Social Strategies

Rule number one of Social Media: People first, tools second.

Banned from a Facebook Page: The Follow-Up

August 8th, 2011 Posted in Best Practices, FaceBook, Opinions, Social Media
Aug, 08 2011
4 Comments »

Last week, I blogged about being banned from a Facebook Business Page. Thanks so much to everyone for the outpouring of support! From the many who  commented and shared my story on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, your newsletters and blogs, to the even greater number who private messaged me with words of both bewilderment and support, I am deeply grateful.

I want to be very clear: I am not upset. Now that the initial surprise has worn off, I find it sadly funny. I remain steadfast that there was no good business reason for the ban; it says a great deal more about the “ban-ner” than me. I also won’t be making any more referrals to this business. They’ve revealed an appalling lack of both social media savvy and basic good judgment that I won’t foist upon others. Perhaps I should offer them my services instead!  :-)

Many of you expressed the same three issues of concern: First, some of you didn’t know you could be blocked from a page. Second, you wondered when and if you should  block page fans from commenting. Third, you wondered about blocking competitors. So, Dear Reader, as a follow-up, I offer guidance on each.

As for when you should block someone: Obvious offenses include rude, threatening or abusive language, profanity, and comments that serve no useful purpose except to defame or demean. I’d also consider blocking someone who repeatedly spammed or advertised their business on my page. I don’t mean another business page making periodic comments; I mean blatantly using my page as their own marketing platform, whether commenting as individual or page.  That’s just bad form. As for whether to block your competitors, my answer is no. Social media is supposed to be open and transparent. Period. You’re not going to publicize anything proprietary on your business page, and blocked parties can still see it. So what’s the point in blocking other than not wanting them to comment at all? That’s censorship. If they do comment and don’t break any reasonable guidelines, you should treat them as you would any other fan. Finally, and please exercise great care before pulling this trigger: Here’s how to block a fan.

Now I’d like your weigh-in. What would cause you to block a page fan? Have you had to do it already? Why?

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Google+: Game Changer?

July 12th, 2011 Posted in FaceBook, Google+, Opinions, Social Media
Jul, 12 2011
8 Comments »

 

When I heard Google+ was coming out with a social network to rival Facebook, I pretty much brushed if off as yet another attempt unlikely to dethrone the King and Master of Social Networking. After all, I reasoned, unless Facebook really screwed up – resulting in a mass exodus – or went under, why would people leave for yet another social network? Especially those with a large base of important connections?

I have to say, however, after trying it out for a few days, I am impressed. And eating my words. It’s easy to learn and use.The ability to categorize people into groups, (“Circles”) and share selectively so easily has great appeal. The site’s appearance is very clean, as there are no ads (yet) and no notices in the sidebars. Perhaps best of all: NO GAMES! So far, people are talking mostly about – you guessed it – Google+. Right now it’s like the place where all the “cool” kids hang out since you have to be invited, with everyone learning about it from each other. Among it’s other cool features:

Photo Editing: You can edit your pictures, changing hues, cropping, and even adding some cool effects and making color pictures black and white. Uploading is easy with a drag and drop function, and the photo quality looks better than Facebook’s. It’s easy to navigate and fun to use.

Hangouts: Video conferencing has never been easier. Install the required plug-in and you’re all set. When people in one of your circles uses it, it appears in your stream that they are in a hangout, and shows who has joined them. It will be great for socializing and work collaboration. One thing occurs to me: Will it be considered rude if someone invites you to hang out, and you decline? Hmmm. New features like this means new rules of etiquette will evolve. I sure hope people don’t get, well, a little too “casual” with this particular feature!

Sparks enables you to search topics of interest on the web. You can create lists whose content is updated with the most recent info and is accessible. It’s like having Google Alerts right there in Google+. Wow.

Integration: This is the lynchpin to Google+’s long term success.  I’ve heard reports of difficulties with some Google Apps emails, so there are still some issues to work out. I’ve experienced seamless navigation between my Gmail, GoogleDocs, Calendar, Pictures, and Google+ presence; I do just about everything I need to do online from there. That is huge.

For these reasons, I think Google+ offers great promise. They’ve improved upon many of Facebook’s good features, and added some that Facebook lacks. Not surprisingly, there’s a mobile version for the Droid. Of course, that has Iphone/iPad users salivating for theirs. Google will likely avoid at least some of Facebook’s noted missteps with privacy and making so many random changes with little or no notice. And surely, an API release can’t be too far away, which opens up numerous possibilities. For me, the ability to manage it from Hootsuite can’t come fast enough!

So what do you think? Have you tried Google+? If not, I highly recommend it. Leave your email below and I’ll send you an invite. What would it take for you to use it more than, or in place of, Facebook? For now, Google+ is at least part shiny new toy.  It is one whose novelty will wear off? Or is it a true game changer that seriously threatens Facebook’s dominance?

 

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Does Anyone Still Comment Anonymously?

July 1st, 2011 Posted in Online Reputation Management, Opinions, People, Social Media
Jul, 01 2011
No Comments »

I remember a few years ago when my local newspaper went online.  At the time, I wondered why anyone would give up sitting in a comfy chair reading a paper to sit in front of a desktop computer to read.  Even now, as much as I love and embrace my laptop and smartphone, I still get a copy of the paper, and enjoy reading it from that same comfortable spot. I guess I’ll always do some things the old fashioned way, if for no other reason than the nostalgia of it.

