Is it time to rethink social media?
If you write web content, then chances are good that you’ve heard social media mentioned as a way to promote your web presence.
Liz Strauss‘s post, A Time to Check Social Media Return On Investment, captured my attention this week.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by social media. For one thing there are literally dozens of them. (If you’re looking for a list of social media sites and here’s one from Jane Copeland.)
When you hear out about a new social media site it’s hard to resist the urge to join it, just in case you’re missing out on something.
I know. I’ve been there.
The truth is that most of us (dare I say, all of us) can’t really be active on more than a few social media sites. Not every site is right for every person, either.
Social media is more effective when you put forth a concentrated effort on a site that meets your needs and goals.
How many social media sites do you use? How many sites do you really participate in?
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
9 responses so far ↓
1 Joanna Young // Jan 24, 2008 at
Hi Laura, I don’t think the party’s over, far from it… maybe just lots of different parties going on and we need to choose which one’s the most fun for us.
I like using stumbleupon, but mainly just as a way to review, bookmark and say thanks to others (as it sends me a lot of traffic), but beyond blogging the other main social media site I’m using is Twitter. It is seriously fun (and addictive) at the moment… maybe it’ll change in another few months, but just now I’d say it was a good place to be.
Darren Rowse has a very good post up this week on how he’s used twitter for blogging – worth checking out
Can I follow you there…?
Joanna
2 Laura // Jan 24, 2008 at
Hi Joanna,
So are Twitter and StumbleUpon your main social media sites?
3 Joanna Young // Jan 25, 2008 at
Yes, I’d say so.
They’re very different though – SU I often just stumble maybe one post a day, takes 20 seconds
Twitter sometimes I’ll be in and out a lot each day – it’s very addictive!
One other thing to mention, when I can make myself stay up (it’s hard ‘cos of the time zones) I like to go to Liz Strauss’ open mic nights – it’s the most sociable media of all of them, and has led to some good connections, conversations and friendships.
Joanna
4 --Deb // Jan 25, 2008 at
I’m still trying to figure out the social-networking thing. I mean, I’ve participated in forums for years–message boards about anything from knitting to reading to curly hair–but the concept of participating just to drive traffic my blog’s way is alien to me. And yet, I’m enjoying Stumbleupon a lot–both for the traffic and for the fun of finding new sites. It’s the mental shift from “fun” to “profit” (as it pertains to deliberate traffic, not $$) that I’m having trouble with (grin).
5 Laura // Jan 25, 2008 at
Hi Joanna!
I think the issue really is time. Liz’s post points it out and it’s true. Most days I have less than hour to spend on social media. Some days (like today), it’s less than 15 minutes.
Hi Deb!
I actually prefer message boards over things like Facebook. I’ve learned a lot from message boards.
6 Jagad Guru | Quotes| Alex // Jan 26, 2008 at
Hi, I am using onlywire.com to submit to many social media sites. It saves time….
7 Mihaela Lica // Jan 28, 2008 at
To be honest Laura, I read the news on several social media sites including digg, but I am active mostly on StumbleUpon. I find the people there (ignoring the trolls who are anyway everywhere) more friendly and ready to help. I am very selective, as you know. Choosing your friends online requires more skill than hosing them in the real life where at least you see the person and you know who you are dealing with.
I don’t see any reason to be extremly active in other networks. Stumble is everything I need.
8 Matt Keegan // Jan 29, 2008 at
Agreed! I think social media is over-hyped and takes away from what we need to do: earn a living.
StumbleUpon is my #1 social media tool, something I use more than all other resources combined.
I prefer to connect with people directly, as I am doing with you.
I’ve ignored Facebook because of what is involved in maintaining my presence, have let MySpace fade away, and I’m barely visible on LinkedIn.
9 laura // Jan 29, 2008 at
Hi!
Jagad Guru — I’m not familiar with onlywire.com. Is it an aggregator of some type?
Hi Mig and Matt! I think you both know that I’m already a StumbleUpon fan. I could go on and on about that — but I think that I already have in another post.