I went to the Got Social Media? conference yesterday. Some of the best and brightest were there, and some of the even better and brighter presented. It was an interesting conference, full of good-to-know information, new concepts, attention-capturing speakers, and excellent networking.
So why, after it is over, do I still say I haven't Got Social Media?
1. Whoops! Wrong class! I was looking for "101---Social Media for Dummies" and accidentally sat down in "102---Social Media for Those With a Clue"
Have you ever walked into a classroom, sat down, opened your notebook (or your NoteBook), tuned in to the Professor, found yourself a little baffled, looked around and saw everyone else was getting it...and then realized, whoops! Wrong class!
Okay maybe not but I'm sure you can sympathize.
I spent an entire semester in geology feeling that way and whoops! It was my class and whoops! It was one of my required courses for my degree. I freely admit I cried my way to a passing grade in that class. (And if that TA is reading now? Genuine tears. Swear. I really did try. Hard. And I did think you were Wicked Cool. No lies.)
I just kept staring at those rocks and they all looked like...rocks. I'd spend every single day with my TA staring at rocks. He'd try to help me get it---distinguish materials, become enthusiastic like he was---oh he'd try so hard. "Look at the striation on this, Julie, it's clearly a...." and I'd say, "Igneous," because eventually that was bound to be right, right? My TA would drop his head to his desk and laugh and cry. "That's a grouping, not a rock!"
Trust me, friends, it wasn't a tactic. It was honest stupidity. I could not wrap my mind around rocks. It was a classroom joke, but everyone knew how hard I tried and every single person helped. Final exam? Lots of coughing that sounded distinctly like "basalt," "pumice, "limestone," and "sandstone." A curse that sounded just like "schist." God love geologists.
So that's how I felt yesterday at the conference. Earnest speakers conveying important information, a crowd all open and understanding receiving it...and me. At each break I'd talk to the people, "Do you twitter?" I asked, hoping I had the verb right. Maybe it should be "use Twitter." I think so. I hate verbing nouns. ;) But do not ask technology people this question. They will look at you like you just said, "Igneous."
Each earnest and dedicated social media person tried to explain to me---in the two minutes or less that you can get one-on-one in a crowded room of very social people---how they used social media. The problem is that their explanations were all predicated on the assumption that I knew what social media was. I have a vague idea. It's sort of like pumice is an igneous rock, right?
(Do not say this aloud. People will then suspect you are dumb as a rock. ;)
Laura Mayes provided the best explanation...at the end of the conference, unfortunately. Also unfortunately, her presentation about what social media is and how women are a part of it was cut short because everything was running so late. I wish she'd gone earlier because then I might have started off understanding more.
I'm not anywhere near dumb as a rock and I have an idea of what social media is.
However, beyond, say, Twitter, I'm unaware of the tools, how they work, how to use them, and most importantly, why to use them. I have ethical questions and fear factors, and am obstinate against too much technology that gets in the way of human to human direct interaction. Plus, recall I am a Luddite.
2. I don't have the toys
I walked in to the room, chatted with a few people, and selected a seat. I opened my big bag of everything and pulled out a note pad and pen. RED FLAG! This is a girl who doesn't know her sandstone from her limestone. All around me? People whipped out laptops, blackberries and iPhones. There may have been others. I don't know. Those are all halite to me.
People powered up their social media tools and charged into the 'Net, to chat with friends via messaging. In a room full of people. Now, to everyone's credit? There was incessant talking, lots of socializing, and tons of friendliness. I observed no lack of speaking skills, and no talking in IM acronyms. That's a problem apparently limited to teens and rocket scientists (and you NASA people know what I mean here, right? With your SK3 and R2-D2 talk.)
I didn't feel the need to stream, live blog, or instant message, but if I had, I might have been exceedingly frustrated. I don't have the toys or the tools. I have a desktop computer. And the Emergency Mom Phone that lives in the car, or that I carry with me if I am out so sitters can reach me.
If I'm honest, I don't want to be in touch all the time. I have a cave and I'm not afraid to use it.
