My Unfiltered Thoughts On Social Media As Of Now

This post might get a bit long.

I’ve been using social media sites and tools for a little while now, and while I would not consider myself a focused “expert” on the subject, I know enough about connecting with people and have experience using these tools to make a few observations and even an educated prediction or two (plus, I’m human…so…).

We’re still in the shiny object phase of using social media to engage, connect, market, and even conduct various business functions (customer service, sales, technical support…yes, more than just marketing).  Being in the “shiny object” phase, there seems to still be misconceptions about social media and its impact on business and people.

Misconception #1 — “They Like me, they really really like me.”

No, they don’t really like you (unless you know them already).

People might click your “like” button, they might follow you on Twitter, they might share a LinkedIn post or something…but that’s really where the relationship ends if you haven’t connected with those people.

It’s good that they express interest, don’t get me wrong (you should develop that interest as well), but without meaningful personal connection with these folks as well…which is hard past approximately 150 people…that’s really it.

Coke has millions of likes on Facebook…but so what?  Lots of people liked Coke before Facebook…and the brand was already really strong before Facebook.

Misconception #2 — “This new social network came out, so I MUST join it or face the consequences.”

Bullshit.

Sometimes a particular network is a good idea for your business (or personal life)…and sometimes it isn’t.  There are no “rules” (even for geeks) that state you must join a social network as an “early adopter” or be beheaded.

I personally have quite a few social network profiles…but have found I can only build genuine relationships by using a select few of them.  Right now, I’m in the process of selecting what will be the “final 3″ networks you will be able to connect with me on.

Connecting for the sake of connecting is meaningless…it’s the true, personal and genuine connections with real people that count…period.

Business is about people.  If more businesses (and marketers, namely in the online space) got that concept…the recession might have been an illusion.

We started out in caves, with nothing but meaningful connection on the most basic of needs (food, sex, water, community etc…).  What have we evolved to?  Since when did the personal connection get lost in favor of a Like button or some @reply?

Alright,  enough with the misconceptions (more of those in other posts)…

Social media has also created a monster…and that monster is called The Social Media Expert.

Now, I’m not saying that all people who might specialize in  the social media space are bad people.  What I am saying, are that social media sites and the innovation of this connection medium have created “room” for a new type of what I call a “faux-industry” of sorts.

Let me explain…

Back in the early 1990′s (late 80′s and discussion boards for geeks like me), the Internet was born…and early adopters started selling “how to” stuff.  This created a monster as well…the Internet Marketer.  But the monster wasn’t the label, it was the treating the Internet Marketing opportunity as a business in and of itself.  It isn’t a business.

The Internet is a tool folks, nothing more, and nothing less.  It allows you to deliver content, stream video, and put up websites.  In short, it’s really a sort of delivery device.

Yes, some businesses limit themselves to using the Internet for marketing their businesses…but the Internet is the delivery device for their marketing messages and content, it isn’t the business itself…want proof?  If the Internet shut down, would these online marketers still have businesses?  Nope.  Putting all your eggs in one basket anyone?

Ok…now to social media…

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