Social media success is fun! Social media satire 32.
I often wonder if we sometimes take our social media lives just a little too seriously? That’s why I love Mondays and social media satire!
Social media has been a HUGE subject this year throughout the world and the topic of probably millions of conversations in every language imaginable, but as the ‘Year of Social Media’ comes to an end, I am seeing some significant changes.
Social media addiction is common now!
Much like TV in the 60′s, social media is addictive and whether it’s Facebook, online poker, Ebay or PS3, it’s all contemporary and it’s all Internet (Web 2.0) related one way or another and people are loving it!
However, social media advocates, gurus and mavens seem to be leading the way and are becoming far more selective; really, it’s true! Some people are beginning to realise that a 24/7/365 online existence is neither a great lifestyle or a brilliant business model. The more successful are mixing it up a little, enjoying the benefits of social media but moving away from becoming a complete slave to it. Delegation is the key word and time management seems to be the mantra! Once you’ve built a good quality social media base, the maintenance of it is not so difficult or time consuming. Thanks to platforms like Buffer, consistency is easily achievable and I’m expecting to see similar tools for posting on Facebook, Google+, and StumbleUpon being developed real soon.
People are not actually dismissing that great advances of social media and all that goes with it, but they are looking beyond the obvious and questioning what the ‘neo normality’ really is.
Social media has developed at an amazing pace during 2011 and we’ve seen a multitude of new social media platforms and some major developments from those already established, take a look at both Google and Facebook and consider how they looked just 12 months ago. We also hear the whisper of Microsoft looking to buy Yahoo for half the price offered in 2008, but will Uncle Bill be buying a bargain or a white elephant? What’s the point of trying to compete with Facebook and Google when Google’s initial excitement waned quicker than ice cream on a hot griddle?
Have you joined Empire Avenue?
My post earlier this year explaining both the benefits and the addictive nature of Empire Avenue was well received, Empire Avenue was a big subject then and it continues to be one as some of the most loyal, hard core fans are now leaving almost on a daily basis. The recent algorithm changes are said to be the reason, but perhaps it’s just a question of social media burn out and a symptom of what was once new and exciting becoming predictable and over familiar? Who knows?
Having said that, I’m still there and I’m doing OK, I still believe it’s a great place to meet new people and I’m very grateful that many who have recently left are joining me on my Facebook group. I would hate to lose contact with such good, creative and inspirational characters and I genuinely consider some of these people good friends now.
Social media is developing and changing and so are we as users!
Me and my mobile phone.
Technology changes and we change to adapt to it, where would you be today without your mobile telephone? Mobile is the way of the future, there’s no denying it and laptops and desktops will eventually become a thing of the past, I’m convinced of that.
However, it’s not just our lives that are changing but also our surroundings, our shopping centers here in the UK are becoming chains of predictable coffee shops, mobile telephone outlets and charity shops. Online shopping and American style mega malls are changing the High Street; the book shop and the newsagents will probably be a distant memory in just a few years, much like the pub, the butchers and green grocers.
Social media marketing brings business to the Internet.
This Web 2.0 age of technology isn’t just changing the way we communicate and market our businesses.
Love the iPad!
Social media is definitely here to stay and although it is still in its infancy and we’re likely to see plenty of changes, people are getting used to it and realizing that you don’t need it all and you don’t actually need it 24/7/365. We are becoming more selective and using social media rather than letting it use us.
Whatever your company does, social media is sure to be of some benefit and bound to fit somewhere in the marketing mix, if you want to know more just call us.
If you find this information interesting, please give it a Google + CLICK and also share it on Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Digg, or whichever social media platform you prefer.
If you want to get ahead with a social media call 01473 435308 or email peter@constructionmarketinguk.co.uk and we’ll explain just how cost effective a blog can be or we’ll tell you about our social media starter system, which is very cost effective!
Select and connect with MarketingM8
As an early adopter on Twitter I tweeted countless times to friends asking me to join them on Google+ “My heart belongs to Twitter.” I’m finding my heart belongs to my offline life. Today, it’s a chore to tweet, a burden to go to Google+, and frustrating to open Facebook. I find EmpireAvenue stupid, but easy to garner ridiculous points in 3 minutes a day.
