Et tu, FedEx?

It can be difficult to explain the impact and potential...uh...er...good...social media can do for a company, especially to those that don't work with social media in a business sense. (See? Even that opening sentence was difficult to word!)

I came across this ad from FedEx a few months ago and it seemed to tap into a lot of the frustrations that come with convincing others of the value of social media.

Nice ad, right? I really do like it. But allow me to describe the highs and lows I felt while viewing this commercial for the first time:

• Hope: During the opening scene, the "leader" states a recognition of the contribution social media can have toward growing the company.
• Wind out of sails: The "leader" then states that his teenage son would be in charge of the social media effort, reducing social media to child's play.
• Salt in wound:The final portion of the ad references a hokey online contest, which is apparently social media's biggest strength.

The blows soften a little bit with each viewing. I know the shot-callers at FedEx (and their ad agency) don't truly have such a belittling view of social media. After all, I first saw this ad via a link on Twitter! To borrow a hokey social media phrase, well played! Do you have any tips you rely on for explaining the importance of social media for your company? Or do you feel like Tom Wychowski explaining his people skills when attempting this task?  Let me know in the comments section!

Thanks for stopping by!