's the last time you actually thanked your prospects for engaging with you? How about your customers?

Watch those metaphors
When we speak or write, we use metaphors constantly, without realizing it. They are powerful and insidious. And many have crept into everyday use that upon scrutiny are perhaps not what we really want to say. Sometimes the metaphors we develop reflect our deep unease with the subject. “Viral marketing” suggests something silent, hard to trace, and… bad for us.

Why social media
Even in these cost-conscious times, the moniker “trusted advisor” or “trusted brand” still holds value as customer relationship is the top priorities for many businesses. This is why social media became an attractive tool for companies now because it’s all about servicing the customers and optimizing client engagement. End users look to experts to guide them via the decision-making process of purchasing branded products and services.