A Primer on Social Media

April 22, 2009 · 9 comments

Last week, my boss asked for a demonstration of Facebook and Twitter.  Not wanting to miss an opportunity to get someone else hooked on the power of Social Media, I decided to write this post.  I’m not a social media expert, but I am both a consumer and contributor.  This is just what I’ve noticed in my own experience; as with most things, your mileage may vary.

If you want experts, see:

What is Social Media anyway?

Simply put, I like to describe it as a tool.  One that is used to share opinions, insights, and just about anything else while also interacting with others who may have similar views, vehemently disagree with them, or anywhere in between.

All of the following are social media:

For some that even I haven’t heard of, check out FriendFeed.  And remember, as Rox says, The Social Web is changing everything.

Social Media Fundamentals

  • Be social. Social Media is (or at least should be) about having a conversation. If you don’t buy into these tenets, that’s fine. But if you’re going to use it to send one-way press releases, you’re missing the point – and an opportunity to be part of something truly great.
  • Be authentic and transparent (and human). It’s just as easy to share negative information about you as it is to send positive or useful info.  People want to know there’s a human behind that online presence.
  • Protect your brand! It’s not just what others are saying and doing.  What does your online presence say about you?  Remember, once you share it, it’s hard to unshare it.  If you send drunk Tweets, what image do you think people have of you?  More importantly, is that the image you want them to have?
  • Be deliberate and thoughtful.  I think this is illustrated best by Art:  The Twitterverse moves fast. If you’re not careful, it will run you over and leave you for dead…I think it’s clear that decisions were based on reactive rather than proactive thinking. So beware! If you don’t plan your course of action in our tech-savvy world and think you’ll skate by just because you’ve adopted new technology, you’ve got another thing coming.

I’ll explore some of these platforms in more detail in a future post.  In the meantime, if you are just getting started with Social Media, I hope you found this helpful.  

And if you’re completely immersed in Social Media, what do you think of my thoughts and advice?  Spot on?  Way off?  Do tell.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Mahalo!

Tagged as: alohaarleen, burt lum, bytemarks, Capsun, delicious, facebook, flickr, friendfeed, ian lind, linkedin, ryan ozawa, social media, social web, Twitter

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hanalei akala

Vow Capsun, you certainly are an outstanding Jokey of the media and ADVOCATE of ALL government workers???
With my LOVE of ALOHA to ALL
Kauka akala as Granny Paulike Grace calls me

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damon

Drunk Tweets... I could so see myself regretting things later if I was a drinker!

I regret things enough now as it is! I wish I could take the time to learn all the whiz bang gadgets that come along with twitter... but I'll just wait until us folks on the Big Island catch up with the rest of the world.

You need to come back to your roots here and start edumacating some big isle folks!

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KK Birnie

Aloha e Capsun...good timing. I recently shared these technologies with some co-workers of my own, as my organization (with which you're familiar) and its sister orgs have given the charge to get them on line with Facebook, Twitter as wellas a Wikipedia page for each. Some of the best uses are @bytemarks session-by-session reports from a conference he attended: topic, speaker, brief impression. I see applications for my arena. But I'm certainly not nearly as skilled--or consistent!--as you, Burt, Ian Lind, and others I follow and read.

There are definite applications for those that are marketing products or services, but I really like that so many non-profits and service agencies use these networking technologies.

Also want to put in a plug for MaoliWorld, a social network that presumes certain cultural foundations and allows participants, or members, to dialogue on another level without explaining those fundamental values and beliefs.

Malama pono...k

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quilly

Oh -- I will give Facebook a tiny nod. I found a long lost college roommate, a cousin I lost to divorce when we were just kids, and one of my old high school side-kicks through Facebook -- but I detest all that sending hugs, and "be my knave" and "take this stupid quiz or you're not cool" crap.

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Marjory

Very interesting post. Succinct but also far-reaching. Are you sure you're new?

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Sid Savara

I'm actually a pretty anti-social social media user. I like passively absorbing people's Facebook/Twitter, reading blogs, and very, very occasionally commenting, replying, etc.

My approach can be summed up as - "Let's be friends - now please leave me alone."

;)

P.S. - I like this - "opp0rtunity" I think it's funny.

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Thom

And you say you aren't an expert....your blog proves you are. You know my thoughts on Twitter and I feel about the same with Facebook nows. My blog is my social outlet and it's the best way to express my thoughts and get into the social internet scene. I wouldn't do it any other way. But yes, as Ryan says...they all serve their purpose...and you just have to find your niche.

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Ryan

Thanks for the mention, Capsun!

Charlene, there's certainly more to the social web than Twitter, and if Twitter is all you do, you're probably not doing much. But as part of a larger palette of tools, it's useful to many of us.

We each have our preferred platforms -- for some, it may be livestreaming video, for others it may be a blog -- but they're all means to the same ends, expression and connection.

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quilly

Do you know how many people are following me on Twitter who don't know me and really don't give a dang what I have to say? I used it everyday for a month and the only reaction I received -- ONE reaction -- was the day I said good-bye.

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