Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

Taking a page from a small child’s playbook- eating when hungry, playing with what you find engaging, inviting in those who can play nice and add to the experience…it’s all there.

Focus on actively participating in what yields positive results.

In response to Timothy’s comment: Different folks get excited about different stuff. Personally, I enjoy online interaction, and I enjoy face-to-face interaction too. I don’t get starry-eyed, but, it can be quite time-saving being able to have a business conversation or meeting sitting at home in your pajamas. I’ve often had to drive across town to such meetings, wasting time getting dressed up; time driving there and back, and money spent on gas, only to find the meeting (like so many are) was largely a waste of time.

I try to get a feel of “every” conversation in all other social media but I find that TIME isn’t on my side. I don’t have the time to update myself or whatever, in every social media. I feel Tumblr, Plurkme, Xazzle and Twitter to be the easiest to use but somehow I spent more time on Twitter (that cartoon bird worked I guess!)

It’s not totally about which social media is better (each one has its flaws and strengths) but I feel if you focus long enough in just one social media, over time you can ‘build’ a community who’s interested enough to follow you – even if you post infrequently. Even if the build-up is slow.

Oh sorry – I meant Zazzle!

P.S. Fully agree with Amanda “Focus on actively participating in what yields positive results.”

There’s no such thing as a ‘social media expert’ and we can’t be on every platform, all of the time. Would we suggest to a client that they do that?! No. So why should we? It would be completely unmanageable, there would be a lot of hit and miss and there’s no way we could give quality time to each and every one. Focus on what works best for you… thankfully there’s so much out there now to choose from of which I am glad because that’s enabled me to give up blogging – shock horror! Hurrah for microblogging!

Some (and only some) of the SocNet rock stars can spread their focus. The make money from being able to do so. But thats a very special talent. Most Social media specialists seem to have it to some degree or another but, again, we aren’t all SocnetRockstars or Social Media Specialists.

I make my living from SAP, so that what I try to docus on with twitter &tc. It is difficult to focus, and I loose it sometimes and start socialising. But my SAP work (which i do enjoy) pays the bills, keeps the wife and kifs feed and happy, so I need to focus their rather than go surfing after the latest shiny toy that Scoble reports on.

Of course, I do make time for the later, but if I’m using the ‘net to further MY brand, i have to focus on what I’m good at / doing.

Great post and thread, and it inspired me to buy The Dip for my Kindle. Today I plan to quit some things!

Hmm ..definitely ..
it infact reminds me of the last time somebody tried to approach me on twitter forcefully.
Definitely marketeers donot need to be all over the place.

I like the simplicity with which you get things across.

Recently I became a member at friendfeed and now am wondering whether I did the right thing.It broadcasts my comments to everywhere – from linkedin to facebook to twitter . is it needed ? my conversation at one “cafe ” as you put it so well need not be influenced by or related to my comments at a different platform.

Reminds me of the recent faux pas from Guy Kawasaki when he placed his blog post url “art of laying off…” on twitter. His presentation was actually for a very different audience and quite bang on. It brought in some needless flak.

I strongly feel that social media is not a platform for selling.For instance, sometimes we get some direct sales pitches for products and services.It doesnt take long to un-follow. People who do that may actually be alienating their audience.

It is a great place for possible buyer and seller to see each other and become aware of the sales potential but the moment sales pitches start happening its time to shift.

Agreed Chris, offer input where you can add value. If you’re following conversation for business purposes I think people must bring something to the conversation – a different perspective or new information – rather than just chiming in to be noticed. Further, if do have a specialization in an area you should be offering it the communities where your knowledge is valued eh.

Such is the real world, people get involved where they have an interest and can be a part of something. Those that are not involved in a particular community and have alterior motives than giving to or serving the true interests of the group are easily identified.

Who really has time to be involved in every conversation? If you do, how they heck do you do any work :).

Always love your posts Chris -Thanks.

I agree, Chris. You should use the site(s) that work well for you. One can’t be on every social media site and do well at the particular one or two he deems most important. That’s because he would be spreading himself too thin, and wouldn’t have the time/creativity to focus to on getting what he needed from the social media forum that is most important to him, nor the time/creativity to give to others on the particular social median that was his favorite.

I’d say it comes down to choices. Which sites are going to help you meet your goals? If you are spending time on sites that will not enhance anything for you, your blog, or your online presence, why would you stay on that social media site? Even if you want to help others, unless you feel called to particularly help at that particular social media site, go elsewhere. You can help others (while still helping yourself) on another social media site. Just help them where you feel you should be! Don’t waste time where you shouldn’t be, life is too short. I have seen far too many bloggers do this. They join any and all social media sites because they have heard a particular site happens to be the “cool” site to join, with no regard for why they have joined the particular site. Ask them and they have no idea why they’ve joined. Now they are caught up in social media to the extent that they sometimes seldom blog. I’ve seen it happen. It’s a trap to be guarded against.

By the way, your last few posts have been excellent. As always. I loved the one about “What Arists Can Teach Everyone About Social Media” http://tinyurl.com/9hu85r Very excellent! Thanks for sharing.

Krissy :)
visit my main blog: Sometimes I Think
visit me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy

Great post. For me, the bottom line is, there are so many different conversations going on out there, no one can be a part of them all and still have time for themselves.

Chris, great your post.
I believe that some social network has a too large set and this leads to a wrong interpretation of his use by final utents.
Facebook in Italy's a garbage container !
Ciao and good work to all your reader.
Gennaro de Concilio

Really, too many media sometimes confusing.

Social networking is a lot like finding your “groups” in real life. You might hang out with Suzy for a month or two until you realize she's a vaccuous bubblehead and stop returning her calls/texts/wall page comments. Done and done. You find your groups through, as you said so well: [fishing] where your fish are,” finding like-minded people with similar interests and motivations.

It's the human side of an otherwise not-at-all-fleshy world.