The day finally came that I decided to check out this online edition to see what it was all about. Not bad, actually. It had less information than the print edition and was no substitute for it, so I still didn’t initially get why some people seemed to prefer it, other than it being free. Then, I saw the one feature that sucked me into the vortex: the ability to comment on stories. Oh. My. Goodness. How fun could that be?  There were no real identities attached to the comments – everyone had anonymous user ID’s. As with many online forums, there was an interesting cast of characters offering comments ranging from the articulate to the ridiculous, opinions as varied as the color spectrum, and slugfests between posters who disagreed.  I loved wading in with what I hoped was intelligent and well reasoned commentary. It was energizing and at times exhausting, but also educational and fun.

Fast forward a few years later, and I am far less inclined to comment on these forums. Why? One reason is that I use social media instead. I know who I am talking to and vice versa. I expect the transparency that typifies the social universe. When I do contribute, it is always in my name. I’m surprised to see so many people still comment anonymously. I think online communication, with few exceptions, has evolved such that people should identify themselves when speaking. If you can’t own your words with your real name behind them, chances are you’ve got no business saying them in the first place. Anonymous commenting, especially of the mean spirited variety, seems both cowardly and passe.

What do you think? Do you comment anonymously? Am a I wrong to condemn this practice as a general rule?

 

 

 

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Can You Build Meaningful Relationships With Social Media?

June 22nd, 2011 Posted in Opinions, People, Relationships, Social Media
Jun, 22 2011
8 Comments »

What a loaded question that has become! It’s one that came up for me recently when someone declared to me, very adamantly, that you cannot.

When I ask people what they get out of their social media, the answers usually go something like this: “I have reconnected with people I haven’t seen in years, and it’s great to do that and see pictures of their kids.” Other answers include:  “I only check in occasionally” and “I’m not on Facebook, I don’t have time.”

Fair enough. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for social media, and you’re not going to hear me proclaim, as many do, that everyone should be there. It’s a matter of taste and preference as to what sites you use, or whether you are there at all. That said, here are a few answers – always delivered in a patronizing tone – that make me want to scream: “Well, I don’t like it because it’s flat and one dimensional.” or “It’s a waste of time”  and the ultimate eyeroller: “I want to focus on real life meaningful relationships.”

As for the “flat and one dimensional” characterization, I see that. But can’t that be said about any written communication? That some types of communication are more meaningful and should be done in person, or at least over the telephone, where you can  look into someones’ eyes and hear voice inflection, is a given. But that doesn’t mean written communication can’t pack a punch and carry great depth and meaning. Think of all the relationships that started by written communication. Or those sustained during wars by letters. How about that cherished letter from Grandma, tattered and frayed by repeated reading because it means so much? The written word has long been a tie that binds when people are separated by time and distance. Today, it just occurs electronically more often than by parcel post. Ah, technology.

I’d argue that it is our communication with people in its’ many forms, and taken as a whole, that enables us to develop meaningful relationships with them. As for the arguments that one can get too isolated by social media and that it is no substitute for physically being with people, or that people can misunderstand or be misunderstood due to its flat nature, I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve been misunderstood more than once. I’ve also been very fortunate to sustain relationships, as well meet people through social media that I later met in person. In some cases, that has led to real life encounters and true friendships, business relationships, or both. At the heart of of these relationships is three core components: Trust, respect, and the fact that I like them. In some cases communication has not, as yet, progressed far beyond the online world. I still have a good rapport and common interests with these people – and that’s fine. ‘Meaningful’ has many layers, and I am happy to partake in all of them.

Now you know my position; I’d like to hear yours:  Can you build meaningful relationships through social media?  What has your experience been?  What are your challenges? Rewards?

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Is Life Fair – Even When It Isn’t?

June 17th, 2011 Posted in Opinions, perserverance
Jun, 17 2011
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Life is not fair.

How many times did we hear that growing up? I can still hear my mother admonishing me to accept this as fact every time something in my universe went awry – whenever an event unfolded that held no apparent remedy, or no other explanation that would fit over the long term, except that one. Even now, and hopefully much wiser and circumspect about life’s twists and turns, I still cringe at these words whenever I hear them. There’s still a part of my brain unwilling to accept this mantra as a universal truth over which I – we – have no control. More often than not, the thought that comes to mind is: “Life may not be fair, but people should be.” Because let’s face it: Barring random accidents or illness, when something unfair happens to us, it usually involves other people who have hurt us in some way.

I guess part of my reaction to the notion that life isn’t fair stems from my own strong sense of fair play and justice. On some idyllic level, I believe that many, if not most, of life’s unfair events can be prevented or remedied; few things get me more fired up than stories of people being treated unfairly. In the workplace. In relationships. Yet at the same time, I know we can’t control how others treat us, and that people have different perceptions of what “fair” means. If everyone could agree on that one concept alone, what a different world we would inhabit!  I’m forced to acknowledge – albeit reluctantly – that even in cases of being wronged, the idea that life is not fair, fits. It can even bring a certain peace to the equation.

And so, with each unfair event life hands me, I’m still learning to reframe. Redefine. That my father died when I was nine? An early lesson on the fragility of life.  The friends who betray me? Continuing Ed to choose friends more wisely. The jobs lost through layoff or other circumstances? Opportunities to learn, grow, and be a better boss and person. Unfortunate random occurrences that defy rational explanation? Resilience and a sense of humor.

Could it be, then, that the most unfair – and even cruel -  of life’s events and circumstances  hold more promise and opportunity than we dare to believe?  Is life therefore  fair – perhaps more than fair – even when it isn’t? What do you think?

 

 

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