September 15, 2010 46 Comments

When Novelty Wears Off

birthplace

Lots of people are a bit obsessive about using the various social media tools. Many of us are gripped in the euphoria of just how exciting it is that we can reach out and touch people in new and interesting ways, that we don’t have to wait for permission to publish, that we are the media. It’s heady times when you think of it all.

And yet, the novelty has to wear off. We have to get back to work. We have to wipe at least some of the foolish grin off our face and go back to making something happen.

When the novelty wears off, ask yourself a few questions:

  • What am I doing with XYZ technology? Is it pushing my business forward?
  • How much time am I spending on XYZ social network? Is it getting me anywhere?
  • How much of this is pleasurable versus profitable? (And use “profit” loosely.)
  • What have I neglected while using these tools more and more? (see also: the Sunday 20.)
  • In three years, what will my efforts of the last month have accomplished for me?

When the novelty wears off, the work becomes clearer.

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

  • http://panlilio.blogspot.com/ Victor Panlilio

    “When the novelty wears off, the work becomes clearer.”

    Spot on!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Seiji-Kato/631878571 Seiji Kato

    There is always a situation like this. Once the excitement wears off, you need to take a step back and assess exactly what you have been doing. Was your moments of passion fortuitous? Should you have stepped back and acted with a cooler head?
    No point in worrying about the past needlessly, you need to concentrate on the present and the future.

  • Markstephens

    Is the link (see also: the Sunday 20.) broken? I tried it a couple of times and got an error page not found message.

    • http://www.thedesktopanalyst.com The Desktop Analyst

      Yep, there’s an extra “http//” in the address. Just remove it & you’re good. Or I could be nice & just do this.

      http://www.chrisbrogan.com/the-sunday-20/

  • http://opsafeintl.com Jonathan Wilson

    I find I need to reevaluate my position regarding all things every few months – maybe just might be my personality – I tend to do all things rather passionately!

  • http://opsafeintl.com Jonathan Wilson

    I find I need to reevaluate my position regarding all things every few months – maybe just might be my personality – I tend to do all things rather passionately!

  • http://opsafeintl.com Jonathan Wilson

    I find I need to reevaluate my position regarding all things every few months – maybe just might be my personality – I tend to do all things rather passionately!

  • http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress John Richardson

    You might just discover that Twitter is full of Friend-Fridays, re-tweets, and mindless ramblings about Lady Gaga. Facebook may have your high scores from Farmville, Mafia Wars, along with the newest pictures of your first cousin twice removed grandkids. But at the end of the month you may get that tried and true check from Google Adsense… that everyone told you to get rid of. Novelty does wear off… (Great Picture BTW)

  • http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress John Richardson

    You might just discover that Twitter is full of Friend-Fridays, re-tweets, and mindless ramblings about Lady Gaga. Facebook may have your high scores from Farmville, Mafia Wars, along with the newest pictures of your first cousin twice removed grandkids. But at the end of the month you may get that tried and true check from Google Adsense… that everyone told you to get rid of. Novelty does wear off… (Great Picture BTW)

  • http://twitter.com/ThrowingaBrick Roy Scribner

    So true, Chris. I was once a top-1,000 user on Digg but the time-suck involved in supporting that activity did not show any kind of meaningful return. Still, I credit that experience with teaching me a lot about social media and the community dynamics involved around a specific application.

  • imjustagoyle

    Yep. That’s exactly why @Jerry_Albright quit Twitter.

  • imjustagoyle

    Yep. That’s exactly why @Jerry_Albright quit Twitter.

  • http://www.thedesktopanalyst.com The Desktop Analyst

    This post could be a real bummer if I weren’t still in the honeymoon stages of my blog.

    But seriously, I currently get nothing out of twitter except for random people following me (I believe it’s because I follow @problogger or maybe they just want me to follow them as well. Half of my traffic comes from facebook but my overall numbers are pretty low so that ratio could change in the future. We shall see.

  • http://reallifemadman.wordpress.com Marjorie Clayman

    I think the novelty of people might be in danger of rubbing off more quickly with social networking as well. If you think about it, people used to build friendships over random long conversations. You’d see each other here or there.

    Now, relationships are built 24/7. Does that mean we will tire of people faster, or do you just get to know people better and better? Does familiarity breed contempt or more familiarity? It’ll be an interesting social phenomenon to watch.

  • http://reallifemadman.wordpress.com Marjorie Clayman

    I think the novelty of people might be in danger of rubbing off more quickly with social networking as well. If you think about it, people used to build friendships over random long conversations. You’d see each other here or there.

