The Positive Side of Social Media Use

Much has been said about the good and bad side of social media use. Social media and its tools are not the actual culprits by themselves. Many people have admittedly misused and abused them for personal gain or satisfaction. Nothing can be more frustrating to those who wish to legitimately participate in it. That is why it is such a refreshing treat to hear the other side of the story – the positive side of Social Media use.

Image Source: flickr/Bookworm Laser and Design

Last Saturday, I got the opportunity to attend the Saddleback Social Media Summit which was held at Seda Hotel in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa City in Laguna. The summit’s theme was “The Rise of Purpose Driven Social Brands”. The speakers gave their respective take on how social media users can create a brand to build reputation, productivity, customer sales, and social impact.

The Speakers

Image Source: Saddleback Manila

Janette Toral

Janette has been an active promoter of E-Commerce in the Philippines since 1997. In the process, she uses her talents, skills, and expertise to educate the community and the industry for the purpose of creating opportunities for growth. She strongly advocates the adaption of the “Hero’s Journey” in establishing a purpose driven brand as an individual or entity. In essence, this process will require those who take the challenge to answer the call to adventure, go through a series of trials, achieve the goal after the trials, return to regular life, and provide the benefit to the community.

Genesis Reonico

Genesis is a certified Blog and Social Media Entrepreneur. He founded OnlineJobsUniversity.com specifically to help and guide individuals who wish to do legitimate online jobs. He believes that one can have a unique purpose driven social brand by addressing the four major P’s including Person, Purpose, Process and Passion.

Ben Francia

Ben is an Internet Marketing Consultant and Life Coach who has established his expertise in Digital Marketing by virtue of his 14 years actual experience in the online industry. He uses his previous experience as a religious monk and missionary to motivate attitude as well as inspire and empower his audience. He says that one has to have presence in social media. He shared some of the practices that helped him succeed in his online goals which include teaching, using video, reaching out to influencers, going mobile, facilitating offline integration, and sharing awesome value through content.

Social Media for Churches

Image Source: Saddleback Manila

Churches have now realized that they can put social media to good use in accomplishing goals and realizing the vision they have set their eyes and hearts on. Saddleback Church which was founded by Pastor Rick Warren, knows this too well thus the creation of the Saddleback Social Media Summit Event. Pastor Warren is more popular to us as the author of the best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life”. Participants who were included in the Church group also had the chance to listen to Haley Veturis, the Social Media Manager for Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California.

Clearly, no one and no organization can afford to be left behind in social media.

My Say

If there is one thing that I learned from attending this event, it is that each one of us is given that chance to use the space we occupy online for something good. In that spirit, I would like to resound off the earlier call of Ms. Janette Toral to help vlogger Randolph Novino in the financial requirements to make him well again. For details of his condition and how to donate, please see this link.