3. I don't have the reason (that I know of) (although I thought/think I did)
It may have been the WHOOPS! factor (being in 102 instead of 101) but I never got a good idea of how to use social media appropriately as a tool.
I walked into the conference as a business person (versus a personal person) of limited budget. I can't afford big advertising and marketing budgets. I can't even really afford the small ones. I know you need to spend money to make money (market and advertise) but the bulk of my money (and bulk makes it sound like so, so much---which isn't the case) goes to actually creating the product and running the business. Like most people, I seek inexpensive ways to advertise and market, and social media sounded like a great idea. I was eager to hear about it, get ideas about good ways to use it, and learn how I could use it for my business.
Unfortunately, I think I was the Rare Exception in the room. I don't have a brick and mortar store, I don't have a marketing budget in the tens to hundreds of thousands, and I'm not already hip to what social media is or how to use it.
Each point made me want to say: "Wait, wait, how do you do that? How do I do that? Should I do that?" And most frequently, "Hold on, what is that and how and why do you use it?"
Most importantly, "How do you have the time?"
4. I don't have the time
Building a social media network sounds suspiciously extremely time-consuming, as does maintaining it. It sounds great, but I still don't get it or how I will be able to incorporate it into my business.
I spend a lot of time building business contacts, but I'm not sure they use social media. If they do, is that their personal space or their professional space?
Because I work from home, I try to be really sensitive about personal versus professional space. Those lines have gotten really blurry and confusing lately, and it's a challenge for us all. But I think boundaries are important, and we have to respect them, or there could be repercussions.
I have a struggle juggling work, self, family and kids. I think most people do. So who am I online, for example? This is primarily my space, personal space. My FaceBook contacts are mainly blogging contacts, although some real life people have begun seeping in. This makes me a little...edgy.
That's because there are mores for both corporeal and online life, and online is so new and evolving that these unwritten accepted practices are hard to pick up sometimes.
5. What are the mores, anyway?
I think every conversation about emerging technology should include a discussion of ethics. I was impressed that each speaker touched on this in his or her own way.
Social media proponents seem convinced that it's an appropriate venue, but I'm not sure that all users are so convinced. I've seen people annihilated online for breaking social media social codes, which are a big mystery as far as I'm concerned, because the rules don't seem consistent in expectation or application.
One attendee shared several stories about calls to action (e.g., donate money, buy this, Digg that) she received via Twitter and how she responded to all of them.
Amazed, I couldn't help but interrupt the presentation and ask incredulously, "You mean someone Twittered you to go do this and you...just did, just went and did it?"
She assured me she did nothing blindly, only took requests from people she trusted and only complied for things she believed in. (I waited for Ed Schipul to yell out AMEN! for this---since it made his point for him---but he was apparently better behaved than I and remained seated and silent.)
When I pondered the sheer volume of people, pieces of data and information, as well as calls to action---whether your network is 100 or more, especially if you have more than one network---I felt a little faint. People take in and sift through all of that?
No wonder book sales are down.
During his presentation, Giovanni Gallucci mentioned a network of over 16,000. (Stephen Anderson had earlier distinguished friends from followers, which was fascinating to ponder, particularly considering I don't think it's such a clear line in all minds and hearts. This may need to be an entire post on its own.)
Amazed, again, I couldn't help but interrupt, again, and ask incredulously, "You mean you send a message to 16,000 people to go vote on Digg for a blog post of yours and they just go do it?"
The guy behind me, big DUH tone said, "Not 100%, just 5 to 10% of the people do."
Still, that's a huge number, and will land you posthaste front page of Digg.
My big Digg experience outside of daily annoyance in Boston was the time I titled a blog post Penis. I got thousands of visitors daily for a week at least---I still get referral traffic a year later!---and only got maybe 30 something votes (I admit I don't recall...it was a year ago.) I was so freaked out. Luckily the awesome Vernon Lun helped me out, accessed all my stats and checked into it for me and explained everything.
It was a year ago, then, that I began to see the potential---good and bad---of social media, at least for me personally. And yet...have I altered my behavior at all in that time? Not really.
So what if you only have a network of 100? That's a lot of people in my mind to keep up an active connection with. And will only net you 10 votes?