    Now, relationships are built 24/7. Does that mean we will tire of people faster, or do you just get to know people better and better? Does familiarity breed contempt or more familiarity? It’ll be an interesting social phenomenon to watch.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      One thing that happens is when we stumble, everyone sees. When we’re down, everyone sees. There are all kinds of unintended consequences to Internet celebrity that people really haven’t yet considered or fully fleshed out. It’s strange and yet, it’s what will be.

      • http://reallifemadman.wordpress.com Marjorie Clayman

        I wasn’t even thinking of internet celebrity-dom, though that’s a good point. I was thinking, “I hope I still have things to talk to my high school friends about in another 15 years.” =D

      • http://www.kherize5.com Suzanne Vara

        Yes this is true but people only know what we tell them using these tools. Internet celebrities are posting the same things as the rest of us regular Joes’ but yet they have that celebrity so it is on a larger scale. If I am down only a handful of people really pay attention where as someone like yourself will get a plethora of responses. This is not to say that they are not genuinely concerned but a “I’m not myself” today becomes a all day affair where withing an hour or so after we say it, it can be worked through and we are back on track.

        I hope that this does not stop people from being human and expressing their feelings but at the same time I can see where one would hesitate. I guess like everything else, there is a balance and these tools may really bring people to telling people what you want them to know.

  • http://mimosaplanet.com James M Cooper

    This article is right on the money.

  • Anonymous

    Your blog posts of recent seem to be a window into your soul (in a good way). Without sitting down over a beer, I sense I know you better. Does that makes sense?

    thom

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    A much needed reminder for most folks in the communications industry. These are just tools, nothing more. People don’t sit around on Skype all day talking about Skype any more than construction workers sit around at lunch talking about how cool the latest hammer is.

    They use the tools needed to get the job done, with the end goal being getting the job done, not using the coolest tool around.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    A much needed reminder for most folks in the communications industry. These are just tools, nothing more. People don’t sit around on Skype all day talking about Skype any more than construction workers sit around at lunch talking about how cool the latest hammer is.

    They use the tools needed to get the job done, with the end goal being getting the job done, not using the coolest tool around.

  • http://www.BeyondThePedway.com Tim Jahn

    A much needed reminder for most folks in the communications industry. These are just tools, nothing more. People don’t sit around on Skype all day talking about Skype any more than construction workers sit around at lunch talking about how cool the latest hammer is.

    They use the tools needed to get the job done, with the end goal being getting the job done, not using the coolest tool around.

  • http://www.mpoweringu.com Brian Hamlett

    Great points here Chris. I almost cringe when I hear “social media gurus” pound the podium of social media should be a focal point of any business. Should it be focused on? Sure! Should it be the “focal point”! No way!

    Social media has the ability to provide new ways to engage, acquire, sell, service, and support your customers. But remember, once you’ve SOLD them… you have to deliver. You have to “do the work” as you say!

    It’s all about opportunity costs (like you said.) What “could” I be doing instead of this? Well, if I had a strong prospect, I could possibly close new business in the time I take to post a few comments on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. So I need to make sure I’m balanced in the time I dedicate to each!

  • http://www.chrisljordan.com Chris Jordan

    And it’s as if novelty has turned into fanfare. It’s like a big party. And nobody is working.

  • http://www.chrisljordan.com Chris Jordan

    And it’s as if novelty has turned into fanfare. It’s like a big party. And nobody is working.

  • http://www.chrisljordan.com Chris Jordan

    And it’s as if novelty has turned into fanfare. It’s like a big party. And nobody is working.

  • http://www.chrisljordan.com Chris Jordan

    And it’s as if novelty has turned into fanfare. It’s like a big party. And nobody is working.

  • http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

    One word: effectiveness.

    I use few tools. When I become ineffective I cut back on social networking, etc and get back to the meat and potatoes of business: providing a usable service, adding value and networking.

  • http://www.bizchickblogs.com Tia Peterson, BizChickBlogs

    So many of us suffer from shiny object syndrome. I am less willing to change directions easily. I guess it makes me a stick in the mud. But if the new thing doesn’t do something different – not just better – than the old one, it takes more than fancy packaging to make me go for it.

    I’d rather focus on the work. :)

  • http://twitter.com/communitygirl Angela Connor

    The ability to reassess and go in a different direction is what makes part of this work so interesting. I believe that we all must do this. It gets really complicated when you didn’t start out with goals in the first place, though. The goals make it much easier to reassess. When you’re knee deep in this trying to make things happen for clients and come up with new ideas for meeting business objectives, the novelty tends to wear off faster and you focus hard on what you would like to accomplish.
    Haven’t been around your blog in a while Chris. Glad I stopped by today.

