The PostSecret blog to date has been visited by 219,596,298 online viewers. The blog was started by a man named Frank Warren in 2005. Warren invites others to mail their secrets on postcards to him at his home. He then chooses a collection of them to post to his blog site weekly. The site has been a huge success and has spurred the publication of four books, tours around the country, and even spin off sites in France and Germany.
PostSecret's success can be attributed largely to the use of social media. Warren has used different social media sites in order to proliferate the site. In an interview with Mixergy's founder Andrew Warner, Frank Warren explains how he uses different social media outlets to spread the PostSecret movement. Warren states that it is important to find each social media's strengths or "viral mechanism". By tapping into these strengths Warren has built a huge online following. He has assigned specific goals to each different social media site. For example, Warren uses Facebook to spread information about upcoming tours and events. In addition, he uses YouTube to viralize videos about the site. Warren stresses the importance of creating new content on all social media sites in order to grow a movement.
Andrew Warner, after interviewing Frank Warren, concluded that unless an organization has a purpose that attracts others, the use of social media components will not necessarily effect growth or success.
Do you agree with Andrew Warner that a purpose is essential to the success of a movement or is social media support substantial enough to create success on its own?
