Dynamics Profile: As social media use grows for Microsoft Dynamics, one early adopter leads by example

When you are early to spot a trend that has moved as quickly as social media, you may be treated to an interesting vantage point as others catch up.  For Jon Rivers, partner channel manager at EDI solution provider Data Masons, the growth in social media adoption around the Microsoft Dynamics community over the last year has exceeded even what he, as an early adopter, would have expected.

Social media for its own sake is not Rivers's primary interest.  He sees the value it can serve in various relationships and situations - building community among users; opening up relationships between ISVs and resellers; building goodwill between Microsoft and its ecosystem, or between Microsoft and prospective software buyers; and helping individuals market their personal brands. And increased social activity has impacted conversation around the community for the better, he feels. As an example, Rivers says he has been answering more and better questions when exhibiting at events in the last year (i.e., less "trinket collectors" visiting booths), and meeting more educated prospective buyers overall. He adds to the conversation on Twitter on nearly any business day.

"My reason for being in social media, as an ISV who works just with the Dynamics products, is that I'm trying to make sure that there is more awareness of Dynamics," says Rivers. "The more opportunity for my company to sell our products - that's just one interest for me and my role.  But in the end we need the whole community to come together, to gel the whole ecosystem together."