Does that make it a useless network?
And why are you connected after all?
How do you make it okay with people that you are there to manipulate and use them for your own ends, even if you are transparent about your motives?
My ethics antennae were tweaking madly at that point.
Each speaker spoke compelling about the need to use social media in marketing, advertising and public relation endeavors. I was convinced, but still feel edgy about it. This is because I consider social media to largely be personal space, and it requires building connections and trust. To me, building those for business reasons feels dishonest, at least.
And that's what I would be doing it for.
Ed Schipul, who was a very dynamic and engaging speaker, spoke about this in his presentation about social media and nonprofits. He spoke about honesty and transparency. He addressed how long calls to action can be sustained, and hinted at techniques and timing to sustain it.
I saw easily how social media is an excellent venue for creative non-profit fundraising. It's a win-win.
He even motivated a few ideas for my Web site.
When Giovanni Gallucci spoke about buzz and guerilla marketing in social media, I saw how social media is a great channel for edgy and techie business.
But what about me, my work? Writing, editing and our book?
Stephen Anderson's presentation was extremely useful and engaging. He provided many questions to ask.
I just need to find the answers. And the money to hire someone like him for my Web site. (Although am I ever shy about that, having been twice bitten by designers who took my money and did not design the site. I'm pretty wary of Web designers these days. I'll reach out and step back, fearful of committing any more money. So, my Web site lingers, incomplete, most pages simply taken down, and those left up not to my satisfaction.)
Chris Bernard's presentation about Web 3.0 was well-done and intriguing, what I got to see of it. I had to cut out to get the kids.
Steve Latham was completely over my head. ROI and something about the end of television, newspapers and magazines because all ad revenue is going online. Or maybe that's what I heard---frightened print person that I am---more than what he meant.
Kelsey Ruger was in my head. I mean that in a fascinating, not a creepy way, for the record.
I got quite a bit out of the conference, although not exactly the things I walked in hoping to learn.
At the end of the day, I still don't feel compelled to activate my Twitter account (or any others), probably because I'm still not sure how it is necessary or how I can use it. It sounds like a good thing, but I can barely keep up with all I've got going on right now.
Perhaps I need to take a step back.
Let me know when Social Media for Dummies comes up. I'll be there with my chert and obsidian bells on. I'll also buy Ed and Kelsey a coffee if they'll talk more to me about their topics.
(If you think I sound like a curmudgeon or Doubting Thomas...one speaker (can't recall who) had a slide flash up and away quickly, but it was touching on the failure points of social media and one bullet point was, "All these introverts." HELLO! How exciting to consider that a personality type could drag down an entire technological advance simply by doing...nothing. I feel very empowered. KIDDING! Introverts can have a sense of humor...and be friendly.)
Copyright 2007 Julie Pippert
Also blogging at:
Using My Words
Julie Pippert REVIEWS: Get a real opinion about BOOKS, MUSIC and MORE
Julie Pippert RECOMMENDS: A real opinion about HELPFUL and TIME-SAVING products
Moms Speak Up: Talking about the environment, dangerous imports, health care, food safety, media and marketing, education, politics and many other hot topics of concern.
So why, after it is over, do I still say I haven't Got Social Media?
1. Whoops! Wrong class! I was looking for "101---Social Media for Dummies" and accidentally sat down in "102---Social Media for Those With a Clue"
Have you ever walked into a classroom, sat down, opened your notebook (or your NoteBook), tuned in to the Professor, found yourself a little baffled, looked around and saw everyone else was getting it...and then realized, whoops! Wrong class!
Okay maybe not but I'm sure you can sympathize.
I spent an entire semester in geology feeling that way and whoops! It was my class and whoops! It was one of my required courses for my degree. I freely admit I cried my way to a passing grade in that class. (And if that TA is reading now? Genuine tears. Swear. I really did try. Hard. And I did think you were Wicked Cool. No lies.)
