I went to your Social Media Training and all I got was this stupid T-Shirt
You turbo tweet, post like mad on Facebook, G+ ad infinitum, myspace the song in your heart, and Foursquare your little stalker-heart out and I watch you spread the good word of Engagement.
So, impressed by your enthusiasm for connection, I follow you and friend you. I watch you with the hope of gaining some enlightenment around how to utilize engagement in social media, trusting that you’ll elucidate on how to build “The Brand”. Yet, all I seem to experience is tired, overgeneralized, and unimaginative rhetoric.
First, let’s stipulate that a social media expert you are NOT if you have 7 Twitter followers and 9 friends on Facebook. You are what you eat and if you’re proclaiming yourself a social media expert with those numbers then you must eating a steamy pile o’… well, that is a meal you must eat alone.
I’m talking about the real pundits. Those with tens (or hundreds) of thousands of followers, likes, circles, and connections. Those who publish well-respected and oft-perused books; those speaking on panels about social media; those who are charging people a lot of money to hear what they have to say on this New Media.
Those pundits who know that ROI is nearly impossible to define in Social Media yet know that the Unicorn for Marketing Executives is to be able to create a return, or at least some substantive gain, from the social efforts.
With that said, allow me to be the first to raise my hand and say I want more from the leaders of the Social Media Revolution.
Considering the reality that Social Media is becoming, and will ultimately be, “The Way” to reach people 24/7 for both business and personal, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this new media is pretty darn important.
When I hear from the real thought leaders that Social Media is the same as real life, I think: “Engagement”. I think: “Branching out and extending your network”. I want to really learn about making meaningful connections with people to translate those relationships into something reciprocally beneficial.
“Engagement”
“Branching out and extending your network”
These are goals toward which I aim everyday that I spend in the social media landscape. I work to connect with new people and to appreciate, more significantly, the people with whom I have already connected. I want to build something meaningful and I understand that every relationship is unique. I’m no Social Media Rockstar, I’m just Dan.
For the pundits, the legends, the authors, and the influential; I guess I’m trying to figure out what you mean by social engagement? It’s an genuine curiosity; when I watch you do social media most of you just talk to each other. It seems that you make very little effort to connect outside your circle of elite and, for me, that doesn’t pass the sniff test.
If Engagement is the perfume of social media, then why do so many of you stink so badly? Pun Intended …
I so love this post, knowing I am not the only one asking myself same question! Yes is really nice to see all of them on every SM platform out there, but only few of them get engaged. I could even name few Rock Star they all fit on one hand only
Is always nice to follow the tips and advices of the leaders but shame on them to not respect their own guidelines!
@jkcallas Clearly I agree! I always recommend people who want to lead have to start with their own actions. If you aren’t doing it, then perhaps you shouldn’t be talking about it?
The concept of ‘celebrity’ has, to me, always been … interesting … (perhaps ‘baffling’ may be more appropriate). Celebrities gain status/dollars/fame thanks only to the support/accolades/love from their fans (eg. nary a pop artist ever got rich & famous playing only for their mom in the basement, regardless of sublime talent). To rise to the top, they need to be buoyed by the favour of fans, friends, and followers.So it does puzzle me when I hear the Marlene Dietrichesque “I vant to be alone” … if that were the case, they should never have left the basement 😉
I think there is more to be known about some of the people in SM that peons like me have dubbed ‘rock stars’ but I do agree with you that if someone is ‘talkin it’ they should be ‘walkin it’
Nicely done, Daniel!
@TobeyDeys I love this comment – you are always so thoughtful and you provide input and inspiration into what I put on this blog. Sometimes to the tee (heh)
I just want to see those that are the leaders of this emerging industry be less like business leaders of generations past where they speak about one thing and do another.
History often repeats itself, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Thanks Tobey!
This post made me really LOL! Love it! There’s so much truth here too with regards to pundits talking just to each other. Another thing I’ve noticed is that people may engage only because they want something from you. Now THAT makes me itch! Can you remember my twitter handle AFTER I’ve commented on your blog or attended your chat? Or better yet will you comment on MY blog? Oh wait you don’t get any klout or stars by commenting on my blog – I forgot – I’m only a peon no pundit perfume over here. Tsk tsk tsk…
This post made me really LOL! Love it! There’s so much truth here too with regards to pundits talking just to each other. Another thing I’ve noticed is that people may engage only because they want something from you. Now THAT makes me itch! Can you remember my twitter handle AFTER I’ve commented on your blog or attended your chat? Or better yet will you comment on MY blog? Oh wait you don’t get any klout or stars by commenting on my blog – I forgot – I’m only a peon no pundit perfume over here. Tsk tsk tsk…
@TobeyDeys The funny thing Tobey is that it’s not just celebrities or even “sm celebrities”. People pass 1000, 2000 followers and suddenly think they have arrived. Sadly like you suggest they forget how they got there.
