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Stop Social Media Taking Over Your Day
Posted by timethief • 12/18/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog catalog, blogging tips, digg, facebook, forums, Networking, social media, stumbleupon, time management, twitter
How to Stop Social Media Taking Over Your Day by Chris Garrett
(1) Only share what is safe to share - Once you connect to people outside your close friends and family you need to restrict the information you place in these networks. If in doubt, keep it to yourself.
(2) Observe before following.
(3) If people are taking too much of your time, drop them, and do not feel any guilt about it. There are no rules that say you have to follow everyone who follows you!
(4) Pick your venues and do not try to be active in all of them.
(5) Do not take part in time-wasting activities, such as quizzes and zombie games.
(6) Set Social Media time and log off when that time is over.
(7) Grow your network selectively and steadily - Learn how much activity you can manage.
(8) Use tools where appropriate.
Read full article -> www.chrisg.com/social-media-network-effects/
Ten Causes of Social Media Meltdown by Doc Nicole Sundene
Since an “Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” according to my favorite Chinese proverb, let’s take a little look at the Top Ten Causes of Social Media Meltdown:
(1) IM Invasion - out of all the socialnetworking options out there this one can be the most repeatedly invasive and most bloggers in need of accomplishing daily internet tasks will need to set strict boundaries for IM.
(2) Over-stumbling - it just isn’t good to spend more than an hour a day stumbling. onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/how-to-use-stumbleupon-effectively/
(3) Twittering Your Life Away - don’t Twitter your life away.
onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/sign-up-for-the-twitter-handbook/
(4) Facebook Freaks Freaking You Out - This is a great way to network, strengthen your brand with a fan page and utilize Blog Networks for free advertising. It is great to find like minded individuals, and further connect with favorite blogging friends. But Facebook is also a dating site and thus a fantastic way to invite hecklers, pessimists and stalkers in to your vortex. I don’t hesitate to delete and block anyone that even slightly gives me a bad vibe on Facebook. www.thestar.com/Business/article/310272
(5) Digging in a Vacuum - The biggest mistake I see most newbie bloggers make when they get on Digg is to submit their own content. You need a network of friends to use Digg effectively. onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/the-importance-of-mutual-friends-on-di...
(6) Digging Your Blog Away - Overdigging is the best way to seriously burn out a seasoned blogger. onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/how-to-use-digg-effectively/
(7) Forum Attackathon - Have you ever started what you thought might be a friendly or informative discussion to promote an article, and then returned to find people completely attacking you? Yikes! Such negativity can be extremely harsh on your brand or personal reputation, and the scariest part is that it is now recorded on the internet for all of eternity. When a friendly debate turns ugly and immature it is best for your brand to just walk away.
(8) Letting Gossip Suck you Dry - gossip is a great red flag waved above the exact people you should always be out to avoid anyways.
(9) Commenting till the Cows Come Home - The most efficient system is to comment on the blogs that leave comments for you, as well as your favorite blogs within your niche. If you find yourself with nothing to say on a blog, just move on and leave a comment next time.
(10) Trying to keep up with the Joneses – the best way to keep things in a state of balance is to adopt a thorough and consistent social media system.
Read full article -> onecoolsite.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/ten-causes-of-social-media-meltdown/
Discussion questions:
(1) Do you agree or disagree with the points Chris and Doc Nicole make?
(2) What is your strategy for effectively using the time you spend on Blog Catalog to promote your blog(s)?
(3) Have you created a social media strategy to insure that the time you spend on all social media networking sites is effectively used?
(3) Do you have any social media tips to share?
Note: Link dropping is not and effective way of promoting your blog. It's also not allowed at Blog Catalog and this thread is NOT an opportunity to drop your blog link into it.
The blog I'm promoting is onecoolsite.wordpress.com - Blog description: Tips and Tutorials on How to Become a Better Blogger, How to Build a Better Blog and where to find free Blogging Tools and Resources.
User Comments
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I think the points the Doc and Chris make are valid points if you are suffering from some form of addictive behaviour but for me BC is the only social site thing I use I don't Stumble, twitter or facebook.
I only really come here for the banter and don't see it as part of some grand scheme to drive traffic to my blog, if I gain a few readers from participating here then that's fine.-
@aningeniousblogger
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.
Social media sites with forums like Blog Catalog attract both those who actually want to use the forum for effectively promoting their blogs. They also attract those who are simply bored and looking for social contact, chat opportunities and fun. IMO the mix is not always a good one for members who fall into either group. -
I'll get my coat.
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@aningeniousname
Hey, take that coat off. It's the good fellowship factor that allows BC members to create a supportive community here on the forum, where the diverse mix of members and their goals results in a fulfilling environment for all members. IMO we do achieve this goodwill most of the time.
