8 Social Media Lessons I Learned From Playing With Lego

As a kid, one of the favorite “go to” toys for my brothers and me was our big box of Lego. Now remember, this was back in the day before Lego came out with elaborate theme based sets. Mostly we had a variety of building blocks, and eventually a few sets of wheels to make vehicles. But when we were bored, especially on a rainy day where we were stuck inside, we would pull out that box and let our creativity go wild.

Here are 8 Social Media lessons we can learn from this wonderful toy that has been around for more than 60 years:

1. Mix and Match -The beauty of Lego is that the blocks I’ve had for 40+ years will work with the blocks my kids have. And every time I try to build something, it is different. I choose different blocks, different colors, and can mix and match any of them to create the final product. In the same way, Social Media is about finding the right tools and platforms and using them to create an overall digital presence. If you build with nothing but the same type of brick, you have a boring end product.

2. Adaptability -One of the reasons Lego has stayed so popular and has created its own subculture is because of its adaptability. As times have changed, the product has been upgraded, changed, and enhanced. The ability to adapt over time is crucial to any Social Media plan. You need to be able to move on your feet and advance with the times. What works today might not work tomorrow.

3. Limitless -With Lego, you’re only limited by your ability to be creative. No matter how many bricks I have, I’ll end up building the same basic things: buildings, cars, etc. Rather basic, but in the hands of an artist, you’d be amazed at what can be done. The video below is evidence of that. And Social Media is the same way. If you can imagine it, it probably can be done. As Paul Chaney says, Social Media is both a tool-set and a mindset. Don’t let the tools limit what your mind can do. Instead, let your mind create things out of the tools that others never thought possible.

4. Large or Small – Regardless of what you want, it can be built. If you only want that small simple house, you can do it. But if you desire something grand and amazing, you can do that as well. Social Media can be used for any size business. Home Depot, Dell, and Comcast all use Social Media really well. But so do small businesses in your local community.

5. Don’t be confined by templates – When my kids got into Lego they received all sorts of Star Wars sets and other sets that came with step-by-step instructions on how to build them so that they looked like the picture on the box. But as cool as they were, my kids were able to take them apart and change them around. In Social Media, there is no one-size fits all template. Every business is different and every situation is different. In some ways that makes it harder on us marketers, but it also keeps us honest.

6. Full integration is possible – I mentioned earlier how any block can fit with any other block. I could borrow your blocks and they’d fit perfectly with mine. With Social Media, don’t think about Twitter, Facebook, your website, your blog…or any other platform…as separate entities. Think of all of your digital properties as a fully integrated whole. The sooner you do that, the sooner you’ll be able to experience the power of Social Media.

7. Teamwork – Sure Lego can be hours of fun for anyone, but I remember it being more fun when I got to work with my brothers or a friend on something. We would collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other. Social Media is the same. It works best when it’s in the hands of multiple people who can work together, share ideas, and combine their creativity.

8. It’s fun! – Every time we played with Lego we had a different experience. And we had a ball. Even if I were to pull out the Lego today, I’d still have fun. Social Media doesn’t have to be a chore. Sure, it can be a challenge, but when you’re building community and engaging others…you have fun. So enjoy it!

Do you see any other applications? And do you have any great Lego memories?

Tagged as: facebook, Home Depot, Lego, Marketing, Paul Chaney, Social Media