Social Media icons. 65 Bookmarks and Social Icons. © iniwoo.net
MY FACEBOOK ANNIVERSARY
When I first signed up with facebook a few years ago this month, I was gung ho. I wanted to be up there with the superstars batting 5,000 and having to get a fan page because there was no more room on my personal page. Well the names are not the only things that have changed since then.
‘Personal pages’ are now called ‘profiles’ and ‘fan pages’ became ‘LIKE’ business pages. They are now just referred to as ‘pages’. In an effort to comprehend even the most superficial of the latest facebook changes, timelines, page covers, no more choosing the default page, etc., I have attended webinars, read numerous blog posts and spoken to colleagues.
WHO CARES IF YOU ‘LIKE’ ME
During a fact filled webinar hosted by social media diva, Amy Porterfield, I got some real gems in addition to the big boulders of info. She emphasized the importance of users stopping focusing on the almighty ‘LIKE’ and indicated what was more important.
That really got me thinking about ‘SOCIAL’ media as a whole. We have reduced this term to a single hashtag, #socialmedia. I think this is a mistake. It is no coincidence that the term SOCIAL is put before the word media as two words. Internet media is distinguished from other types of media by the single adjective SOCIAL. Why does this matter? I thought about it and have concluded the following.
SOCIAL Media
Using SOCIAL Media correctly involves a three step process. All these steps apply to the myriad of online technological applications:
ONE: Introduction
The purpose of SOCIAL media is to introduce ourselves to others both as individuals and as business people, to begin to get to know each other, to interact.
TWO: Engagement
The way we get to interact is by engaging in conversation. A conversation is NOT ‘post and run’ or ‘LIKE’ me and I will ‘LIKE’ you. I see these so often it frustrates me to tears. A conversation, discussion or interaction is, for example, about my providing information of value, asking others what they think about it and getting responses. It is about starting a CONVERSATION, in other words, providing an opening for there to be one.
THREE: Relationship
Engaging in repeated conversations even limited to 120 characters (leaving room for re-tweeting) can start and lead to a relationship. The chances of meeting unlimited numbers of people on the Internet that we have interests in common with are staggering. The relationships that can form are real and rewarding.
JUST REMEMBER THIS
Whether it is in-person or virtually, it is human nature to connect, and want to connect with others, especially folks with things in common (tribes). SOCIAL media makes this possible like no other tool of communication has done during any other time in recorded history. To be social on the Internet, just remember, it’s as simple as one, two, three.
AUTHOR
Alison Gilbert is the Digital Age Storyteller. She is a regular contributing author to DBME, writes The Marketing Byte Blog and is The New York Graphic Design Examiner. Alison is the owner of MARKETING BYTES Solutions 4 Local Biz. Located on Long Island, New York, MARKETING BYTES serves clients virtually everywhere.
Their boutique style – very personal service – hybrid company specializes in helping local/small biz generate sales leads by transitioning from traditional advertising to online marketing. Contact MARKETING BYTES at info@marketingbytes.biz or call 516-665-9034 ET
SOURCES
Thanks for bringing us back to the purpose of social media. To be social. To meet and engage. To talk and learn. To connect with like-minded people.
Great article, Alison!
Craig
Thank you, Craig. That one just sort of hit me over the head, I mean the word SOCIAL. If the technology was just meant for business then it would have been called BUSINESS media. But it was not and it is not.
Only the ‘Fuller brush man’ would be so bold as to cold call to get business. Now a days, it is all SOCIAL, Tupperware parties, jewelry parties, cookware parties. The emphasis is on SOCIAL and then BUSINESS.
The fact that Pinterest got more interest than twitter recently certainly says something major about people wanting to engage, be entertained, and relate. An image is worth more than 120 to 140 characters!
I agree with Craig. Another great article from a great DBMEi author!
Thank you Joy. Coming from you (and Craig) I consider your comment quite a compliment as I think you are both terrific writers. I just need to learn still how to get the word out so others know when I post. I still forget to do that and then when I remember, it is Saturday afternoon towards eve and no one is interested in readying blog posts. Or are they?
For anyone who has become as fascinated with Pinterest as I have, there is a secret to making the most of it when you want to pin a blog post image link to a board. I would like to see if anyone can tell me what it is. Do you know? I learned that hard way.
For anyone who has become as fascinated with Pinterest as I have, there is a secret to making the most of it when you want to pin a blog post image link to a board. I would like to see if anyone can tell me what it is. Do you know? I learned that hard way.