I just kept staring at those rocks and they all looked like...rocks. I'd spend every single day with my TA staring at rocks. He'd try to help me get it---distinguish materials, become enthusiastic like he was---oh he'd try so hard. "Look at the striation on this, Julie, it's clearly a...." and I'd say, "Igneous," because eventually that was bound to be right, right? My TA would drop his head to his desk and laugh and cry. "That's a grouping, not a rock!"
Trust me, friends, it wasn't a tactic. It was honest stupidity. I could not wrap my mind around rocks. It was a classroom joke, but everyone knew how hard I tried and every single person helped. Final exam? Lots of coughing that sounded distinctly like "basalt," "pumice, "limestone," and "sandstone." A curse that sounded just like "schist." God love geologists.
So that's how I felt yesterday at the conference. Earnest speakers conveying important information, a crowd all open and understanding receiving it...and me. At each break I'd talk to the people, "Do you twitter?" I asked, hoping I had the verb right. Maybe it should be "use Twitter." I think so. I hate verbing nouns. ;) But do not ask technology people this question. They will look at you like you just said, "Igneous."
Each earnest and dedicated social media person tried to explain to me---in the two minutes or less that you can get one-on-one in a crowded room of very social people---how they used social media. The problem is that their explanations were all predicated on the assumption that I knew what social media was. I have a vague idea. It's sort of like pumice is an igneous rock, right?
(Do not say this aloud. People will then suspect you are dumb as a rock. ;)
Laura Mayes provided the best explanation...at the end of the conference, unfortunately. Also unfortunately, her presentation about what social media is and how women are a part of it was cut short because everything was running so late. I wish she'd gone earlier because then I might have started off understanding more.
I'm not anywhere near dumb as a rock and I have an idea of what social media is.
However, beyond, say, Twitter, I'm unaware of the tools, how they work, how to use them, and most importantly, why to use them. I have ethical questions and fear factors, and am obstinate against too much technology that gets in the way of human to human direct interaction. Plus, recall I am a Luddite.
2. I don't have the toys
I walked in to the room, chatted with a few people, and selected a seat. I opened my big bag of everything and pulled out a note pad and pen. RED FLAG! This is a girl who doesn't know her sandstone from her limestone. All around me? People whipped out laptops, blackberries and iPhones. There may have been others. I don't know. Those are all halite to me.
People powered up their social media tools and charged into the 'Net, to chat with friends via messaging. In a room full of people. Now, to everyone's credit? There was incessant talking, lots of socializing, and tons of friendliness. I observed no lack of speaking skills, and no talking in IM acronyms. That's a problem apparently limited to teens and rocket scientists (and you NASA people know what I mean here, right? With your SK3 and R2-D2 talk.)
I didn't feel the need to stream, live blog, or instant message, but if I had, I might have been exceedingly frustrated. I don't have the toys or the tools. I have a desktop computer. And the Emergency Mom Phone that lives in the car, or that I carry with me if I am out so sitters can reach me.
If I'm honest, I don't want to be in touch all the time. I have a cave and I'm not afraid to use it.
3. I don't have the reason (that I know of) (although I thought/think I did)
It may have been the WHOOPS! factor (being in 102 instead of 101) but I never got a good idea of how to use social media appropriately as a tool.
I walked into the conference as a business person (versus a personal person) of limited budget. I can't afford big advertising and marketing budgets. I can't even really afford the small ones. I know you need to spend money to make money (market and advertise) but the bulk of my money (and bulk makes it sound like so, so much---which isn't the case) goes to actually creating the product and running the business. Like most people, I seek inexpensive ways to advertise and market, and social media sounded like a great idea. I was eager to hear about it, get ideas about good ways to use it, and learn how I could use it for my business.
Unfortunately, I think I was the Rare Exception in the room. I don't have a brick and mortar store, I don't have a marketing budget in the tens to hundreds of thousands, and I'm not already hip to what social media is or how to use it.
Each point made me want to say: "Wait, wait, how do you do that? How do I do that? Should I do that?" And most frequently, "Hold on, what is that and how and why do you use it?"
Most importantly, "How do you have the time?"
4. I don't have the time
Building a social media network sounds suspiciously extremely time-consuming, as does maintaining it. It sounds great, but I still don't get it or how I will be able to incorporate it into my business.
