Greetings Blog Family,
Believe it or not there are still thousands and thousands of people that still think social networking is for children. I would caution those people to pump the breaks and consider the phenomenon that is social media.
I Started anti-social network
Like most people, my first thought of social media and social networking was MySpace. This was the first real mega site that had social media platform as it base. And upon first introduction, I was amazed. It was pretty cool with all the features that was available. Tom, everyone’s first friend, was the man. The trend of MySpace was booming. My friends and family where creating pages and communicating. Everything was great.
Then something happened. I cannot be certain what it was, but I found myself going to MySpace less and less. Soon, I didn’t even care about it at all. Could have been the million and one half dressed girls trying to get a friend request, or the 70 promoters per day posting announcements and singing acts on your page. I had enough of it and didn’t want anything to do with it. This made me very anti-social networking
Resistance Is Futile
Despite my best efforts, social networking continued to penetrate my life. It was everywhere, but when I heard about President Obama using this Twitter for campaigning, I had to do some investigating. And once you get a whiff of Twitter, you are usually hooked.
It happened to me. Twitter got me hooked. I starting meeting some wonderful people and interacting with them on a micro-blogging level. I like to think of it as delayed messaging. It is great how you can build relationships 140 characters at a time, but it happens everyday. It was great.
Getting Involved
I embraced Twitter and today find myself dusting off my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts as well. I figure that resistance to this social phenomenon is futile. It is everywhere and growing. Besides, the upsides are tremendous for entrepreneurs, but you cannot see that until you put down your guard and get involved.
Think about it. This is an opportunity for you to develop of network of people that are familiar and comfortable with you. Increasing your brand or name awareness. This is valuable once you learn how to turn this awareness into value, thus earning from it…., but that is another conversation.
Bottom Line: SOCIAL NETWORKING IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
This is not your teenagers social networking. This is social networking for the 21st century entrepreneur. The time is now for you to get involved. Yes, there is a learning curve, but it isn’t as big as you think it is.
Over the next few weeks, we will be discussion many different ideas about social networking and how to implement it into your business for fun and profit.
Do you have social networking accounts?
If yes, then be sure link up with me on my social networking sites. Let’s get connected.
Social networking is a must in blog promotion now a day. I couldn’t get your Facebook page to pull up – this is my Facebook.
~ Kristi
Kikolani | Blogging, Poetry, Photographys last blog post..Twitter Photo Mosaic
I don't deny social networking is important but let's take a look at Twitter. I'm having a hard time trying to follow those tweets now when I'm only following 300+ and I wonder how the hell could one manage it with 10K followers.
I figure it all comes back to credibility. An average Joe is more invisible than a John Chow. Yes? No?
Anyway, that's just me. I still love Twitter though but I keep my obsession in check.
That is so true and it is crazy trying to follow so many people. I have less than 300 people I follow and find it very difficult as well. I know there are Twitter apps that can help you with that, but I haven't gotten all the way in as well. I try to keep my obsession in check like you.
Just don't start mobile Tweeting and think you will be fine.
Mobile tweeting? No, thanks. I'll keep that in mind. Hey, let's talk sometimes on what you do with those niche sites. I've been focusing on building niche sites for the last couple of months now. One of those is on the url.
Probably it's good idea we share a thing or two.
Yan
Promoting your blog without social networking can be really hard. Ant twitter is simply amazing – I just can't remember how I was able to live my life without it.
LOL! You are so right. Social networking is where it is at. You have to love anything that will allow you to market your business for free. Crazy everyone isn't on this stuff yet, but what can you do? I know how you feel about Twitter. I am crazy addicted, making new relationships, and building my network and business.
MySpace was just passed by Facebook in traffic but both are frustrating to me. They seem like more trouble that they are worth with the silly apps and everything. Like you I thought that was all there was to social networking for a long time. Now I'm excited about the potential of social networking. It is time consuming but it can be a fun way of working. I think the hard part is going to be avoiding addiction for a lot of us. I know a few people that don't own a website yet stay on those sites all day long. Like you and Yan I love Twitter yet keep it small. I'm new to actually using it but I have limited time for it. In fact, that's how I found this post – a tweet from Ben Tremblay
Funny thing, I saw this link go through my Twitter stream and that is how I ended up here.
The lesson we can learn from teenagers about social networking is that they know to actually talk to each other and not just throw ads and links. Having a teenage girl and watching her and her friends, those kids have some adults beat.
I'll be checking back in to see how your Twitter Addiction goes
Sheryl, that is so true. Thank you for sharing. I don't have a teenager in the house, but can only imagine as I see them on those cell phones talking and communicating. It is something special to see.
But you are right with the interaction. You have to build a relationship with people through conversation and interaction, not just links to your sites. I have seen some people be very success with sending links to relevant resources and tips that are not just theirs.
For example @BloggingTips on Twitter does this. He sends out link after link of articles and resources that he has found on the Internet that will help his following. This has created quite a stream of trust from his followers because they know that he has their best interest at heart. It is a good strategy to first seek to help others be the best they can.
Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to building with you!
Glad you found the site and Ben Tremblay, or Froggy as I call him, is an awesome guy. He is someone to model social networking use if you are interested. He is doing well via this medium.
Yes, you have to be careful with social networking as it can be very time consuming, but that time is worth it if you are building solid connections with people that can take your efforts to the next level. There is no doubt that you cannot reach everyone in the world alone, but via social networks it is possible, just have to get people on your side.
As for the Apps and all the junk on Facebook, I don't mess with any of that. I just network and follow up with connections that I am making and try to keep it moving.
There are some very good software and sites that you can use to make social networking more effective and less time consuming. I will share those in a future post for everyone to see and share their resources.
Good to meet you and hope to interact much more with you.
Yeah its no longer the hide your business in your box days anymore..
LOL, well put!
A lot of people liked Twitter because of its simplicity but it drives serious traffic to ones website.
I'm not a big fan of twitter any more, but it obviously works for some people.