I’ve started to do some very serious thinking about how I personally engage in the social media space, and much of it has to do with the hundreds of social networking websites which I currently am a registered member.
The simple fact is that its humanly impossible to manage all of them at the same time. As a obvious result, it’s impossible to become an “expert” at any of them.
I know that Chris Brogan has suggested more than once (both on his blog and live talks) that businesses should choose to engage deeply with up to 3 social networking websites (and he almost always mentions that 3 might even be too many).
I think there’s wisdom in that and I’m beginning to really consider where I spend my time on the interwebs.
For starters I’ve decided that my blogs and Twitter will be definite areas of concentration for this 2009. That’s 2 “social networks” right there (or 3, depending on how you look at it).
There are definitely some days where I feel “maxed” out and then there are a some days where I know I can invest a bit more in a few others.
But I need to be careful not to get sucked in and spread myself too thin. I think a lot of us have the tendency to do so, or feel “pressured” to be a part of every single social network out there. It’s just unwise really.
Practically speaking, I think organizations need to go through the same process and decision making: Choose 2 to 3 social networking sites that you will engage deeply in and go become awesome at it. This number may increase due to large staffing, but perhaps not.
What are your 2 or 3 Social Networks? Have you spread yourself too thin?
David (@dg4G) says
Really good post John. At present, I'm possibly spread a bit thin…but I know what my focus will be moving forward too.
Daniel_Berman says
Lets see, one blog, one website, facebook, twitter, and for me email (I'm one that tries to respond quickly, and expect others to do the same), yeah thats like 5. I am definitely spread to thin.
Another good way to measure this engagement is to look at the number of email addresses that reach you. I have to confess, I have five email addresses as well, all for different roles I am trying to fill. Oh I almost forgot, make that six, I also have a work email. Oh boy!
Ancoti says
I do blogging, twitter and facebook, and in that order recently. Anything else pretty much gets ignored. Quite frankly, one network can be too much if you start exhibiting addictive personality traits.
Kevin_Martineau says
My current social networks are: Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, BlogCatalog, Pastors.com and Multiply. I have definitely spread myself too thin and I am working on remedying that.
human3rror says
great to hear. i think it'll help long term.
Michael Hyatt says
I consider my own blog my "homebase." Everything else is an "outpost." I only actively manage one outpost actively: Twitter. However, my Twitter updates go directly to Facebook. I was about to deactivate my Facebook account until I check my analytics and found that almost 25% of my blog traffic was coming from Facebook. So, for now, I'm keeping it active.
I used to to try and manage LinkedIn and a few others, but I think they were more trouble than they were worth. It's one thing to post to them all (e.g., with Ping), but it's another thing to stay active in the conversations. It takes more time than I have.
Vajaah says
Right now I personally focus on Blogging and Facebook, I am new to Twitter (@vajaah) but I love it already. The list is the same for the ministry I lead, except another member of the organization invests his time in our MySpace presence. I already slight the ministries social networking efficiency so I definitely could not handle anything more!
Rodlie Ortiz says
I would say I do Facebook, my blog…and that's basically it. I'm on twitter, but haven't caught on to it yet. I'm registered with many more, of course, but those are the ones I use on a daily basis.
human3rror says
cool. rock on man. gotta focus…!
Jim says
i'm using Ping.fm more to consolidate. But blogging,twitter and reading blogs/commenting are on a schedule
human3rror says
ping. ping ping!
Phillip Gibb says
Hmm, I don't use Ping.fm – although I have wondered about it.
Otherwise I stick to Blogging, Twitter big time and Facebook for connecting.
I find that I get substantial blog visits from FB links I post and less so from Twitter pimping.
I also find that Twitter is huge in connecting – even outshining Facebook.
human3rror says
i don't use ping either… bleh.
human3rror says
Mike,
Thanks for dropping by! I'm making my blogs “homebase” too. it's working so far…!
human3rror says
do i exhibit these…?
Ancoti says
You don't, but be aware that you easily could.
human3rror says
dude. email. never thoguht about that…!
Phillip Gibb says
Ping as in pinging search engines?
Something that I have come across recently that provides absolutely no benefit.
The same for so called blog channel surfing type blog broadcasters – they get you the page hits but zero engagement .
human3rror says
sweet! how is the facebook stuff coming?
human3rror says
spirit willing, flesh is weak.
human3rror says
yeah. *raises hand* me too.
human3rror says
yup. agreed.