I spend a lot of time building business contacts, but I'm not sure they use social media. If they do, is that their personal space or their professional space?
Because I work from home, I try to be really sensitive about personal versus professional space. Those lines have gotten really blurry and confusing lately, and it's a challenge for us all. But I think boundaries are important, and we have to respect them, or there could be repercussions.
I have a struggle juggling work, self, family and kids. I think most people do. So who am I online, for example? This is primarily my space, personal space. My FaceBook contacts are mainly blogging contacts, although some real life people have begun seeping in. This makes me a little...edgy.
That's because there are mores for both corporeal and online life, and online is so new and evolving that these unwritten accepted practices are hard to pick up sometimes.
5. What are the mores, anyway?
I think every conversation about emerging technology should include a discussion of ethics. I was impressed that each speaker touched on this in his or her own way.
Social media proponents seem convinced that it's an appropriate venue, but I'm not sure that all users are so convinced. I've seen people annihilated online for breaking social media social codes, which are a big mystery as far as I'm concerned, because the rules don't seem consistent in expectation or application.
One attendee shared several stories about calls to action (e.g., donate money, buy this, Digg that) she received via Twitter and how she responded to all of them.
Amazed, I couldn't help but interrupt the presentation and ask incredulously, "You mean someone Twittered you to go do this and you...just did, just went and did it?"
She assured me she did nothing blindly, only took requests from people she trusted and only complied for things she believed in. (I waited for Ed Schipul to yell out AMEN! for this---since it made his point for him---but he was apparently better behaved than I and remained seated and silent.)
When I pondered the sheer volume of people, pieces of data and information, as well as calls to action---whether your network is 100 or more, especially if you have more than one network---I felt a little faint. People take in and sift through all of that?
No wonder book sales are down.
During his presentation, Giovanni Gallucci mentioned a network of over 16,000. (Stephen Anderson had earlier distinguished friends from followers, which was fascinating to ponder, particularly considering I don't think it's such a clear line in all minds and hearts. This may need to be an entire post on its own.)
Amazed, again, I couldn't help but interrupt, again, and ask incredulously, "You mean you send a message to 16,000 people to go vote on Digg for a blog post of yours and they just go do it?"
The guy behind me, big DUH tone said, "Not 100%, just 5 to 10% of the people do."
Still, that's a huge number, and will land you posthaste front page of Digg.
My big Digg experience outside of daily annoyance in Boston was the time I titled a blog post Penis. I got thousands of visitors daily for a week at least---I still get referral traffic a year later!---and only got maybe 30 something votes (I admit I don't recall...it was a year ago.) I was so freaked out. Luckily the awesome Vernon Lun helped me out, accessed all my stats and checked into it for me and explained everything.
It was a year ago, then, that I began to see the potential---good and bad---of social media, at least for me personally. And yet...have I altered my behavior at all in that time? Not really.
So what if you only have a network of 100? That's a lot of people in my mind to keep up an active connection with. And will only net you 10 votes?
Does that make it a useless network?
And why are you connected after all?
How do you make it okay with people that you are there to manipulate and use them for your own ends, even if you are transparent about your motives?
My ethics antennae were tweaking madly at that point.
Each speaker spoke compelling about the need to use social media in marketing, advertising and public relation endeavors. I was convinced, but still feel edgy about it. This is because I consider social media to largely be personal space, and it requires building connections and trust. To me, building those for business reasons feels dishonest, at least.
And that's what I would be doing it for.
Ed Schipul, who was a very dynamic and engaging speaker, spoke about this in his presentation about social media and nonprofits. He spoke about honesty and transparency. He addressed how long calls to action can be sustained, and hinted at techniques and timing to sustain it.
I saw easily how social media is an excellent venue for creative non-profit fundraising. It's a win-win.
He even motivated a few ideas for my Web site.
When Giovanni Gallucci spoke about buzz and guerilla marketing in social media, I saw how social media is a great channel for edgy and techie business.
But what about me, my work? Writing, editing and our book?
Stephen Anderson's presentation was extremely useful and engaging. He provided many questions to ask.
