Day 348/365 "I Caught You!"

Originally uploaded by Wellstone

I like Twitter and social media in general. I like blogging and reading other blogs more enjoyable than mine as well. However, (you knew there was a “but” coming) one constant trend irritates me from time to time. The social media and blogging landscape is full of what I call bandwagon stops.

Bandwagon stops are like bus stops, only they’re bandwagon stops, so typically everyone jumps on when the bandwagon comes along. Oh and yes, almost everyone climbs aboard the bandwagon. Consider the couple of years I’ve been active on Twitter. For better or worse, these are some of the bandwagons I’ve seen nearly everyone (sometimes including myself) climb aboard.

• Bandwagon Stop #1: “Twitter is going to revolutionize the way business is conducted!”
• Bandwagon Stop #2: “Here’s how you should use Twitter…”
• Bandwagon Stop #3: “The only rule of Twitter is there are no rules.”
• Bandwagon Stop #4: “It doesn’t matter how many followers you have.”
• Bandwagon Stop# 5: “Boo Oprah and Ashton Kutcher!”
• Bandwagon Stop #6: “You have to be transparent.”
• Bandwagon Stop #7: “You have to earn social currency!”
• Bandwagon Stop #8: “Justin Bieber!”
• Bandwagon Stop #9: “When it comes to social media, it’s all about your influence.”
• Bandwagon Stop #10: What’s next?

So what’s my point?

Here’s the deal. You and I would do well to pass on a few bandwagon stops from time to time. Even when it comes to our offline lives for that matter.

In the early 1990′s I really wanted a GUESS t-shirt. All the cool kids had them and since I thought I was cool, I needed one too. I use the word “needed” loosely. Since I was a teenager without a job, I didn’t have much money, so I would ask my parents to buy one for me occasionally. They never would. Most of the time the answer involved something about them being “overpriced” and “you don’t have to wear what everyone else is wearing.” I didn’t get it then. I get it now. It was a bandwagon stop. I was there and I wanted on that bandwagon, but it was a pretty pointless bandwagon to jump on.

The next time a bandwagon stop is in view, think a little before climbing aboard the bandwagon. Sometimes it’s best just to let it pass, but sometimes it could be good not to follow everyone and instead offer some alternatives. Try to find something that needs to be said or in the very least provides a different take on the current bandwagon stops. Maybe your ideas will make more sense and be more beneficial to everyone in the long run.

We could all use a break from Bieber Fever anyway.

Facebook

Originally uploaded by Balakov

If you surf the Interwebs much these days, you’ll see many are worked up over the recent Facebook changes and what they mean to the privacy of its users. It seems this outrage comes and goes in cycles. I’ve seen Tweets of people saying they were leaving Facebook. I’ve read blog posts of people saying they don’t want Facebook making their private information public.

Just STOP!

How did Facebook get that information? You gave it to them. Furthermore, where does Facebook reside? The Internet. Here’s a simple solution to your privacy issues: Don’t give Facebook (or any other networking tool) any information you wouldn’t others to see. It’s so simple, it’s stupid it even has to be said. If you didn’t want people to see those photos of you behaving badly, why were you sharing all of that with your Facebook friends in the first place? Especially if you didn’t want it to be consumed by the public?

Also, why is the outrage often limited to Facebook? Didn’t you just Tweet about your dog peeing on your carpet? I wouldn’t have minded that bit of information remaining under your privacy umbrella. Didn’t you just check in on Foursquare at your favorite restaurant? Now I know you’re not home. Didn’t you just create your house on Gowalla? Now I know exactly where you live. Didn’t you just blog about your job, smearing your boss and coworkers? Now they will know how your really feel.

Oh, but you’re upset that Facebook changed the privacy terms and now you have to go in and tweak them. I see.

Finally, aren’t you usually the first person to spot a private Twitter account and accuse that person of not understanding what social media is all about?

So stop crying about Facebook every time they make a change in their business model or terms of service. Share, but don’t share what you wouldn’t want shared with people who may not know you, or your grandma. It’s easy. It’s simple. It will keep your blood pressure down when changes come along.

Your thoughts?

Originally uploaded by Breath of Life

We interrupt this regularly scheduled post of Mix Tape Monday for the following public service message.

• Disconnect.
• Put down the mobile phone.
• Turn off the laptop.
• Get out.
• Look around you.
• Go for a walk.
• Make eye contact.
• Have some face to face conversations.
• Talk to a friend.
• Talk to a stranger.
• Make a new friend.

