It’s funny how our reactions have changed from a few months ago when we receive an invitation to a new social network. I had to share this with you because I am still laughing, but I will keep the identities of the perpetrators private unless they want to come out in the open and confess.
I heard about a new social network on Twitter called FastCompany.com and I decided to go check it out. Once I saw it was a PR7 site plus good things were being said, I decided to invite some people to check it out as well. This is when the fun began….without mentioning any names, these are the e-mails I received:
- Do I have to? What’s it all about?
- Did you actually send this invite to me or it is one of those virus’s going around?
- I’m already on there, but I can’t find you. (this one, came with no surprise and happens to be from someone who is EVERYWHERE!, can you guess who?)
- A video message thanking me (that was really cool btw)
- Recently you sent me an invitation to a social networking site (I think that’s what it is, I’m not sure). I’m kinda maxed out on more of these kind of sites. I am lagging behind with Facebook, mostly ignore Linked In, Twitter rarely and am hardly on Active Rain even. So I don’t dare join another group. (But I am curious – what was that?)
- Not another social network!
- Where do you find the time?
What do you think? Have we reached the peak of social media? The dynamic has certainly changed. I personally don’t mind setting up a profile and checking these sites out, although I have been known to zap a lot of them because I see no benefit whatsoever.
**please note that I know NOTHING about FastCompany.com and I have not spent enough time there to give you a good review, so feel free to give me your opinion**
Lani Anglin
February 10, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I don’t think we’ve quite reached the peak yet because there is a LOT of room for improvement in social media networks. There are aspects of each network I belong to that I like and if I could lump them all together, I would have a perfect network, but my idea of a perfect network is not the same as yours or another’s which is why multiple networks will continue to be born and thrive. This is also why we go to the soda fountain for a drink and pick our favorite one- we’re all getting soda from the fountain, just different flavors depending on what our individual idea of perfect is.
That said, if we go to the soda machine and there are 200 flavors, we’ll just stick to the first one we liked and never vary because oversaturation of choice can cause fatigue. I’d say we have about 10 viable flavors right now and more are being born, but only the test of time will tell how many flavors end up available for our convenient choosing.
Ines
February 10, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Lani, you said it perfectly “oversaturation of choice can cause fatigue” – there is sooo much out there and not enough time. I do see a lot of these staying dormant and coming to life in a few months (like what happened to Twitter), or just not making it at all. There’s a saying in Spanish to describe what you just said “cada loco con su tema” – translate that one!
Maureen Francis
February 11, 2008 at 12:56 am
Ines,
YOU invited ME! And you and I are the only ones I think I saw there. Not even Jeff Turner, who is EVERYWHERE….
Steven Stearns
February 11, 2008 at 6:48 am
Ines,
Peak of social media ? – not even close.
Most Realtors do not even have a website. But not everyone can or should blog-or Twitter-use a social utility, or join an on line community.
Social medial users -bloggers and others- have to face Realtors and show them there can be success at every entry point with social media marketing.
As consumers of technology, they will find what is right for them, and utlimately decide what works in their market.
Steven Stearns
Obeoman
Chris Lengquist
February 11, 2008 at 7:50 am
Well, for me, I can only be good at two. l just simply do not have the time nor the inclanation (sic?) to try to be everywhere. I’d rather do 1-2 very good than 4-7 just to have my face there.
Ines
February 11, 2008 at 8:36 am
Maureen – Jeff is there (trust me) – I think he went by Jeffrey. Let me know if you find something interesting there.
Steven – although I do agree with you, it’s funny to see the reaction from others in the industry. And let me add that these others are all hands on bloggers familiar with web2.0 – it shows that new social media sites need to be a bit more creative because not even invitations from trusted sources are working.
Chris – I think most people are doing just that. But I’ll give you the Twitter example. I joined back in August of 07 and played around with it and didn’t see what it was good for. Then in December I received a couple of messages that it had come alive – The dynamics there are interesting, read this post by Paul Chaney who is trying to figure it out (yes Paul, another plug….you know I love you).
Twitter observations and conjecture
Jacksonville Real Estate
February 11, 2008 at 9:50 am
I am with Chris. There is just not enough time to explore the new social media platforms that come out.
I think social media has peaked. Beta was better then VHS but people didn’t want to change. Even with no new cost involved, a new social media platform may come out that is better but who has the time to play around with it?
Paul Chaney
February 11, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Ines, I’ll take any and all plugs! You’re the BEST!!! I heart you too…as well… also. :->
Hi! I'm Rudy from Trulia. Nice to Meet you...
February 11, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Hi Ines!
Thanks for the invite. I’m now on board…..
I’ve been reading Fast Company for years. This should be interesting…..
Have we reached the peak of social media? I don’t think so. However, for many people, it’s really challenging deciding where and how often to participate.
Rudy
Steven Stearns
February 11, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Rudy-Good to see you here!
I was in a room full of Realtors when some asked me what the three main mistakes were in blogging and social media.