I just need to find the answers. And the money to hire someone like him for my Web site. (Although am I ever shy about that, having been twice bitten by designers who took my money and did not design the site. I'm pretty wary of Web designers these days. I'll reach out and step back, fearful of committing any more money. So, my Web site lingers, incomplete, most pages simply taken down, and those left up not to my satisfaction.)
Chris Bernard's presentation about Web 3.0 was well-done and intriguing, what I got to see of it. I had to cut out to get the kids.
Steve Latham was completely over my head. ROI and something about the end of television, newspapers and magazines because all ad revenue is going online. Or maybe that's what I heard---frightened print person that I am---more than what he meant.
Kelsey Ruger was in my head. I mean that in a fascinating, not a creepy way, for the record.
I got quite a bit out of the conference, although not exactly the things I walked in hoping to learn.
At the end of the day, I still don't feel compelled to activate my Twitter account (or any others), probably because I'm still not sure how it is necessary or how I can use it. It sounds like a good thing, but I can barely keep up with all I've got going on right now.
Perhaps I need to take a step back.
Let me know when Social Media for Dummies comes up. I'll be there with my chert and obsidian bells on. I'll also buy Ed and Kelsey a coffee if they'll talk more to me about their topics.
(If you think I sound like a curmudgeon or Doubting Thomas...one speaker (can't recall who) had a slide flash up and away quickly, but it was touching on the failure points of social media and one bullet point was, "All these introverts." HELLO! How exciting to consider that a personality type could drag down an entire technological advance simply by doing...nothing. I feel very empowered. KIDDING! Introverts can have a sense of humor...and be friendly.)
Copyright 2007 Julie Pippert
Also blogging at:
Using My Words
Julie Pippert REVIEWS: Get a real opinion about BOOKS, MUSIC and MORE
Julie Pippert RECOMMENDS: A real opinion about HELPFUL and TIME-SAVING products
Moms Speak Up: Talking about the environment, dangerous imports, health care, food safety, media and marketing, education, politics and many other hot topics of concern.
Comments
So, tell me: When do you make time for these articles you write? Do you research over days and plan them out? Do they just come in like the tide?
But I do value my network on the internet, as small as it is, because I have NO idea how far and wide that network stretches. I value that I can ask a question and get an answer. And I value that I can try and explain my life, and they try to get it, try to explain to others.
It's cool that way.
I think the usage of tools like Digg is pretty awesome in terms of getting information out. BUT, i think it becomes very limited if people do not deliberately expose themselves to counter points of view. I fill my reader up with all kinds of things so I have knowledge outside of my comfort zone. It is far too easy to be insular on the internet.
Goatse however, was something outside of my zone I could have lived without.
Good post. I'z thinking now.
But in terms of new media (which is slightly different from social media) taking over television, newspapers and radio, I totally agree. Everything is moving online and that is what the whole writer's strike is about. In the next few years the way an average consumer gets audio and video content will completely be changed. I never listen to the radio and always listen to podcasts and videos are going the same way. Being a geek helps me stay on top of these trends, but I only do it if it is fun. If it's not fun for you, don't bother and don't feel bad.
Um, I am socially inept at the internet as well. I pick selected blogs to follow and stick with that. I just don't have the time.
Can I say AY-men.
And the twittering just seems so...so...narciscisstic? Egoistic? Self-Centered? I will freely admit that I Don't Get
Twitter or mini-blogs or micro-blogs.
I use IM as a business tool; I telecommute, and am on IM all day long, chatting now & then with my boss and others. Yes, there's personal stuff, but mostly it's business stuff ("So-and-so called about getting a ton of blank emails from our MMS. Do you know what's going on?" "No, but let me take a look...").
I look at Twitter and I say: Good golly. You're going to TAKE THE TIME to actually THINK of something to write about often enough so that people will tweet back at you and *want* to listen to your ephemeral tweets? I have a mini-blog on TheGoodBlogs and haven't posted a darned thing on it in a year, because it intimidates me. I feel like something that is being broadcast needs to be...um...pithy. Witty. Something small but with lots of chewy meaty goodness. And I immediately dry up. Whereas most people use Twitter and mini-blogs and suchlike to just say, "Hey! My toes are itching! Do you toes itch all the time?!"
