Article by Wendy McCance
Have you noticed that social media has exploded? There used to be a few sites to choose from to connect with other individuals. That was it. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn were popular choices. If you wanted to share inspiring photos, you might sign up under Flickr or Pintrest. If you decided to blog, you would choose between Tumblr, Blogger or WordPress.
Those were the days. A few options here or there and fantastic opportunities to reach out and connect with other people.
Those days are long gone. There are new social media sites popping up every day. There are so many sites that I just can’t keep track of them all anymore.
This has become a problem for many people who want to gain a bigger social media influence. The more places you are, the more familiar you become to others. Thus, the higher your social media score becomes according to Klout or Peek Analytics or Google Analytics or Alexa. Whew.
The new kids on the block are the sites that will handle all of your social media accounts for you. If you want to stay relevant on Twitter, you can sign up at GaggleAmp or Commun.it. These sites will take some of the work out of organizing your tweets.
You can sign up for accounts like Buffer that will schedule when to send out information to a variety of sites. Using Buffer creates the illusion that you are sitting on these sites all day commenting and sharing information.
My point in bringing all of this up is that I am over it. I wish for the days when people were actually present and actual connections were truly made. Sure retweets and sharing material is fabulous, but I am noticing more and more that these sites are emptying out. The real people are gone and have been replaced by a robot that throws information out into the world on a schedule.
It’s sad that sites like Klout have made people so paranoid of a score that they have gone overboard, burning themselves out by touching on every platform they can get their hands on just to show a presence.
The reality is that people are losing touch with each other. For example, liking a Facebook page has such little relevance these days. Back in the day, a like meant what it said. You like the information provided or the company behind the information. Now you are told to like a page if you want something whether it be a discount or access to a site. Likes have very little meaning other than showing your power of persuasion over another individual.
I have a Facebook page and hope that those who stop by and like the page do so because they genuinely like what information I provide. How do you know if you are hitting the mark if you aren’t sure why someone is liking your page in the first place? That is why I don’t offer anything for a like on a page. I want to keep my site genuine. I need to know if what I provide is of value to those stopping by.
I have decided to scale back. I had joined the hype and tried to get on every new platform I could find. These days, I am more interested in quality connections and finding value in the sites I decide to visit.
What about you? Are you feeling overloaded with the vast amount of social media options that are out there? Do you see true connections dwindling as these
maintainance sites take over to do the work for you? Let me know what you think about this subject. I’d love to know.
Wendy McCance
To contact Wendy McCance about a writing assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]
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I know exactly how you feel. I was starting to feel overwhelmed with all of the social media outlets, since there was no way for me to keep up with all of my accounts and actually get some work done. I still think that the most effective connections with people are made face to face. Now, I primarily use social media as a marketing and branding tool.
Thanks so much for your comment. I think that’s the trick. You just need to figure out what you are looking to get out of using social media and stay focused.
Wendy - you are so right on on this post. There is something called “over sharing” in which it can seem that “robots” are taking over. I believe in connecting with people through these social media sites. People who share content because they feel it is relevant is so much more promising than just sharing to share.
It’s a tricky thing to share relevant information and to not get caught up in plastering your stuff everywhere just to have it there. It’s definitely something I have had to watch as I got caught up in the world of social media.
I have one word…aaaaaaarrrgggghhhh!! Not very helpful, but you get the gist. Quality definitely, every time
Definitely!!
I rarely use Twitter, Facebook only a few times a week so in short I agree with you
Totally agree, Wendy, it gets daunting and a bit overwhelming.
Thanks, Harold. I agree!
I am with you Wendy. I tend to be one of those really honest people that if I like something I really do like it if I don’t I won’t lie. I know that Social Media is huge. I am just getting ready to start Blogging /Writing & w/all of this stuff that is out here I feel a like A Stranger In A Strange Land. I have not quite made it in to the 21st century as this is my 1st computer in life that I have only had for just over a year. That is a start. I’m about ready to go. I don’t intend to compete with robots. If people are just looking for more of the same stuff they won’t get it from what I write. Oh it will be for real honest as well as inspirational not something that you can get from a robot. Something that comes from the heart and soul of a writer.
Keep up the fantastic awesome thought provoking Blogs that for me are always right on time.
Peace and Happy Sunday to all.
Thanks for the comment. Hope you had a fantastic weekend.
We tend to focus on what’s been said about us, or hoping to get many likes, rather than concentrating on what’s more important, as we try to achieve. Our initial goals do suffer, because we have set them aside, in order to keep up with the rest of the pack. Time to come down to earth, and reality. Social sites aren’t going away any time soon, but your goals might. Do the math, and decide what will be much more rewarding in the end. Blessings.
Good point. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Years ago the social meeting place was a chat room. Then messengers became the rage. When that happened chat rooms emptied out only to be filled with spambots.
It feels a bit like the process is repeating but where are the people going now?
Jon, that’s a good question. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.
I think the key to it is to find the Social Media Sites that work for your situation. That will be different for each person or business. What I do is research each one, or if it is new one that just started, I do not immediately jump into it, but monitor what is happening. I am doing just that with one called Ripple.
Thanks so much for your comment Harold. Good advice.
But the idea is that you only use the sites you need, not all the ones you know about.
True, but there it is so easy to get so sucked in and go overboard.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Wendy. It is beyond overwhelming. And adding a robotic feature to manage social media takes the “social” right out of it!! Like my FB page because you like it. Follow my blog because it resonates with you. RT a Tweet when it means something to you. But don’t just click and go, please!
I will take quality over quantity any day - whether it is social media or Belgian chocolate
I agree wholeheartedly with you Lynne. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Lynne
I like your comment Quality over Quantity. You can waste a lot of time and effort on things that do not give you any benefit. Have been there and finally realized that you can’t be a part of everything.