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Most of this seems like good advice to me, though I don't feel like I'm in any danger of social media meltdown. I use BC, Twitter and Stumbleupon. I do have an Entercard widget on my site, but I only drop cards on blogs that I am visiting anyway and am trying to ween myself off of that cheap, useless traffic.-
@libdrone
I'm no longer in danger of melting down myself. I have made my social media site selections and in the new year I will be following a time management schedule. I'm intending to take the "less is more" approach and focus on "quality over quantity". I will be increasing the number of blog posts I write and the number of comments I leave. The way I will create the time to do that will be by cutting down on the number of "friends" and "favorites" I add and focusing on a smaller group of blogs. In addition I will be spending far less time socializing on this forum.
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I have cut back a whole lot since I began my blog. I make sure to write for PP Monday - Friday and then what ever else is every now and then. I feel a responsibility to PP because it stems off of the beginning of an idea started 10 years ago. Other than my blog my family is my other responsibility.-
@Shirley
I hear your priorities and understand them - family first. When you have young children you need to be organized so you can be there for them when they need you. I've been multitasking from work and I have been looking very closely at the time I spend on social networking sites and comparing it to the number of hits on my blogs as well as the comments I receive.
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@ TT: Great advice! Along this same line, TT, I have a question. I have noticed a rather annoying action - maybe it's just me - but, it's "friend" requests. The first thing I do is go to their blog, read their latest post and comment. Hello? Anyone home? I never see or hear from these people again. At what point do I remove these so-called friends? Or do I? Am I being played?-
Some visit your blog without commenting. I have moments when I do that. It takes too much time from my family to comment on every blog I see. Sometimes I'm not even logged into BC when visiting so there's no trace unless you know where I live.
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I understand your point. Thanks.
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@madmadmargo
I have noticed a rather annoying action - maybe it's just me - but, it's "friend" requests. The first thing I do is go to their blog, read their latest post and comment. Hello? Anyone home? I never see or hear from these people again. At what point do I remove these so-called friends? Or do I? Am I being played?
I don't add members just because they ask me to. In many cases I find that the blogger does not blog about a subject I'm interested in so I don't lead them on by adding them. I also find that I have created far too many "friends" to be able to accomplish the goal I had set of reviewing each of their blogs for BC and StumbleUpon and to read their posts & comment frequently. That's on my shoulders I simply took on too many and now I must reduce.
As I have been doing reviews I have been noticing how often the bloggers post to their blogs and when they last checked inhere at BC. If they don't publish at least once weekly, and if I they rarely check in to BC then I drop them.
The approach I had for adding friends when I first arrived at BC can be found here:
Social Networks: Friends and Blogroll Additions
thistimethisspace.com/2008/06/03/social-networks-friends-and-blogroll-addit...
I will be introducing a new approach in the new year.
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How about we just skip the whole rules thing and completely avoid social media? That's how I've been playing it, couldn't be happier -
I have witnessed some bloggers who think every post they publish is so great it must be promoted on every social network there is. I think maybe they are just addicted to the process and the number counting because I don't see a significant increase in faithful blog readers and comments. So I presume what they achieve for all their efforts is a high bounce rate and that's not a good thing.
On one hand, I know some very successful blogger who choose not to belong to any social media sites. On the other, I see some of the same members on all the sites working hard to promote their sites and getting nowhere fast.
In the center I see bloggers who select which posts to promote and which sites to promote them on and they are doing well. Hmmm ...
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it's true .. everytime I participate in "zombie games" I lose a part of me...-
I'm not into zombie games. However, there's fun to be had in the forums and when I have the time I have fun bot doing and posting quizzes.
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I think those tips are very good indeed.
I do use stumble, but rarely (I only hit the icon if I've come across something I really like, but I don't actively "stumble" if you know what I mean) and I have a twitter page, but forget to use it.
My main addiction here is the BC forum (As everyone already knows
) I love it, and although I do use it to promote my blog, I also use it to connect and socialize, have fun, or just read. My problem is walking away from it....-
@Anok
I have been suffering from a BC forum addiction too but I'll be on the wagon in the new year. It's truly a PITA that we have to struggle so hard to keep blogging related threads on the front page because some members (like you and I) are obsessively and repetitively posting to religious threads containing circular arguments that go nowhere and tend to create ill will between members.
One other social media site I spend time on is stumbleupon and the time I spend there is productive. Also note that the shoutboxes there are not limited to only 300 characters so I chat while I stumble ... lol -
Yeah, I know. I'm in the cabal It's my lot in life
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@Anok
I'm taking the pledge. I don't think sharing my opinions is necessarily doing anything for my blogs. I think I've been addicted so I'm going choosing to go on the wagon. -
TT
What do you think about polar bears being used in advertising?