Which makes me blink.
I like blogs. I like debate boards. I like things where people can actually *discuss* things, rather than an endless internet cocktail party.
So call me a Luddite, too.
I follow the tweets of certain bloggers (none of my RL friends would have a clue what that is), I follow a few people on Digg (and digg an occasional article myself, usually after my husband has sent me an IM with a link & i find it interesting). I just joined del.icio.us in order to flag articles for some of the blogs and podcasts I follow (but that's mainly because it's less intimidating than sending an actual e-mail with a recommendation). I held out on joining MySpace until just two months ago, because I saw no need for it (I caved in order to connect with my old BBS friends).
But I don't actively build my network (sending friends requests, plastering my blog and Tumblr page with ways to follow me online), simply because it is impossible for me to fathom that anyone outside of my spouse would ever be that interested. Nor is it my inclination to share every thought I have or every activity I'm doing. It's just how I'm oriented.
All these inroverts, indeed.
But it sounds like an interesting conference.
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Thordora, in short, yes...
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Angela surprised me with the knowledge that my feed is truncated...not the plan, so will check on that...
And I ask...does marketing in social media trouble you? What does it make you think?
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SpaceMom, TLA ABR 4EV ;)
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OM, call you a Luddite! All things considered you know that goes against the grain LOL.
I asked a few attendees their ages and they got all huffy which means TWENTY SOMETHING because by my age we don't give a flying flip. Yeah I'm old STFW. Kiss my almost 40 year old a$$.
Internet is my ADULTHOOD, not my entire life. That might be a big factor.
I also left out the answer of "immediacy" on comments, which blew me away. Last I checked, "waiting" was not a fatal condition.
What's a mini and micro blog?
Do you remember me asking, "What's a blog?" only 3 years ago? of ANN? LOL
Anyway yes, all you said.
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Gwen, we can go sit in the Luddite section together. And pass handwritten notes to one another, because that's all twitter is, and without even all the cool origami folding techniques. Too bad.
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Mayberry, you're welcome. And I knwo what you mean.
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le35, I agree, obviously, that the Internet is a the coolest cafe in the world. Is all of it considered social media, though? Or just these new tools, such as Twitter?
And I am the only person in the world who thought flickr was just a place to post photos? WHO KNEW it was a social networking site????
My younger brother just disowned me. I feel it.
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Yolanda, see, that would more likely be my approach but I hear it's not set up to succeed that way (but again with...what's the goal?).
You can follow people on Digg? I thought it was a news sorting site???
Excellent input, thanks.
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Sounds like a totally overwhelming conference to me. I don't mind being pushed out of my comfort zone, but I need to start from a base of understanding.
Then again, I wondered what one would do with a personal website...who would be interested in all of my stuff?
So I'll sit in the back with you. I make a mean paper balloon. :)
Too bad I wasn't in class with you. Then at least two of us would have been looking around with vacant expressions.
Without getting into all of the intricacies of how it works, Digg users can follow each others activity on Digg: story submissions, stories dugg, comments posted, comments dugg. In general, it takes a large network of "friends" to get the stories you submit noticed and therefore promoted.
On another note, I recently stumbled onto sk*rt (http://www.sk-rt.com/), which is similar to Digg, but is targeted at a different crowd than the stereotypical college-aged geek boys which dominate Digg.
I have wondered about Twitter, but decided that since I'm not blogging for a living, I'm blogging for fun and the opportunity to self-express, having all the techno bells and whistles is kind of silly. I want to be able to correspond individually with my blog visitors, not accrue them like votes for Prom Queen. If no one read my blog, I would still write; maybe even write edgier stuff, thinking no one was looking!
Of course I don't have unlimited time to read all the tweets and have learned to skim REALLY FAST. But that's the beauty of Twitter, with 140 characters there's not that much to read anyway (but it's blocked from my work, so they know about the time wasting part).
