Acknowledging All You Know About Social Media

Interesting questions Chris. It wasn't until recently that I was able to acknowledge to myself that I know more about social media than those around me.

It's easy to assume when you immerse yourself in something, that it has had the same impact on others as it's had on you. That's just not true today. Maybe it was true 10-15 years ago when the "modern" Internet was still new enough that most people were interested in all the latest happenings, but today it seems different; like any other interest or industry.

Wow, I know things! I only have been getting to grips with social media fairly recently but you're right, I do know this stuff. And even enough to be able to discriminate about which ones might be most appropriate for me. Not that I've followed through on all of them yet.

And I know far far more than those around me in the 'real world'. I've been making a really concentrated effort to pass on your information and links to other artists through emails and my blogs. I've always believed in sharing knowledge, not keeping it to yourself - so many other artists helped me along the way and I want to do likewise. Plus, this seems the entire point of social media anyway right!? Using the social media isn't going to be as effective as it could be unless I get the rest of my community taking part too.

Heh. Ever felt like the more you know, the more you know you don't know?
There are so many books around collaboration, social networking and innovation that I want to read. I want to learn so much. Twitter at least gives me a handle on keeping up to date with things.
Thanks, I feel reassured again, you forget that people around you might not know what Twitter or Flickr is. I'm trying to share the social media love every day. The problem is overcoming the "it's all hype" or "I'm too busy" hurdle.

Herein lies the beauty behind the concept of the whole web 2.0, UGC, Social Media movement. It has all been designed so that even the self confessed technophobe can sign up and get going straight away without really knowing the "significance" of what they are doing.

This ease of access is key to accepting the technology but the fear is that we will become so overwhelmed with social media and networking sites, user generated content, meaningless filtering and mashups for the sake of mashups that the whole thing then becomes counter productive (but that's another issue that I'm planning a post on).

Good point. It can get overwhelming when confronted with the choices. It's hard to choose what's right for you sometimes.

When I first started blogging I wrote a post saying that I felt like a fake -- in that I was talking about social media and marketing and not really feeling like I had a solid grasp on how they worked together. A fellow blogger nicely reminded me that this is how it actually worked -- that when things are new you have no guidebook to work from. And that even the most experienced folks make it up as they go along. That is part of the fun.

@Gavin are you saying we are all Phoney Futzers?
;)
Actually I read something once, said that some people always feel like they are fakes, when they are at the top of their game. But in fact, that is the thing that keeps them in check, the sense of "I must be such a fake" and wanting to know more makes your output even better. The minute you think you do know it all, especially in this area of emerging technology, is the very moment you are in danger of your ego overshadowing your work.

Chris, I'm still learning - but I do know that I know more than a few people.

What am *I* doing? Offering to run courses and workshops for the community on the Black Isle, in the Scottish Highlands on Social media ('kay, I don't call it that).

And, of course like most everyone else above seems to, I blog about it.

Hey Chris - I loved your "take a moment and mark the progress" concept in play here. And thanks for letting me use your previous post to show my audience today about leaving a blog comment. Most of the c. 70 people had not done that before.

I've also tracked several good threads on Twitter (including you) re: about reaching out to others beyond the bubble/ beyond the choir. A group of us are looking at options. I'd like to actually develop a curriculum that could be shared and customized for select target audiences. I find so many businesses are wanting to know how this stuff works and how they can start implementing it.

I guess the only next step is becoming an active blogger. and for an active bloogger to get active, one needs a business plan

Actually, Chris, today I am preparing a workshop with a group of "old school" journalists, whom I will teach about social media. I do that occasionally. None of them have profiles on Facebook or LinkedIn - they don´t know Skype og Twitter/Jaiku or any of the social media you mention. I feel so privileged to be able to "spread the word".

You're right, Chris -- there's plenty we *DO* know and could be sharing more. That's one of the motivations behind my proposed "social media speed mentoring" events (http://urltea.com/2kra), where social media newbies and experts can come together to teach and learn. More to come on this one!

We are moving so fast to catch up with everything social that your post helps us stop and appreciate how far we all have come.

3 years into social media and I'm doing the conference circuit to get the word out about Web2.0. Would love to see some of you at the pre-conference workshop that I'm giving with Beth Kanter at the International Association of Facilitators Conference in Atlanta on April 9:

Digitaldialog: Enhanced Facilitative Practice Through Web 2.0 Tools