Twitter is an odd bird

Twitter is an odd bird. Is there “Twitter etiquette” when it comes to contributing to conversations?  Do you have to be “followed” by someone in the conversation to be included? I would imagine that simply following one or more of the people involved won’t get you through? Not talking about celebrities, but people who are discussing something for which you have knowledge of? Some of them might consider themselves celebrities in the field of horticulture, but not on par with celebrities outside the trades with ten of thousands of followers.

I enjoy some of what is going on there, but find myself wondering when it’s appropriate to weigh in? Having tried a few days ago, only to be left with absolute silence, is the cause for my asking. It’s a bit odd, but then Twitter is an odd bird.

People seem to either love Twitter, or hate it. Little middle ground. Is it great for starting conversations, but terrible for following up? When I post on Twitter the post automatically appears up on my Facebook profile, where it seems more interaction takes place? Is the very nature of the two platforms, one with “friends” (Facebook) the other with “followers" (Twitter) that makes the difference?

Just curious as to what your take on it has been. I also keep hearing about how Google+ is going to be the next "Place to be", but haven't seen that happen. Is that just wishful thinking among'st the Google faithful?

Avoiding the real work

Here is a great 20 minute video from Seth Godins recent talk at Creative Mornings/New York. The key takeaways for me. Most people who are over using the social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook are doing so in an attempt to avoid doing the “real work” necessary for change. These platforms for some have turned into the 21’st century’s version of “watching the tube”. I enjoy using these tools, but do realize that they have a way of taking up your time if you’re not careful.

The other take away for me is, "we each own a media company." Our ability to broadcast ideas has never been easier, or so within reach for each of us. What are we doing with that ability? Broadcasting more noise, or changing the world?

There is also a twenty minute clip of Seth answering questions at the same talk. Here is that video. Useless factoid, Seth and I we’re born on the same day, same year. Enjoy the talk, and your weekend.

Don't follow the herd

I think it’s wise for many gardening businesses to have a presence on the various social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  Many of your customers are there, and perhaps you should be too. However, I do think it’s wise to try and get people to use your website, or subscribe to your e-news as an overall theme. My concerns are, as popular as some of these social media sites think they are, they may be doomed in the long run. Then what?

Social media has started to take an odd turn, but one that wasn't unexpected. As we talked about in the last post, “The Customer as Garden Celebrity”, social media sites are becoming filled with advertisements disguised as “social media”. It’s starting to become all so predictable that it’s boring. Frankly, when everything you Tweet, or put on Facebook is some form of advertisement, it’s time to move on.

I’ll be a bit bold and say that blogs and personal websites owned by the writer will never go away, and will slowly grow in importance once again. One of the reasons my family bought into TIVO when it first came out, back in 1999, was the ability to tune out the commercials. Facebook and Twitter are starting to resemble old school media with its constant commercials.

What's happened are many fell for the “instant celebrity” aspect of social media. The more followers you amassed, and the more you tweeted about any old thing the higher your Klout score, or ego would climb. Some people are using social media as a type of “popular currency” that may lead to you being offered goods or money, in exchange for talking about whatever they want you to talk about. I fell for some of this, until the people paying my way showed their true colors.

It’s not worth the loss of freedom to speak one’s mind. This is what concerns me with the present trajectory of social media. There seems to be too much following the herd, and less real discussion going on these days. The really great conversations are getting drowned out by the #hashtagging and commercializing. For me it’s time to focus more on my blog, and do a bit less scrolling through the feed looking for something that likely isn't there anyway.

Is social media becoming big media?

In July I wrote a post titled, "Are blogs relevant in today's social media world?" From that post, "while Facebook and Twitter offer a way to communicate to the customer, its questionable how they will be able to continue as competition and economics come into play. Your blog can be a 'home' that folks can come back to again, and again. You can 'own' your website and blog, you cannot 'own' your Facebook Page." It was a pleasant surprise to read author Warren Ellis and his post today, "The Social Web: End Of The First Cycle." In that post Warren say's, "This may be the end of the cycle that began with Friendster and Livejournal. Not the end of social media, by any means, obviously. But it feels like this is the point at where the current systems seize up for a bit. Perhaps not even in ways that most people will notice. But social media seems now to be clearly calcifying into Big Media".

Warren say's, "Google+, of course, is not, strictly speaking, a social network. Most people can’t see what other people are doing there. Google, of course, sees it all. But everyone knows that going in" Perhaps that explains the new found interest in Google+? It's also why I started a new community there, "The Future of Horticulture".

Warren finishes his post asking, "I wonder if anyone’s been thinking twice about giving up their personal websites". For me the answer is no, my "blog can be a 'home' that folks can come back to again, and again."

This is not "social media"

Today Twitter announced that, "soon, small businesses based in the United States will have the chance to take their Twitter marketing efforts to a new level. Starting in late March, we will introduce a new advertising offering that makes it simple for companies of any size to grow their businesses using our Promoted Tweets and Promoted Accounts products."

Social media is about making connections with those who want to make connections. It about receiving permission from the viewer to interact. As soon as you force your way into someones Twitter feed you are no longer being social. We talked about this last year when I noticed a tree company whom I didn't follow, showing up in my feed.  If I had wanted to follow them, I would have "followed" them. "Promoted Tweets" are a companies way of saying, "you don't know who to follow, so we are going to elbow our way into your life."

Here is a great post titled, "Is Your Business Antisocial?". Brian Solis say's, "when we take a step back to examine many of the leading business examples in social media, it’s clear that many are in actuality, illustrations of traditional marketing masquerading as genuine engagement." Promoted Tweets are just more traditional advertising, not social media.

What will happen with Twitter when it's filled with promotions for stuff you never wanted to receive? Will another platform arise that offers users an "ad free" experience? I guess we will find out.