Over the past couple of days several popular bloggers are discussing the value of social media services like Twitter. They are asking themselves and others to evaluate their goals for the service and decide if it’s a marketing tool or a just social interaction. Or can it really be both?
The beauty of a service like Twitter is that it becomes what the community wants it to be. And like any community, as it grows, smaller groups and sub-communities separate themselves, mix, overlap, and continue to evolve. I think we’ll all be able to find the balance that works for us.
In her post, Social Marketing Pitfalls & The Twitter Time Suck, Lynn Terry’s definition of “social” explains exactly how I’ve tried to conduct myself in business all along; by being personable and not so personal. Lynn wrote,
“…But when it comes to marketing or networking, the word ’social’ pertains to being personable (vs personal), which – in my opinion – should be accomplished while still retaining an appearance of professionalism.”
It’s how I’d like to continue to conduct myself in the social media services.
But for others, online social media holds a much different appeal. In part, I think it’s just another aspect of a whole new communication era. Personal communication is becoming less and less private. The cell phone often makes at least one half of what used to be totally private conversations, public. Video cameras are everywhere and events that once might have been a temporary embarrassment witnessed by a few, can become a worldwide humiliation replayed over and over again. It’s a chicken and an egg question. Are our expectations of privacy so diminished that we’re willing to share more? Or has our willingness to share more led to the proliferation of opportunities to do so?
As others have suggested, we each need to define our social media goals and find a balance. While I wish I had done more planning before I started, I’m not sure I could have clearly defined what I wanted until I had some experience. I’ll approach the services differently now and hopefully find my balance.
Where do you stand? Are social media services marketing or socializing?
You make a great point, and I’m in agreement. I started out at Twitter to conduct a ‘case study’ with the intent of using it for an entire month (April) so that I could report in to my readers.
You do have to get your feet wet so to speak, to get a feel for it and then adjust accordingly.
I ended up loving it, and will continue using it – its an incredibly valuable tool. Both in what you can accomplish and what you can learn/receive.
You make a great point, and I’m in agreement. I started out at Twitter to conduct a ‘case study’ with the intent of using it for an entire month (April) so that I could report in to my readers.
You do have to get your feet wet so to speak, to get a feel for it and then adjust accordingly.
I ended up loving it, and will continue using it – its an incredibly valuable tool. Both in what you can accomplish and what you can learn/receive.
Being personable versus being personal is the KEY to your involvement when it comes to the social networking sites.
Specifically focusing on Twitter (although my advice also applies to any social networking site), a strategy that I teach my students and clients is to become known, liked and trusted by your industry’s thought leaders and opinion leaders FIRST and FOREMOST, because that way you’ll eventually have more “prospects” to become known, liked and trusted by.
To accomplish this you must join the conversations that these folks are involved in. (Twitter.com makes it super easy for you to be seen and read by your industry’s thought leaders and opinion leaders.)
The type of information you share with these folks will determine your level of knowledge, experience and expertise not to mention your reputation.
This, of course, is essential to your bottom line for your business.
Finding that “sweet spot” for you and your industry will vary but I encourage you to be mindful of what type of persona you are sharing with your peers and prospects.
In other words, answer this following question … What perception do you want others to have of you?
Once you’ve answered that, set out to accomplish it with EACH and EVERY message you send out.
Roy Montero, The SEO & Blog Guy (and now The Twitter Guy)
Follow Me On Twitter – http://Twitter.com/RoyMontero/
Being personable versus being personal is the KEY to your involvement when it comes to the social networking sites.
Specifically focusing on Twitter (although my advice also applies to any social networking site), a strategy that I teach my students and clients is to become known, liked and trusted by your industry’s thought leaders and opinion leaders FIRST and FOREMOST, because that way you’ll eventually have more “prospects” to become known, liked and trusted by.
To accomplish this you must join the conversations that these folks are involved in. (Twitter.com makes it super easy for you to be seen and read by your industry’s thought leaders and opinion leaders.)
The type of information you share with these folks will determine your level of knowledge, experience and expertise not to mention your reputation.
This, of course, is essential to your bottom line for your business.
Finding that “sweet spot” for you and your industry will vary but I encourage you to be mindful of what type of persona you are sharing with your peers and prospects.
In other words, answer this following question … What perception do you want others to have of you?
Once you’ve answered that, set out to accomplish it with EACH and EVERY message you send out.
Roy Montero, The SEO & Blog Guy (and now The Twitter Guy)
Follow Me On Twitter – http://Twitter.com/RoyMontero/
Good point, I agree it can be both marketing or socializing. At our company we use it to socialize, but we built a tool that allows you to track what people are saying and how trends evolve over time. Check it out:
http://twist.flaptor.com
For example, see how the trends for Myspace and Facebook compare, and what people write about them:
http://twist.flaptor.com/?gram=facebook%2C+myspace&submit=Show+trends
Good point, I agree it can be both marketing or socializing. At our company we use it to socialize, but we built a tool that allows you to track what people are saying and how trends evolve over time. Check it out:
http://twist.flaptor.com
For example, see how the trends for Myspace and Facebook compare, and what people write about them:
http://twist.flaptor.com/?gram=facebook%2C+myspace&submit=Show+trends
Lynn, I don’t love it yet, but I certainly like it a lot. I’m in the processing of “adjusting” and I think the “relationship” will grow into something more.
I am excited about the potential.
Roy, that’s a great question to keep in mind: “What perception do you want others to have of you?”
What a fun and useful tool Diego!
Thanks everyone!
Lynn, I don’t love it yet, but I certainly like it a lot. I’m in the processing of “adjusting” and I think the “relationship” will grow into something more.
I am excited about the potential.
Roy, that’s a great question to keep in mind: “What perception do you want others to have of you?”
What a fun and useful tool Diego!
Thanks everyone!
This is really good. I’m finding out more about twitter today and trying to implememnt some of it.
I do want to use it for my business, but I guess people would want to get to know me as a person too. I know I feel that way about other business owners.
This is really good. I’m finding out more about twitter today and trying to implememnt some of it.
I do want to use it for my business, but I guess people would want to get to know me as a person too. I know I feel that way about other business owners.