Have you done your christmas shopping?
Do you like American Politics?
Is meditating good for Christians?
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I don't use SM to any degree I have to squeeze SM into my day so it really doesn't take over. The only thing I use regularly is stumble but that is because I stumble those on my friends lists who leave me notes and I often get to those late, and that is about it. I enjoy observing the interactions on this forum, so I do check here whenever I can, otherwise twenty something and Brazen Careerist are the only real social media I spend any significant time at, MBL, though I found some good reads there and scroll there weekly has gone a little sad since yahoo took over.
I think I'm under control.
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cooper
I think I'm under control
I do too and I'm aiming to join you very soon.
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I also agree with Anok.... Keep try though i also sometime use stumble but don't like so much, Thnx for putting same motive... keep going-
@technomicro
Thanks for letting me know you thought posting this thread was worthwhile.
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Interesting topic, I'm going to contemplate this for a while
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There are some very good points here but here's something that i was thinking about the other day.
The role of the computer has now changed. Previously it was a information sharing tool, but now it has become a two way communication tool, a bit like a multimedia telephone.
What we bring to this telephone thingy is all our normal habits and tendencies. It has moved out of the corner of the room to the centre stage and maybe it needs ha little shove back to where it once belonged, and real life can continue unhindered.-
Just sayin ...
Perhaps a separate board dedicated only to blogging topics would be an improvement. -
I think, as least what I think I see, is a lot of bloggers who first read about how to promote their blogs via social networks and the like, and then start blog, but are overwhelmed by the amount of networking they have to do, in the end it really doesn't work out- it's either fruitless, exhausting or both.
When blogs first started, sans the overwhelming social and blog networks as there were very few back then, people had time to start a blog and over time develop it into something with worthy content, establish some readers and then eventually promote it. By then they had an idea of who was reading their blog, where those people came from and what those people found interesting about him or her as a blogger. Because of this when promoting they were able to choose networks which were going to be more use to them, because it doesn't take long to figure out the demographic if any given network. Instead of trying to do it all they focused a few allowing them to foster better relationships and not have to live this frantic blogger existence.
I suppose for those who blog for a living it doesn't matter much, although focusing on the few seems a wiser less exhausting choice.
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TT there was some points you threw lately,
I say thanks, TT-
@weglogian
Thanks and please feel free to add to them.
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What does that mean Phoenix, could you be really specfic
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acousticguitarist
I have been counseled by a very wise and experienced person who knows so much about social networking that it would take me years to learn it all. I don't acknowledge off-topic commentators. When a pattern of harassment has been established I simply report them quietly to Admin and then I go on about my own business www.blogcatalog.com/contact/
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It is almost like a drug to some people the social networks, it would be amazing if the time was spent on there on website...
But each to there own... Some people i know spend like 6 hours a day lol..-
@buyersweb
It is almost like a drug to some people the social networks, it would be amazing if the time was spent on there on website... But each to there own... Some people i know spend like 6 hours a day lol..
I freely admit that I have become addicted myself. However, change is inevitable and I will be embarking on a different path in 2009. Thanks for commenting. I'll be visiting your blog again soon.
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could you please clarify your points here.
this is actually a very reasonable post and it is using some ideas from a couple of other very good bloggers included and everything is neatly referenced. It has a place for feedback. -
Timethief is very informative and she is on her P's and Q's. Hmmm...could be so many defend her because she has a point and offers a lot of good advice and backs up everything she says. All you have proven is she's on the computer more than I am.
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I have been away so am un-addicted kinda lol
I would love to peek at you Time Management schedule TT, or know your sources, its probably something I really need to work on.-
she's triplets
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Lol!
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But this is a forum and you can't slap a shut up sticker on someone. She has as much right to voice an opinion as you do. I have never seen any thread where she has been vulgar or obsene so, this is really just going off topic and spammy.
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k, well you saw that this thread was started by TT, if she so offends you why come in and respond? Wouldn't that be considered soliciting?
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oh well aren't you mature!!!
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What is good for the goose!
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Lol! Crystal this is me pulling on your hair! Wait! I'm going to bubble gum you too!
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I don't typically go to your threads they aren't my taste. I like happy threads not controvercial. Rest assured I won't follow you.
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lets just put Phoenix on "ignore" and get back to the discussion, which I was enjoying!!!
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I agree.
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You know you cannot.
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So any thoughts as to which social medias we should stay plugged into or is it just a personal preference thing?
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LOL
I like BC for the groups more so than the forums. Too many trolls. -
I think it's more of a personal preferance thing. I like BC and Stumble the most. I personnally belong to digg, mixx, youtube, spicypage, technorati, and a few others I think.
