Why Are You Investigating Social Media

I started blogging about association industry issues, and quickly realized that everything comes back to social media. Particularly for associations and non-profits, eternally a few years behind the corporate world, it’s crucial for them to find ways to enter the social space in order to survive and better yet, to really thrive. Personally, I am also finding a niche for myself within this area and discovering that a personal interest in something can result in huge professional development – awesome.

I don’t think the idea for my business would have come to me if I hadn’t already been a part of the blogging community, so it only made sense for us to try to stay a part of it. That, and it’s a great way to keep top of mind – I don’t want people to forget we’re out there, and to keep a “real” face to our company.

This article and these comments have been great. I am trying to get my company into the social media world. We just started a blog and now I am discussing getting into facebook, twitter and all the other sites. I have a meeting in a couple weeks with some of the big wigs any suggestions on sites to use (Facebook, Twitter, Hi5, etc…) or any tips on what to discuss would be great and very much appreciated. Great article Chris!

Great question, Chris. I’m new to your blog, but I’ve already gained some powerful insights. I’m a newspaper editor, so for me, social media and online communities have become as important as the more traditional communities — neighborhoods, civic organizations, government — for gathering and disseminating the information that our users want.
Journalists now have an incredibly direct and varied tools — Twitter, Facebook, MySpace — for finding stories that people are talking about. But these same social media outlets also provide new ways to share these stories with users all over the world. It’s opened up a completely new way to reach and connect with people who want and appreciate what we do.

@Chris Penn

Nice answer :)

I jumped into Social Media as I felt it was important for the technology company I worked for, to know what was happening out there. The first word that came up was Podcasting – the rest ..will it keeps going.

Now looking at a solo project I see Social Media as a perfect and affordable medium to get things started, set the ground work and build the foundation of what will hopefully be successful non profit.

I like that a blog can now be your website, voice, brand, online indentity, company, etc. and it doesn’t cost you anything!

I am involved in Social Media because I am a consultant…of what you ask, exactly this Social Media. Koinonia Solutions, the consulting firm I work for, helps businesses and organizations get actively involved in Social Media. We help people set up, use, and utilize Social Media. We believe that Social Media is a great tool and a new medium of which to reach out to people in a more personal way. There is much to it then my simple words, if you have any questions feel free to email me justin@thelacproject.com or you can visit our site http://koinoniasolutions.com

and thats why Me/my company or into Social Media

Justin
- Check Us Out …
http://koinoniasolutions.com

Three months ago I was brand new to all brands of social media, apart from dabbling in Facebook and having a LinkedIn profile.

I contacted my clients/friends through regular email articles.

Then I realised that I had several ideas a day on topics connected to my business, and was scared of spamming.

So… I researched blogging, asked some advice, and set up my blog.

I can then write to my heart’s content (on my topic).

Finding other people’s blogs has been a total eye-opener too. So much interesting targeted writing – I’m in the first flush of subscribing.

So… I’m using social media (most recently added Twitter and Plurk) to reach people who are interested in what I have to say, and, obviously, to find people who are the right client group.

Having always hated ‘selling’ to people (ie getting people to do things that, if they were in their right minds, they wouldn’t necessarily do, or at a higher price than they would otherwise pay), I’m loving the way social media is allowing me to claim my niche, quietly and without fanfare.

If people want to tune in, they can. If they don’t, they don’t have to.

In this way, all the concerns of interruption media are gone.

Plus I’ve made contact with some awesome people. The way that geography makes such little difference (apart from timezones, and even then…) is awesome.

Just finding how to swim in this new sea, after paddling for a while.

Oh, and having a life outside too…

Hhmm. I think I just mentioned similar in an email I sent you a bit ago. ;)

I’m a writer. I think social media and writing go hand in hand. I also think social media is under-used in the writing / publishing markets. I want to find ways to change that.

I’ve set myself up as the social media person for Apex Publications, but pretty much learning as I go along. It’s been an interesting trip, and I can’t wait to learn more.

And I agree with Manuscrypts about the conversations! I’ve learned just as much from reading the comments as I have the initial posts. I like that Chris can post a brief teaser, tell everyone to discuss – and we do. :) That doesn’t happen elsewhere as much as it should.

I recently graduated with a degree in Public Relations and during my final year, we were finally introduced the topic of Social Media.

I have always been a member of social networking sites and the transition into becoming a particpant of social media has been natural for me. I realised that upon signing onto Facebook that this was just another form of Friendster or MySpace and I had the “why not” approach.

Now, in between finding jobs, I realise that social media can be used in personal and in business life to communicate WITH people more effectively. There is an entire world audience that is being ignored (if we do not consider social media) and I think Social Media is definitely a future trend of PR. Right now it isn’t replacing traditional PR Tactics but its important to be aware of the ever increasing range of Social Media tools.

So I personally enjoy researching social media for personal and professional use and I can’t wait till I can put my ideas into effect.

Chris – thanks for linking Mitch Joel’s article on the top 7 blogs. He is right, this thing is a rabbit hole. I started exploring this space because I am working with a group of artists on creating and conveying a unique story through a site we are developing. I found Mitch through mention of Daniel Pink’s book “A Whole New Mind”, and subscribed to his podcast, and registered on Google Reader (I had no idea what RSS feeds were a couple of days ago). I just wanted to get ideas on how to make a site relevant, attractive, and able to generate traction. I am getting to discover some of that, but I am also being exposed to glimpses of how our species will communicate and continue to share knowledge in the 21st century, and it takes my breath away.

I am just blown away by the sheer velocity and enornomity of the marketplace of ideas being developed, workshopped, shared, and improved. It gives me tremendous hope for not only the survial, but the thriving of exquisite, sought-after, and meaningful ideas that speak to the human heart and mind. It is making me smile as I type this. Keep up the excellent work. You and folks like Mitch inspire beyond description.

This is a great site with lots of interesting information.I’m doing an MBA and thst why I’m studying Social Media. I want to understand how Social Media impacts business.

thanks for linking Mitch Joel’s article on the top 7 blogs. He is right, this thing is a rabbit hole. I started exploring this space because I am working with a group of artists on creating and conveying a unique story through a site we are developing.