I wrote this because I was questioned about the relative impact of changing a twitter icon to say STOP SOPA.
Why would anyone want to change their icon to support something they believe in? It is perhaps as fundamental a question as “Why does someone blog?” or “Why does someone use social media?”
Symbols can be just as much of a hueristic or a call to action as the written word. If you have the ability to create a question, let a follower know where you stand, aren’t you saying something? Aren’t you taking a stand yourself - even to a sympathetic audience. Brands count on them. Ask Coca-Cola or McDonalds!
I was questioned by both @ChrisBrogan and @JustinMWhitaker about this very notion.
To say that a visual doesn’t say as much or have as much impact as the written word is a silly assumption. It might be the incentive to to read, to find out more, to remember.
To assume that all of your followers are sympathetic is also very possibly a silly notion. (Personally, I hope I have as many people that may disagree with me follow me as those that agree - I’m happy to have people think - regardless of which side of the fence they fall to.)
Telling your followers that you support something can also serve as a call to action themselves. Perhaps it may even incent them to do something more. Think about it more, reason it out, and perhaps become more actively involved.
Isn’t that one of the foundations of social media? To incent a reader to action?
Isn’t that why there are millions of share icons all over the web? What’s the difference?
[EDIT] @Chrisbrogan read this post and did change his icon. Thanks Chris! I have asked several other Social Media Marketing experts including Chris Pirillo and many of them have. Still waiting on you Chris!!!
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johnstack posted this