And in terms of your question Julie about how I feel about marketing in social media? Doesn't bug me, there's going to be marketing everywhere you go. People that are constantly trying to plug something are easily dropped from my network. You ignore it just like you ignore billboards, newspaper ads and commercials.
And Flickr is a huge community!! People constantly post comments and even use it as their blog.
Twitter? Tweet? Digg?
WHAT??!!
No clue on any of this.
Ironic that considering we met just yesterday after I mentioned having "dugg" whurley's "7 Reasons" because he told me do, I actually found this blog post via Laura's site http://www.sk-rt.com! You've just benefited from "social media", yaay! I'll be sure to tag your entry.
Don't get me wrong - I didn't know what this "social media" buzzword was in December when Erica was trying to come up with a name for the conference. I'm just lucky that I'm forced to deal with the learning curve thanks to my technology rockstar friends.
I really wanted to tell you how much I appreciated you talking to me more after Ed's presentation to discuss my statements. When I got home last night, I asked my roommate if he was aware of marketing behind the whurley "7 Reasons". He didn't, but wasn't surprised because of the business aspect. Final point - today he showed me an article about whurley in "Computer World". I nonchalantly responded, "Oh, Giovanni mentioned that yesterday."
Also, you got it right... it was a barrage of information...like drinking from a firehose. Seriously.
And yeah, sadly, I really didn't do my presentation at all. Not enough time, so I completely ditched it and just talked at random (maybe too random) for a bit. So, if anyone's in the market for a neat, clean, never-been-used presentation, I'm happy to sell it (really cheap) on ebay to you (or hire an 18 yr old to make a video of it and put it up on youtube and then digg it and then get my 16K friends to vote for it and then get written up on Mashable and the NY Times and on Oprah. At least.)
Or, I'll just have coffee with you and dish. Because that would be fun.
And, as a writer, I must say I do like the brevity challenge of twitter. It's an interesting exercise to communicate something/tell a story in 140 characters or less. I use it for a little exercise to get my brain going in the morning...but tracking every little thing on it...well, that makes my brain melt.
But I do think this whole ethics of social networking on the internet is a fascinating topic. Maybe a good Hump Day Hmmm? Not that I am promising to write anything on it, but I would love to hear what others have to say.
my original thought was "I just ignore all the twitter stuff on the side of people's blogs" but apparently it is so much more than that.
hmmmm....
i think I best just stay in the dark. too much work, me thinks. Can I join you in your cave?
I keep wracking (sp?) my brain about ways I can move into that area for a career. Unfortunately, it almost feels too late.
I'm a fan of Steve Pavlina - I like his world-view and am frequently inspired by his writing - but even his stuff (I don't think he twitters or tweets or tinks he taw a putty tat) seems larger than me. Well, it is, in the sense that he's a six-figure blogger, but just the marketing stuff - purposefully titling articles to get hits, etc. (He doesn't name every one penis, but I heard that works!) is more than I even think about. I just write.
How many moms of young intense children were there? I figure I'll have plenty of time (and new technology to adjust to) to look into all that when my presence isn't needed so intently here. It'll be all different media by that point. Maybe my kids will teach me.
Hey, I was at the conference too. And I can see why you have these thoughts. Some of those people devote most of their waking hours to social media, though I don't think it's necessary to do all of that. I think that for many, there is a point of diminishing returns if you spend too much time doing the social media thing. That is, unless you're fanatical about it and just love it for its own sake.
One easy thing you can is use buttons at the end of your post where people can add your post to social media sites. A lot of people use this one. This way, other people do most of the work for you. If you write great content (and it looks like you do :) then people will want to share it on their own.
I don't think you have to be a total fanatic to properly use social media. A couple of the right things can really make a difference. I mainly use StumbleUpon and it's brought me some great traffic.
- John
Somehow I got roped into having lunch with our marketing director next week to "talk about social media." Like I've somehow become an expert. Oy.
I actually have accounts at several of those sites and I have no idea of their functions - book me up for a Dummies course also.
I even get told every day by Cre8buzz how much more unpopular I am every day... Its sad, I am flat out trying to fit my reading of favourites in to my life, let alone work out how I would want to get a whole bunch of strangers unwittingly in my life...