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I think it's personal preference, and goal oriented. For people who are very serious about blog promotion, fully utilizing different social networks without becoming sucked into any of them really is best.
In other words, you would use BC to network, post broadcasts, participate a little bit in the forums, and review blogs/get reviews. At the same time, you might be networking on Stumble, Entrecard, Technorati (meh, maybe), Digg etc...all doing to same thing, but reaching a wider variety of audience and promoting your blog in different ways.
You could also use the more social aspects of your blogging to your advantage, for example joining high traffic groups for your niche, and using them to build a base readership.
But for people like me, I just like to come and chat and play around
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you guys need to read this:
malcolmred.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/malcolm-red-on-the-futility-of-...-
@foc247
Thanks. :-)
There are two types of people: The Beta-Man and the Alpha-Man.
The Beta works for purpose whilst the Alpha works for product.
The purpose of work is to progress. Work is a means to an end. However, the Beta- Man uses work as an end in itself.
An Undefined Value-System characterises the Beta-Man whilst a defined Value-System characterises the Alpha-Man. A defined Value-System allows one to filter life’s activities.
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I am currently addicted to social media, but I am slowly learning from my experiences and the wisdom of others to adjust my behavior accordingly. Thanks for the advice, very helpful.-
You're welcome. IMO many bloggers are wandering around from one social network to the next all day long every day of the week, wasting their time and energy because they don't know how to organize, minimize and emphasize. What's in the works is a new post on the A B C's of effective social networking.
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I think my bigest problem is organising.
I would put prioritizing on second, then minimise and emphasize after that.
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This is some great advice and tips. I have spent countless hours on some social networks and it seems like a waste of major time, I own a small business and I have a big family, and other things that I dearly love to do besides blog and I have found that I am just not willing to give them up.
I would rather just spend the time on my blog filling it with quality content, and visit my friends and readers blogs then constantly have to push push push to get my blog noticed. Now that the search engines traffic is starting to kick in, that will help me a lot and I can cut back on all the social networks unless I feel like killing time and playing in them when I want too, not because I have too.
I will just stick to the things I have been doing, reading some really quality blogs, commenting, and reviews. Working on my own content and living my life at the same time. I will still be a regular here on BC because this place is great, I have made some awesome friends, and found some kicking blogs.-
@arcticulates
I'm with you on all scores. There will be no more wandering in the darkness for me in the upcoming new year.
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Great advice. I did find the comment about Facebook Freaks more real than I had expected. It was enough for me to shut down my Facebook so the furor could die down. After I restart it, I won't even allow friend requests, but refer them to e-mail, thereby using Facebook strictly as a tool for general networking, and freeing me up from spending too much time maintaining the friends. Conversations at BC roll more naturally and don't require as much attention.-
@LynneaUrania
I have avoided getting a Facebook account due to a stalker problem that was experienced by my niece. But now that you have shared your idea for a different approach I can see its value and I may choose to get an account and do with it as you say - allow no friends and use it only as a general networking tool
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I enjoy social media but I'm not addicted. I Stumble and read BC when I have recreational time to kill, and in fact I'm going to spend more time reading the blogs of some of the people I know rather than skim discussions.-
I'm sorry I didn't check this thread sooner and see your comment. I'm happy to hear you aren't addicted. I do suspect that many bloggers are.
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Blogging is a heinous addiction for reasons craftily exemplified by Gresham's Law: Trivial matters are handled promptly; important matters are never resolved.
I have gone down so many blind alleys since I started blogging that I feel like I am on an endless-ride merry-go-round.-
@Jack
I have gone down so many blind alleys since I started blogging that I feel like I am on an endless-ride merry-go-round.
I have felt the same way to from time to time.
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Some of the points are really good.
Since I work in TV I hear a lot of "there is too much crap on TV" complains.
I remind them that every TV comes with an off button and you should learn how to use it.
The truth is that we love crap -
@Timethief,
I feel the same, I don't add bloggers just because they ask me to. I only comment on sites I am interested in and only if the topic is something I want to contribute to. I dislike it when bloggers just comment on a popular blog just to get exposure, you can tell who they are because they just leave a sentence like "Great post, thanks." And then add their blog url.
I am not going to lead a blogger on by adding them as a member, following them or writing a comment on their blog just for the sake of it.
I have just signed up for Digg and stumbleupon, I did not realise that bloggers were not allowed to stumble or digg their own posts. I have stumbled one of my posts.
I have stayed away from Facebook and myspace and I left Twitter within 3 days.
I didn't see the point of twitter.
I realise that I need to spend more time working on my blog, drafting posts and commmenting on the blogs that I enjoy reading.
I've been told that my traffic will suffer if I do not use more social sites but I'll take the risk
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