@Natasha_D_G@TobeyDeys Just so you both know – I have passed 1k (barely) and do not feel that I have arrived.
@Natasha_D_G I love that I made you laugh- I hope I also made you think? Success for me has come 100% from the engagement. Although admittedly, I fall closer to the Peon category than the rockstar one. At least in Social
– Respect for NDG
@danielnewmanUV@Natasha_D_G Natasha i so agree with you! I got this morning a tweet where someone say please let me know with your comment what you think of my post. And next time that i will receive the tweet will be in a week or two when new post is out
Sometimes simple Thank you when someone RT doesn’t cost a dime. I went to far that i ask once some saying is really so hard to say thx when someone RT and prise you stuff. Answer was “well people don’t like to see my stream filled with thank you and i wrote for people to read it anyhow”. I thx to everyone and i don’t care what my stream look like that moment coz i do like to give gratitude to tweeps who share my tweets. Natasha ohh they are tweeps out who will ask you even in DM if you can give them a +K but they will never chat with you in stream LOL How very profesional 
@TobeyDeys Tobey there is one celebrity on twitter StefanoGabbana and he’s engaged with his tweeps. I got few replies from him and even once a good morning tweet LOL and of course one that engage a lot is Jessica
Whoa, I agree with you 100% on this one. I too have been noticing that pundits tend to have an invisible circle of themselves. I can understand if they’re too busy to reply to every single tweet especially if they’ve tens of thousands of followers but to hear from them every now and then is definitely a good thing and in your words, “branching out and extending your network”. Perhaps it’s time for the pundits to come down once again to engage for real. Awesome post, Daniel!
@janwong Thanks bud. It is funny how some have come out of the woodwork defending themselves in this post. That engagement means one of two things. I’m not talking about you or you are guilty and my freedom of speech is a micro consequence.
No point in blogging about sunshine and puppy tails so we may as well say what we think!
Awesome having your readership. Most appreciated.
There’s been a lot of engaging content about engaging on Twitter of late, and I feel compelled to chime in for once. What I consider engagement is sharing valuable content, not bloviating to a crowd of the converted – but sharing useful links to articles that help you personally or professionally.
When I come across a twitter account from an academic, like casuist , or a news agency, that brings to my attention contextualized information I have to think about: I’m engaged to the point of captivation.There are a few Twitter accounts I make a point to visit on a regular basis, and what keeps me coming back is that they are talking about and sharing ideas, not gossip.
I could name a number of super skilled professionals who never signal themselves as experts or engage in trivial conversations, and are quite fine with having under a thousand (or hundred) followers.
Thanks for letting me rant!
JK
@Jordan_Keatscasuist The world is built on differing opinions. If you read futher down my blog I talk about there not being a “Right Way” to do Social. I strongly believe that.
In this blog, I am saying that the teaching of many of the pundits is “Direct Selling” per se meaning you engage and build relationships more 1 to 1.
Therefore, I would expect them to do it.
Harvard Biz Review puts out great content, but they aren’t preaching for everyone to engage. They are saying hey, we broadcast content, if you like then follow us.
Make sense?
Thanks for dropping in. Great comment!
@Jordan_Keatscasuist Hmmm – engage in the world of #SM means interact… Spewing out good content is only half of the equation in my humble opinion. But then again what do I know? I’m no pundit. I do have some photo shop skills though, I might make my own pundit badge. [halo]
@Natasha_D_G@Jordan_Keatscasuist Wow NDG – did the hammer just fall on Jordan? Love it when I get you fired up. Cheers!
@Natasha_D_G Of course! In no way do I mean a social strategy is to tun your account into a RSS fed “bot”, but sharing quality ideas (links) is a great way to generate discussion and interaction. I find it far more interesting than foursquare updates and personal “status updates”.
@Natasha_D_G Of course! In no way do I mean a social strategy is to turn your account into a RSS fed “bot”, but sharing quality ideas (links) is a great way to generate discussion and interaction. I find it far more interesting than foursquare updates and personal “status updates”.
@Jordan_Keats@Natasha_D_G I think 4sq should be banned. It is creepy and stalkerish IMO
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