    Angela

  • http://twitter.com/communitygirl Angela Connor

    The ability to reassess and go in a different direction is what makes part of this work so interesting. I believe that we all must do this. It gets really complicated when you didn’t start out with goals in the first place, though. The goals make it much easier to reassess. When you’re knee deep in this trying to make things happen for clients and come up with new ideas for meeting business objectives, the novelty tends to wear off faster and you focus hard on what you would like to accomplish.
    Haven’t been around your blog in a while Chris. Glad I stopped by today.

    Angela

  • http://twitter.com/kyleplacy Kyle Lacy

    I think constant evaluation is extremely important especially with social media. There are always ways to improve.

  • Bob

    Keep in mind what Mari Smith calls FOCUS. Follow One Course Until Successful.

  • Lew Sabbag

    Hi Chris,
    First I just thanked your partner, Justin Levy for a great night of social media talk with my AMABoston and Boston Internet Marketing Meetup groups last Thursday. He was awesome!
    You guys are setting the standard and I’m consistently impressed each day.
    We’d love to have you visit us as well.

    On the Novelty post -
    I have come up with a rule for taking on the latest thing = Lew’s rule of 2
    If you don’t do it within 2 days you probably won’t – even if sounded like the greatest thing.
    2 weeks in, you’re probably pretty pumped up about it still…
    2 months down the road, you should have a good practice in place & are making it work as advertised.
    But then you have to apply the true measure…
    2 years later – are you still doing it? It must be working this far out.
    If it was a sustainable practice, it’s probably part of your organizations regular operations and you’re well underway with deploying the next productivity enhancements. Take the long view on this stuff and try to avoid the ‘flavor of the month’ club.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I love the rules. They make perfect sense. : )

  • http://www.software-hotbuy.com/ MicrosoftOffice 2007

    Thank you.I hope I can improve through learning this respect. But overall, it’s very nice. Thank you for your share!

  • http://mikesmithconsulting.co.uk Mike Smith

    Great point Chris its always good to reassess your position and goals as strategies have to be flexible during changing times.

  • http://mydarabell.com/ Dara Bell

    I agree with the considerations you mention. For me I am gripped with and motivated by the novelty. The fact I can attend Prince Charles Garden Party, tweet out my activities , check into Buckingham Palace on Foursquare is kind of gripping. Novelty sells!! I have a qoute which is “Man By Nature Likes The Newfangled”.

    We never see how we are enslaved by technology always the positive, that is is the way since Decartes, Locke and The Industrial Era. Over the years we have become I think like the pre-industrial when there was the siccle or the shears we still had the option to get addicited to sheep shearing or cutting back fruit bushes. I guess you need to measure your return on involvement, how many sheep have been sheared, or bushes harvested. I sound like I have just come back from NZ or something!

    I think think the only issues might be on getting addicted to the measuring, but look at the numbers visiting your page, the Youtube Views or other. Also XYZ social networks is probably a good ammount. Around three would allow you to make great impact, 4 or 5 you might just make good impact. I like great!

    Also mix the offline with the online proves your human too! I think this should be done with Marketing Outreach, posters that say your on Facebook, Foursquare posters for your backpack hostel, Twitter Poster for your pub! These should be all over your town, in the guides and over the web, or at live events. This is what will make people notice you and will brightly signal your consumer health.

    Dara

  • http://www.northface-jackets.com northface

    linke it post thanks

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    Evaluations should be done in a rapid way since it is best for the media. I have been trying to see some of the result of each evaluations but I think I’m getting there.

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    Evaluations should be done in a rapid way since it is best for the media. I have been trying to see some of the result of each evaluations but I think I’m getting there.

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    Evaluations should be done in a rapid way since it is best for the media. I have been trying to see some of the result of each evaluations but I think I’m getting there.

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    Evaluations should be done in a rapid way since it is best for the media. I have been trying to see some of the result of each evaluations but I think I’m getting there.

  • http://www.blackfridayplanet.com/ William Hushburn

    Evaluations should be done in a rapid way since it is best for the media. I have been trying to see some of the result of each evaluations but I think I’m getting there.

  • http://office-2010.iyogi.com/microsoft-visio-2010 Microsoft Visio 2010


    I wish
    I can get better through learning this. 

GetSocial