I told them: not getting into it soon enough, not having consistency and not being connected.
Just throwing this out there for everyone.
Steve
Hi! I'm Rudy from Trulia. Nice to Meet you...
February 11, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Hi Steven!
I like hanging out with geniuses. It makes me feel good 🙂
Rudy
Larry Yatkowsky
February 11, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Steven;
1,2,3
While the first two are potentially within grasp a new blogger when is ‘soon’ – soon enough? Are all bloggers new to the RE.net starting with assumption that that they have 30% chance of failure? What mm/dd/yyyy was the cut off?
Jay Thompson
February 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Twitter, Facebook, social media. What the hell are you people talking about?
Apparently I have no friends as no one has sent an invite to Fast Company. [sniff]
Maureen Francis
February 11, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I was inspired by Jay to start a new Facebook Group. “Boo Hoo Hoo, I haven’t been invited to any new social networks today.”
I only sent out a few invitations. Please join and invite others so they don’t have to feel bad. Jay and Ines, I would be honored to have you both as officers, should you be up to the task.
Steven Stearns
February 11, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Larry,
“While the first two are potentially within grasp a new blogger when is ’soon’ – soon enough? Are all bloggers new to the RE.net starting with assumption that that they have 30% chance of failure? What mm/dd/yyyy was the cut off?”
“Soon Enough”: Waiting for tomorrow to start is no longer an option -the sooner the better- Time and the growth of SMM and the option of entry points no longer allow hesitation.
“Assuming a 30% Chance of Failure-You need to look at it as a 70% likelihood of succeeding! If you are failing at one thing and the SMM you are doing does not fit your market or business plan, you need to enter SMM at another level. You can blog, be in a social community/utility and comment in the forums, or read the blogs and be a commentor. Apps like Blogger, Google Analytics and Twitter make it possible for anyone to get started in SMM.
“What mm/dd/yyyy was the cut off?”-There is no popular, accepted cut-off date. If I had to pick two to choose from, it would be January and February 2008 – January, when a Realtor had his listings pulled at Facebook and February, 2008 a local Realtor association shut down a group of Realtors for basically improper use of trademark. Joel Burlsem wrote about the January incident in the FOREM and Inman news covered the latter event.
While not industry or web-wide, both these events are very important. Syndication and distribution of listings (and Web 2.0) depends on submission of user generated content to create some value for the hosting site.
Any constriction of the free flow of content, from the inside or outside, is a negative force on the marketplace.
Steve
Steven Stearns
February 11, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Rudy,
I am not a genuis,
…but I know you were probably not referring to me…
Steve
Ines
February 11, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Paul – you know I’m a fan – and a sucker for hearts! 🙂
Rudy – “for many people, it’s really challenging deciding where and how often to participate. ” -I think for many of us is challenging to find time to actually work 😉
Steven – I have to tell you that I started on Active Rain and it was definitely a great place to get my feet wet – I was afraid to go our into the real “blogosphere” and now it feels good – I wish I would have gotten started sooner and the success we’re having with blogging is beyond any expectation I might have had.
Jay – that’s what I call a guilt trip – check your inbox
MF – LOL! that’s hilarious! count me in.
Steven – 70% likelihood of succeeding is enough for me
Hi! I'm Rudy from Trulia. Nice to Meet you...
February 11, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Steven – Genius is in the MIND of the beholder 🙂
Rudy
Larry Yatkowsky
February 11, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Jay,
Did someone forget to lick the stamp? 🙂
Ginger Wilcox
February 11, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I guess I will be hanging out with Jay in the boo-hoo group. Some of these groups have been really worthwhile, others I don’t see the point. I definitely don’t think we have reached the peak. It amazes me how many people think a blog is myspace. That is it.
Ines
February 11, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Larry – I have to tell you that I love your sense of humor, but sometimes it takes me a while……
Ginger – same here, but just be patient, one day the idea jumps out at you – I still don’t get facebook but see how some people are using it. I did find a long lost British cousin though.
Larry Yatkowsky
February 12, 2008 at 12:38 am
sorry Ines……. lot of disconnect when there so many comments. I was referring to #13
Hi, I'm Jeff Turner And I Am Trying To Achieve Ubiquity
February 12, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Just had to be said.
Maureen Francis
February 12, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Jeff “Ubiquity” Turner. I like it.
Steven Stearns
February 12, 2008 at 4:37 pm
…we have been Turnerized…not a bad thing to be!
Ines
February 12, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Tool boy Turner in the house! trying??? did you say trying to achieve ubiquity?? you are already there my friend….without a doubt.
MF, I like it! What other names can we come up with?
“Turnerized”…..priceless!!
Brian Columbus
February 26, 2008 at 10:12 am
Social Networking is still in its infancy and the audience is immature. You don’t judge a person’s career by their kindergarten report card. We’ll see what things look like when the kids get the keys to the car.
ines
March 26, 2008 at 10:30 pm
There may be a lot of them, but they are sure bringing us business!