Since you can influence the points on Klout by auto tweeting, hiring a virtual assistant to tweet and Facebook, use auto following programs, where’s the reality? Offline.
Hello Jeanette, great to see you here and thanks for dropping by!
It seems that even the most ‘die hard’ fans of social media are starting for appreciate that although it’s great and fun and of course new, social media should add to life rather than devour it!
I actually still like Empire Avenue because I continue to meet quality people as a consequence of being a member, but I’m not as fanatical as I used to be. As for Google+, although I was pretty excited about it at first, now I just don’t have the time to visit it much.
Social media has change a lot for me as a marketer but I’ve recently been working with more traditional marketing methods and they’re still fun too! I love what I do and I now really appreciate that social media is just one of the many tools available! I love blogging still because it’s it’s my blog and it’s my ‘brand’. Blogging is very personal and can’t be compared to much else as far as I’m concerned, whereas other platforms are shared and not so extensively individual.
I should add that my wife and my kids spend a fair bit of time online, that’s life in the 21st but we also read books, watch movies, go out for walks (weather permitting) and talk to each other! It makes sense to mix it up a little, right?
Thanks for your time and your comments, all the very best, Peter aka MarketingM8
Social media abandonment rates will be more common until we see more consolidation. It’s the ‘ol “gas is greener” mentality. When there are less alternatives, people are more forgiving of big changes. Distinguishing social media home base from outpost is key. Digital sharecropping comes to mind. I feel the average small biz should focus on the SoMe they “own” to avoid losing countless hours of investment with platforms that change drastically.. Or just die off.
Hi Yomar, how’s life?? Good to see you here!
Reading your comment possibly inspired my previous response to Jeanette, the blog is very special and will not change too much conceptually but social media platforms will and favorites will emerge and change and like restaurants and other social venues we will see phases of popularity.
I agree that developing your own social media is essential and it should be nurtured and protected. Being on everything is pointless, hard work and very time consuming.
Frankly, I’m glad my 24/7/365 phase is over and I’m still loving social media but not quite as fanatically! Creating a base and learning how to create a base and how to appreciate social media takes time but once that’s been achieved it’s time to look at things from a different perspective.
Thanks for joining us here, all the very best, Peter aka MarketingM8
When I saw it in writing Peter … the 24/7/365 it turned my stomach. I fell victim to that last year. My husband literally had to pry me off the computer at midnight, but then I would pop out of bed at 5:30a.m. to get started!
Now, thankfully, I have learned not only how to manage social media but to respect how it is just a tool for business owners to implement that will benefit marketing and business plans. No longer does it dictate my life and in fact, I am enjoying getting new clients in my local town where I actually go out to offices, meet and work with individuals. It is a wonderful balance to the time I spend online.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love my online connections and community. Without this network (especially you Peter) my business would not be thriving as it is. So I am grateful to meet others through this crazy social media frenzy, but to keep it manageable so that it is not running nor ruining my life is key.
Another excellent article Peter!
Hello Lynn, it’s amazing that we’ve pretty much shared our social media journey pretty much step for step and I’m proud of that! Thanks for being there!!
I think we’ve both benefited an enormous amount from our dedication to social media and the huge amount of time we’ve spent learning what it’s all about and sharing it with others. I believe that the amount of hours spent online over the last 12 months would stagger most people and possibly take them years, if not decades to achieve? Having said that, we’re both currently in a great place and I’ve loved every minute of it, however, lessons have been learned.
I too, no longer get online at 5.00am and get off at midnight or later and I’m happy that I don’t feel that I have to now.
I still enjoy my Facebook group, my LinkedIn group, my Twitter followers and my Empire Avenue friends and connections, but I don’t feel so compelled to attend to them constantly, they will still be there!
Thanks again for your support Lynn, it has been continuous and unwavering and I thank you!
Great to see you, all the very best Peter
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