Sometimes I think we focus so much on social media and connecting through the Internet, we’re forgetting the importance of some of these very basic social things. How can we be more connected when we’ll barely lift our faces from our phones when we cross paths?

Get out and connect in person. It’s usually more rewarding.

… a lesson in changing your social media tactics.

Yesterday I asked, “Why are you in social media?” I primarily directed it to businesses who seem to have a presence on social media just to have a presence. You know who they are. They’re rarely engaging their customers, usually not providing any special offers, or real assistance for their customers. Sure, they’re on Twitter, but they’re just vomiting links and telling everyone they have a presence.

Salt Lake City, Utah
Originally uploaded by LShadrack

As a business, why are you signing up for social media?

Superfamily – Steven & Kim
Originally uploaded by Glenn Karlsen

People are blogging, Tweeting, and yammering on and on about social media these days. If you took in everything being said, you’d think the world had changed so much that some of the most basic tenets of human interaction and business were no longer necessary. You’d also be wrong.

Social media is just a toolbox with a bunch of tools (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, Google Wave) in it, and those tools are constantly changing.

Is social media changing the way many do business with one another and even interact socially? Absolutely. Is social media revolutionizing human behavior? No.

Here’s what I mean:

1. Social media won’t help you interview better – You still need some of the most basic of social skills. You still need to interview well. Also, you still need a resume, no matter what Seth Godin tells you. Will your activity on social media help or even hurt your chances of getting a job? It can, but in the end you will still need to impress in person (that’s IRL for you social media nerds). You can’t go into an interview and simply say “Please read my Tweets for information.”
2. Social media won’t help you if you’re a jerk - You can use social media to enhance your personal brand and make yourself look like a genius, but if you’re a jerk in real life it will shine through at some point. It will eventually make it to social media and those who get to know you, that you’re a fake or real downer in real life. Soon enough, no amount of personal branding through social media will be able to hide it either.
3. Social media won’t improve your social skills – In fact, it might just hurt them. Sure, you’re talking to people more often, but not in person. You’re hiding behind a computer screen. It’s a safety net that’s nice when you just want to wear your pajamas and keep your slightly disheveled hair. Nothing can ever take the place of good, old fashioned face to face interaction. Looking someone in the eyes and having a conversation is far more valuable than a retweet or @. Period.
4. Social media won’t improve your life – It’s a tool, people, not a cure for all your ills. Sure, you can find some great inspiration from others. You can learn great workout techniques (like my wife frequently searches for). You can find information on how to live a healthier life overall. You can find tips, strategies, and ideas on how to improve your financial situation. In the end, you still have to get out there and do something.

I know it can be easy to get caught up in the whole, social media is changing everything mentality. We all would love for that to be the case, but it’s not. You still have to get out there and act. You still have to work. There’s a lot social media can do, but there’s quite a few things it won’t do for you.

Newspapers For Sale
Originally uploaded by drewmaniac

The Obama administration has indicated they would be open to extending bailouts to newspapers. Why?

This isn’t a political statement in any way. Take all the political issues out of this and I think one question needs to be asked. Why should newspapers be bailed out when they are dying?

I don’t mean they’ve simply fallen on hard times (they have), I mean they are on their way out altogether (they are). There will come a day when newspapers, in their current paper form, will be obsolete and that day is fast approaching.

People aren’t reading newspapers, but it’s not because we’re in a recession. People had stopped reading newspapers long before the markets collapsed. People aren’t reading newspapers because they can read the news online and they can get the news from other mediums. It’s that simple. Moreover, most newspapers are struggling because they refused to see this coming in spite of all the clues that it was going to happen.

It was just a year and a half ago that I wrote about holding out hope that newspapers would somehow survive in the printed form. Today, I’m convinced only a select few will (if any). The newspaper industry must adjust to the online world. That’s all there is to it. A bailout doesn’t do anything but extend the life of an already dead (albeit walking dead) medium.

Newspapers don’t need a bailout. Newspapers need to adjust to the changing market.

Recommended reading: Seth Godin’s post, When newspapers are gone, what will you miss?

oye
Originally uploaded by miabuelanoloentiende .com

Those who are best at networking don’t network. They make friends.

When you’re friendly, when you serve, when you’re focused on being the very best you end up with more than just a sell. You have more than just another customer. You have a friend.

Focus on the relationship with the customer, serving them, and building trust with them, you gain a friend who will tell their friends.

I don’t know a single spammer who can make that claim.