My Social Media Creed
So, this was supposed to be my controversial post, the one that would get people to take up arms against me.
However, I then had a drink, and a chat.
I stepped back. And I have a new goal: be seen as an ambassador/welcoming committee. Please read on:
The post was going to be about how much I hate the social media posers. This came from a post I found that concluded “The cream always rises”, talking about how there will be a shakeup in social media and all the posers will get knocked out.
However, after thinking about it more, thats not what it is about. Thats not where my frustration stems from. Its about community among competitors, and those who avoid it.
I work with someone that was my competitor several months ago.
I regurarly have deep, inspirational conversations with people who should be my competition.
Its not the social media posers that deserve our anger-they will eventually either learn social media, or realize that there is no such thing as a get rich quick scheme.
It is the people who are against the social media community. We need to be angry at the toxic, pompous, stuck up people who think that they know everything about social media, and refuse to be a part of the community.
At UnSummit2 back in March of ’09, Don Ball made a comment that was “This is not a zero-sum game. There are more than enough clients for all of us, so we dont need to be at each others throats.”
This really stuck with me. This is why I love the community that we have here-even thought I might be critical of SMBMSP sometimes, and diss MIMA now and again, the truth is that I thrive for this world.
And the people we need to worry about are not the get-rich-quickers, but the “lone wolfs”, the ones that think they are too good for the community.
Without this ecosystem, none of us would be where we are.
Without further ado, I present my new social media creed:
I will accept anyone who wants to be a part of the online community, in any city that I have any pull in. I will not look down on someone who knows less, or claims they know more than they really do, as long as they contribute, want to learn a bit, are not there to just show off, and buy a drink or two.
This is what I will live by. No more making fun of “Social Media Experts” who want to join the community. If they dont join, if they only join to show off, they are fair game.
If you are someone who has been nervous about jumping into the Alphabet Soup of MSP interactive, please have coffee with me. I will do my best to calm your fears, and promise to not leave you hanging at events. I want to be seen as a bit of an ambassador/welcoming committee. I have heard several times that we can get a little exclusive-not anymore.
I urge you all to please think about this, and comment/tweet/facebook/email away. I want your feedback. I am hungry for it.
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about 7 months ago
You will make a great ambassador. For me, social media has opened the door to interesting relationships. Unlike analog encounters punctuated by social niceties, there is a refreshing directness in online communication. Sometimes 140 characters force you to get to the point.
I don’t see social media as a “practice” to master. For me, is an environment where people come together with an open mind, or with preconceptions about marketing, communication, success, etc.
Sure, I may dismiss those that use “spam” in social media. I may even block them. But I value that their contribution help me confirm that I would never join the conversation as they do.
Sometimes we need to see a little of the bad to understand and value the good.
about 7 months ago
it’s fun to watch you grow in your process, and we’ve all got our own process. there is no spoon, and there is no right process. there’s your process, and if you don’t stick to being yourself, you’re never going to find it. instead, you’re going to keep chasing after others.
i read a great article about innovation by a bunch of people in ivory towers. maybe they’re right, maybe they’re wrong. maybe innovation isn’t even the key. again, there is no spoon. however, one of the arguments is consistent with what you’re saying. be welcoming — not for the sake of a sale (personal or otherwise) — but for the sake of learning. some will suck it out of you. those are the ones not being genuine to themselves. some will pour it on you without knowing. those are the genuine ones. even, maybe especially, if they’re not in interactive, those are the people you can learn from, and those are the lessons that can be the most valuable.
i’d discourage you from being angry. it’s wasted energy. it doesn’t serve a purpose. it doesn’t benefit anyone. be welcoming to those who are curious, and move on from those who aren’t.
then again, that’s from my perspective, and there’s about 7 billion other ones out there.
-m
about 7 months ago
Nice. I’m still waiting on the controversial post where you piss everyone off. I don’t think that’s actually possible. By the way, you’ll like this, my first thought upon finishing the post was this, “Ha, He reminds me of Scoble.” The competition of business is healthy but I find myself more often thinking that I’d like to collaborate with someone rather than kick their ass. When people gather as a community it builds respect. You know all those people who are always at all the events and participating in the community. The ones who get it. The ones who contribute and make it a better community. Imagine if they were one company.
about 7 months ago
Love the creed, and agree, I do not claim to be any sort of expert in social media, but I enjoy using it to network and learn more about the industry. And this definitely encourages me to continue to participate and encourage other PR newbies like me to do the same.
Danke!
about 7 months ago
Great post! As someone who is slowly breaking into social media, Twitter and blogging, I can definitely relate to those who feel intimidated by the “exclusive” nature of it all. It does seem to take a while to feel accepted in the community, so I think you have the right idea and approach.
about 7 months ago
Mitchell – What a refreshing post! Thank for writing. I agree. In order for a community to truly thrive it needs to be open, dynamic, compassionate, thoughtful…
about 7 months ago
I really liked your article. I think it is cool that you are keeping an open mind to everyone. It is very similar to my take on skateboarding now a days. When i started there were not as many people doing it. So there were not as many skateparks.
But now that skateboarding is “cool” and every jock wears DC shoes and Element T’s I first got really mad and wanted nothing to do with skateboarding. But when i stopped and thought about it, these dudes in their own way are just helping to support the sport that i love. The more money that gets pumped into the sport the better its going to get.
So i say bring the haters, and the posers, and the “Guru’s”, the experts, the newbies and everything in between. The reason I like social media is because it brings people together that otherwise would have not met.
Thats the goal, period!
Thanks for reading.
about 7 months ago
Mitch,
I really enjoyed reading this, I think that you are spot on with your assessment of community vs competitor. I like the fact that social media can create openness and opportunity to connect, which, in traditional communication is much harder to do. I have used social media as a way to build relationships and network with people to make real world and meaningful business, as well as social relationships.
Without my personal use of social media, Twin Cities Thursday Happy Hours would not exist. It has been a learning process using the tools to create a community that is engaged and involved, but I too welcome open input, suggestions and ideas to make the group and purpose even better in the future. I think the opportunity that social media allows us is huge, not to be experts in the field, but to connect with people that can offer a helping hand and collaborate with one another.
-Jeff