No, social is not going to save the world of marketing – no more than online, ambient, guerrilla or content did. Social is just a tactic (albeit a very good one). Unfortunately, marketers have a penchant for new tactics - many have jumped wholeheartedly into social without thinking it through, and many have paid a high price.

What will save marketing is refocusing on why your product deserves to live, and why consumers should care. Call it the brand, call it the essence, call it what you will. It’s the stuff that sets you apart from, and above the competition.

So how do you build an effective brand, and then use social to amplify it properly? That’s what I’m here to discuss.